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Studying Wnt Signaling During Patterning of Conducting Airways
Published on: October 16, 2016
Embryonic Wnt gene expression in the nitrofen-induced hypoplastic lung using 3-dimensional imaging
Hajime Takayasu1, Paula Murphy, Hideaki Sato
1The Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|November 2, 2010
Summary
Wnt2 gene expression is reduced in early lung development in a congenital diaphragmatic hernia model. Optical projection tomography aids in visualizing these early developmental changes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Wnt signaling is crucial for lung morphogenesis.
- Previous studies noted Wnt2 and Wnt7b downregulation in late gestation CDH models.
- Early lung bud Wnt expression patterns in CDH remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate Wnt gene expression patterns in early lung development.
- Utilize Optical Projection Tomography (OPT) for 3D imaging of Wnt distribution.
- Examine Wnt expression in the nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) model at the lung bud stage.
Main Methods:
- Harvested embryos from control and nitrofen-treated dams at embryonic day 10 (E10).
- Performed whole-mount in situ hybridization for Wnt2 and Wnt7b transcripts.
- Analyzed and reconstructed gene expression and morphology using OPT.
Main Results:
- Wnt2 transcripts were detected in lung bud mesenchyme of controls.
- Wnt2 expression was markedly diminished in the nitrofen-induced CDH model.
- Wnt7b transcripts showed similar expression in bronchi mesoderm and lung buds between control and nitrofen groups.
Conclusions:
- Wnt2 expression is downregulated at the lung bud stage in the nitrofen-induced CDH model.
- OPT is a valuable tool for visualizing gene expression and morphology in early organogenesis.
- This study provides novel insights into Wnt signaling's role in early lung development and CDH.
