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MMP-2 expression during early avian cardiac and neural crest morphogenesis
D H Cai1, T M Vollberg, E Hahn-Dantona
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska 68178, USA.
Abstract:
Matrix metalloproteinase-type 2 (MMP-2) degrades extracellular matrix, mediates cell migration and tissue remodeling, and is implicated in mediating neural crest (NC) and cardiac development. However, there is little information regarding the expression and distribution of MMP-2 during cardiogenesis and NC morphogenesis. To elucidate the role of MMP-2, we performed a comprehensive study on the temporal and spatial distribution of MMP-2 mRNA and protein during critical stages of early avian NC and cardiac development. We found that ectodermally derived NC cells did not express MMP-2 mRNA during their initial formation and early emigration but encountered MMP-2 protein in basement membranes deposited by mesodermal cells. While NC cells did not synthesize MMP-2 mRNA early in migration, MMP-2 expression was seen in NC cells within the cranial paraxial and pharyngeal arch mesenchyme at later stages but was never detected in NC-derived neural structures. This suggested NC MMP-2 expression was temporally and spatially dependent on tissue interactions or differed within the various NC subpopulations. MMP-2 was first expressed within cardiogenic splanchnic mesoderm before and during the formation of the early heart tube, at sites of active pharyngeal arch and cardiac remodeling, and during cardiac cushion cell migration. Collectively, these results support the postulate that MMP-2 has an important functional role in early cardiogenesis, NC cell and cardiac cushion migration, and remodeling of the pharyngeal arches and cardiac heart tube.
Insights
Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) plays a key role in early heart development and neural crest cell migration. This study maps MMP-2 expression during avian cardiogenesis and neural crest morphogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is crucial for extracellular matrix degradation, cell migration, and tissue remodeling.
- MMP-2 is implicated in neural crest (NC) and cardiac development, but its precise role and distribution during these processes are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively investigate the temporal and spatial distribution of MMP-2 mRNA and protein during early avian NC and cardiac development.
- To elucidate the functional role of MMP-2 in cardiogenesis and NC morphogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of MMP-2 mRNA and protein expression using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.
- Detailed examination of avian embryos during critical stages of NC and cardiac development.
Main Results:
- Ectodermally derived NC cells initially lacked MMP-2 mRNA but encountered MMP-2 protein in mesodermal basement membranes.
- MMP-2 expression was later observed in NC cells within cranial paraxial and pharyngeal arch mesenchyme, but not in NC-derived neural structures.
- MMP-2 was first expressed in cardiogenic splanchnic mesoderm before heart tube formation and was present at sites of pharyngeal arch and cardiac remodeling, and during cardiac cushion cell migration.
Conclusions:
- MMP-2 expression in NC cells is temporally and spatially dependent on tissue interactions or varies among NC subpopulations.
- MMP-2 is significantly involved in early cardiogenesis, NC cell and cardiac cushion migration, and remodeling of pharyngeal arches and the cardiac heart tube.
