Extensive vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and organogenesis precede lethality in mice lacking all alphav integrins

The important role of alphav integrins in many developmental processes is analyzed. A study was conducted on mice by eliminating their alphav integrin gene. While the experiment involved lethality, results showed that the removal of all five alphav integrins permits substantial and normal development and organogenesis as well as angiogenesis and particularly, vasculogenesis. These findings suggest a reevaluation of the genetic importance of integrins.