EVBO publication highlights
May 2026
GlycoRNA complexed with heparan sulfate regulates VEGF-A signalling
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-10052-8
This study uncovers a new role for cell-surface glycoRNAs in regulating angiogenesis. Chai et al. demonstrate that glycoRNAs and RNA-binding proteins assemble into heparan sulfate-dependent cell-surface ribonucleoprotein clusters that directly modulate VEGF-A signalling in endothelial cells. The authors show that these complexes act as negative regulators of VEGF-A165-driven ERK activation, revealing an unexpected extracellular RNA-based mechanism controlling vascular growth. Using human endothelial cells, mouse retina, and zebrafish models, the study further demonstrates that disrupting VEGF–RNA interactions enhances angiogenic signalling and alters vascular development in vivo. Together, this work establishes cell-surface RNA as an active regulator of growth factor signalling and opens exciting new directions in vascular biology and angiogenesis research.
April 2026
A single-cell time-series atlas of endothelial cell embryonic development
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(26)00049-8
Endothelial cells (ECs) acquire striking organ-specific identities, but the timing and mechanisms underlying this diversification have remained elusive. Lin et al. present a time-resolved single-cell atlas of mouse EC development, revealing a mid-gestation transition during which ECs shift from a common state to specialized, tissue-specific phenotypes. This process is orchestrated by dynamic transcriptional programs and microenvironmental cues, with distinct lineage trajectories and regulatory factors guiding EC fate decisions. The resulting resource provides a framework to understand how vascular heterogeneity emerges in development and disease.
March 2026
Deletion of Mfn2 in endothelial cells triggers a mitohormetic response that improves systemic metabolism and healthspan in mice
https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(26)00012-4
In this study Iñigo Chivite and collaborators demonstrate that loss of endothelial Mfn2 induces a mitohormetic response that reprograms mitochondrial function and cellular metabolism. It shows that this adaptive signalling improves systemic glucose homeostasis and activates protective stress pathways, highlighting an active role for the endothelium in whole-body metabolic regulation. Finally, the study shows that targeting endothelial mitochondrial dynamics could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
February 2026
Transcriptomics- and 3D imaging–based characterization of the lymphatic vasculature in human skin.
https://rupress.org/jem/article/223/1/e20242353/278441/Transcriptomics-and-3D-imaging-based
This study combines single-cell transcriptomics with 3D imaging to build the most detailed map to date of the human skin lymphatic vasculature. Aline Bauer and colleagues uncover previously unrecognized lymphatic endothelial cell subtypes, including specialized valve and mechanosensitive populations, and reveal important differences between human and mouse lymphatics. The work provides a new reference atlas for understanding lymphatic function in health and disease.
