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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.09.01.555933

Penile cavernous sinusoids are Prox1-positive hybrid vessels

Schnabellehner, S.·Kraft, M.·Schoofs, H.·Ortsater, H.·Makinen, T.
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Abstract

Endothelial cells (ECs) of blood and lymphatic vessels have distinct identity markers that define their specialized functions. Recently, specialized hybrid vasculatures with both blood and lymphatic vessel-specific features have been discovered in multiple tissues. Here, we identify the penile cavernous sinusoidal (pc-S) blood vasculature as a new hybrid vascular bed expressing key lymphatic EC identity genes Prox1, Vegfr3 and Lyve1. Using single cell transcriptome data of human corpus cavernosum tissue, we found heterogeneity within pc-S endothelia and observed distinct phenotypic alterations related to inflammation response in hybrid ECs in erectile dysfunction. Molecular, ultrastructural and functional studies further establish shared hybrid identity of pc-Ss in mouse, and reveal their morphological adaptations and ability to perform lymphatic-like function in draining high molecular weight tracers. Interestingly, we found that inhibition of the key lymphangiogenic growth factor VEGF-C did not block the development of pc-Ss in mice, distinguishing them from other lymphatic and hybrid vessels analyzed so far. Our findings provide a detailed molecular characterization of hybrid pc-Ss and pave the way for the identification of molecular targets for therapies in conditions of dysregulated penile vasculature, including erectile dysfunction.

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Schnabellehner, S., Kraft, M., Schoofs, H., Ortsater, H., Makinen, T.. 2023-09-05. Penile cavernous sinusoids are Prox1-positive hybrid vessels. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.09.01.555933

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