Background: The goal of this study was to identify and characterize cell-cell interactions that facilitate endothelial tip cell fusion downstream of BMP (bone morphogenic protein)-mediated venous plexus formation.
Methods: High resolution and time-lapse imaging of transgenic reporter lines and loss-of-function studies were carried out to study the involvement of mesenchymal stromal cells during venous angiogenesis.
Results: BMP-responsive stromal cells facilitate timely and precise fusion of venous tip cells during developmental angiogenesis.
Conclusions: Stromal cells are required for anastomosis of venous tip cells in the embryonic caudal hematopoietic tissue.
Keywords: anastomosis; angiogenesis; arteriovenous development; mesenchymal stromal cells; zebrafish.