Expression of Hoxb genes in the developing mouse foregut and lung

Lung development in the mouse begins at embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) when lung buds form in the foregut. Subsequently, there is extensive branching and cellular differentiation that depends upon specific epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Homeobox genes are expressed in specific temporo-spatial patterns in the developing embryo and are known to be involved in axial patterning and specification of regional identity. Using whole mount in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we studied the expression of Hoxb-1, b-2, b-3, b-4 and b-5 in the E9.5-E14.5 foreguts and lungs. Our results show that in E9.5 branchial arches and foregut, Hoxb genes are expressed in overlapping spatial domains and the anterior boundaries of these domains correspond to the position of a particular gene in the cluster-genes on the 3' end of the cluster are expressed more anteriorly in the branchial arches and foregut and those on the 5' end are expressed more posteriorly. Three of the genes, Hoxb-3, b-4, and b-5, are highly expressed in the foregut where the lung buds form. In contrast, in E10.5-E14.5 lung, there are two patterns of Hoxb gene expression. Hoxb-3 and b-4 are expressed in the mesenchyme of the trachea, mainstem bronchi, and distal lung, whereas Hoxb-2 and b-5 mRNA are present only in the mesenchyme of the distal lung buds. These results suggest that specific combinations of Hoxb gene expression are important in lung development and that Hoxb genes may be involved in specifying the differences between proximal (trachea and main bronchi) and distal (lung bud) mesenchyme.