APOA1 binding protein promotes lymphatic cell fate and lymphangiogenesis by relieving caveolae-mediated inhibition of VEGFR3 signaling

Jun-dae Kim, Surbhi Chaudhary, Weiqing Chen, Jonathan Astin, Philip S. Crosier, Pengchun Yu, John P. Cooke, Henry J. Pownall, Hugo J. Bellen, Nhat-Tu Le, Daniel L. Kiss, Guangyu Wang, Stanley G. Rockson, Hong Chen () and Longhou Fang ()
Additional contact information
Jun-dae Kim: Houston Methodist Research Institute. Houston Methodist
Surbhi Chaudhary: Houston Methodist Research Institute. Houston Methodist
Weiqing Chen: Houston Methodist
Jonathan Astin: University of Auckland
Philip S. Crosier: University of Auckland
Pengchun Yu: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
John P. Cooke: Houston Methodist Research Institute. Houston Methodist
Henry J. Pownall: Houston Methodist Research Institute. Houston Methodist
Hugo J. Bellen: Baylor College of Medicine
Nhat-Tu Le: Houston Methodist Research Institute. Houston Methodist
Daniel L. Kiss: Houston Methodist Research Institute. Houston Methodist
Guangyu Wang: Houston Methodist
Stanley G. Rockson: Stanford University School of Medicine
Hong Chen: Harvard Medical School
Longhou Fang: Houston Methodist Research Institute. Houston Methodist

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Abstract The lymphatic system maintains tissue fluid balance, and its dysfunction can result in lymphedema. Although cholesterol is essential for cellular function, its role in lymphatic development has remained unknown. Here, we identify APOA1 binding protein (AIBP) as a key regulator that promotes lymphatic endothelial cell fate specification and lymphangiogenesis. Mechanistically, AIBP reduces plasma membrane cholesterol content, thereby enhancing VEGFR3 signaling by disrupting caveolae—small plasma membrane invaginations formed by the scaffolding protein caveolin-1 (CAV-1)—and relieving CAV-1–mediated inhibition. In zebrafish and mice, AIBP loss impairs VEGFR3 signaling and lymphatic development, defects that can be rescued by CAV-1 deletion or by a VEGFR3 mutant (VEGFR3AAA) lacking CAV-1 binding. Administration of recombinant AIBP augments VEGFC-induced lymphangiogenesis and accelerates the resolution of secondary lymphedema in adult mice. These findings define the AIBP–CAV-1 axis as a regulator of VEGFR3 signaling and lymphatic growth, offering potential therapeutic opportunities for treating lymphatic dysfunction.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60611-w

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