Embryonic lethality in Dear gene-deficient mice: new player in angiogenesis

The dual endothelin-1/angiotensin II receptor (Dear) binds endothelin-1 (ET-1) and angiotensin II (ANG II) with equal affinities in the Dahl S/JRHS rat strain. To elucidate its physiological significance within the context of multiple receptor isoforms and diverse ET-1 and ANG II functions spanning blood pressure regulation, tumor proliferation, and angiogenesis, we characterized mouse Dear and Dear-deficient mice. Unlike null mutant models of ET-1, ANG II, and all other ET-1 and ANG II receptors, Dear−/− deficiency results in impaired angiogenesis, dysregulated neuroepithelial development, and embryonic lethality by embryonic day 12.5. Interestingly, mouse Dear does not bind ANG II, similar to Dahl R/JRHS rat Dear, but binds ET-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signal peptide (VEGFsp) with equal affinities, suggesting a putative novel multifunction for VEGFsp and a parsimonious mechanism for coordination of VEGF-induced and Dear-mediated pathways. Consistent with its developmental angiogeni...