Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38713105›Full record

ArticleCardiovascular research2024

FLT4 causes developmental disorders of the cardiovascular and lymphovascular systems via pleiotropic molecular mechanisms.

Richard M Monaghan, Richard W Naylor, Daisy Flatman, Paul R Kasher, Simon G Williams, Bernard D Keavney

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cardiovascular research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Journal of cardiovascular development and disease · 2026
    Article
  2. [Research progress on vascular endothelial growth factor C in meningeal lymphatic vessel-mediated clearance of amyloid β-protein].Zhejiang da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Lymphatic System Development and Function.Current cardiology reports · 2024
    Review
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Richard M MonaghanDivision of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, 5th Floor, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3323-1337
Richard W NaylorWellcome Centre for Cell Matrix Research, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PN, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2901-7677
Daisy FlatmanDivision of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
Paul R KasherDivision of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9213-502X
Simon G WilliamsDivision of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, 5th Floor, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7396-4108
Bernard D KeavneyDivision of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, 5th Floor, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9573-0812

Funding

British Heart Foundation CH/13/2/30154Kidney Research UK Intermediate Fellowship INT_009_20191202Medical Research Council MR/T03291X/1NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsRare, deleterious genetic variants in FLT4 are associated with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. The distinct genetic variants in FLT4 are also an established cause of Milroy disease, the most prevalent form of primary hereditary lymphoedema. The phenotypic features of these two conditions are non-overlapping, implying pleiotropic cellular mechanisms during development. METHODS AND

resultsIn this study, we show that FLT4 variants identified in patients with TOF, when expressed in primary human endothelial cells, cause aggregation of FLT4 protein in the perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum, activating proteostatic and metabolic signalling, whereas lymphoedema-associated FLT4 variants and wild-type (WT) FLT4 do not. FLT4 TOF variants display characteristic gene expression profiles in key developmental signalling pathways, revealing a role for FLT4 in cardiogenesis distinct from its role in lymphatic development. Inhibition of proteostatic signalling abrogates these effects, identifying potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. Depletion of flt4 in zebrafish caused cardiac phenotypes of reduced heart size and altered heart looping. These phenotypes were rescued with coinjection of WT human FLT4 mRNA, but incompletely or not at all by mRNA harbouring FLT4 TOF variants.

conclusionTaken together, we identify a pathogenic mechanism for FLT4 variants predisposing to TOF that is distinct from the known dominant negative mechanism of Milroy-causative variants. FLT4 variants give rise to conditions of the two circulatory subdivisions of the vascular system via distinct developmental pleiotropic molecular mechanisms.

Indexed as

Signal TransductionTetralogy of FallotVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3ZebrafishZebrafish ProteinsAnimalsCells, CulturedEndoplasmic ReticulumEndothelial CellsGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHumansHuman Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsLymphedemaMutationPhenotypeFLT4 protein, humanVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3Zebrafish ProteinsCongenital heart diseaseDevelopmental pleiotropyFLT4Primary lymphoedemaProteostasisTetralogy of FallotVEGFR3

Identifiers

PMID38713105
PMCPMC11368125

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.