Ontogeny of angiopoietin-like protein 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 genes during chick embryonic development.

Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs) are secreted proteins possessing an amino-terminal coiled-coil domain and a carboxyl-terminal fibrinogen-like domain and are known as angiogenic factors. Several members of ANGPTLs also regulate lipid metabolism independently of angiogenic effects, but most of their functions during vertebrate development are not demonstrated. To ascertain their developmental functions, we examined the expression patterns of Angptl1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 orthologues during chick development using whole-mount in situ hybridization. Angptl1 was first detected at embryonic day 3 (E3) in the somite. At E4, Angptl1 was expressed in somite-derivatives and limb mesenchyme. Angptl2 was first detected at E3 in the hindbrain. At E4, Angptl2 was expressed in neuroepithelium of forebrain and hindbrain and partly in the heart. Angptl3 was first detected at E3 and continued to be expressed in the liver and yolk sac at E4. Angptl4 was first detected at E3 in the somites and liver. At E4, Angptl4 was also observed in the heart. Angptl5 was not detected in these developmental stages. Angptl7 was first detected at E3 in the ectoderm overlying the lenses of the eyes. At E4, Angptl7 was specifically expressed in cornea. These data suggest that each member of the ANGPTL family could be related to angiogenesis during various organogeneses of the developing chick embryo.