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Mouse Embryonic Lung Culture, A System to Evaluate the Molecular Mechanisms of Branching
Published on: June 30, 2010
Expression of Spred and Sprouty in developing rat lung
Shuichi Hashimoto1, Hiroshi Nakano, Gurmukh Singh
1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. hashi@pathol1.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Sproutys and Sprouty-related proteins, Spred-1 and -2, are known inhibitors of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling, which plays key role in lung branching morphogenesis and the development of other tissues. The present study demonstrates that Spreds are expressed in a variety of rat embryonic tissues (brain, intestine, heart, skin) including the lung. In the embryonic lung, Spreds and Sproutys are expressed during the early stages of branching morphogenesis, but their expression profiles are both distinct and overlapping. Spreds are predominantly expressed in mesenchymal cells in contrast to Sproutys, which are abundantly expressed in epithelial cells. Spred expression is especially strong in the regions of new bud formation both in the peripheral mesenchyme as well as in the epithelium. The peripheral region also expresses FGF-10 in the mesenchymal cells and FGF-9 in the mesothelial cells. The expression profiles suggest that Spreds, Sproutys and FGF-9/FGF-10 are part of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, which are essential for the development and maintenance of normal lung branching pattern.
Insights
Spreds and Sproutys, inhibitors of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling, are expressed in embryonic rat lungs. Their distinct expression patterns suggest roles in lung branching morphogenesis via epithelial-mesenchymal interactions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is crucial for lung branching morphogenesis.
- Sproutys and Spreds (Sprouty-related proteins) are known inhibitors of FGF signaling.
- Understanding the roles of Spreds and Sproutys in lung development is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of Spreds and Sproutys in embryonic rat tissues, particularly the lung.
- To elucidate the potential roles of Spreds, Sproutys, and FGF-9/FGF-10 in lung branching morphogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Expression analysis of Spreds and Sproutys in various embryonic rat tissues.
- Detailed examination of Spred and Sproutys expression during lung branching morphogenesis.
- Correlation of Spred/Sprouty expression with FGF-9 and FGF-10 expression patterns.
Main Results:
- Spreds and Sproutys are expressed in multiple embryonic rat tissues, including the lung.
- Distinct yet overlapping expression profiles of Spreds (mesenchyme) and Sproutys (epithelium) were observed during lung branching.
- Spred expression is prominent in new bud formation regions, co-localizing with FGF-9 and FGF-10.
Conclusions:
- Spreds and Sproutys are involved in embryonic lung development.
- The distinct expression patterns of Spreds and Sproutys suggest their involvement in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during lung morphogenesis.
- FGF-9, FGF-10, Spreds, and Sproutys likely form a regulatory network essential for normal lung branching.
