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Intestinal maturation in mice lacking CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EPBalpha)
T J Oesterreicher1, L L Leeper, M J Finegold
1Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
The Biochemical Journal
|May 23, 1998
Summary
CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) is not essential for intestinal development or epithelial gene expression in mice. However, other C/EBP family members may play a role in this process.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) expression surges in the late fetal rodent intestine.
- This surge precedes intestinal morphological maturation and epithelial gene expression onset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal role of C/EBPalpha in intestinal maturation and epithelial gene expression.
- To assess structural and functional maturation in C/EBPalpha-null mice neonates.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of C/EBPalpha-null mice and littermates.
- Assessment of mucosal architecture and proliferative zone size.
- Quantification of specific epithelial gene mRNA levels (GLUT2, SGLT1, lactase, apolipoproteins).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in mucosal architecture or proliferative zone size were observed between genotypes.
- mRNA levels for GLUT2, intestinal/liver fatty acid-binding proteins, and apolipoprotein A-IV were similar.
- Paradoxically, SGLT1, lactase phlorizin-hydrolase, and apolipoprotein B mRNAs were higher in C/EBPalpha-deficient mice.
- No compensatory upregulation of C/EBPbeta and C/EBPdelta was found in knockout animals.
Conclusions:
- C/EBPalpha is not essential for intestinal morphological maturation, epithelial proliferation patterns, or the onset of specific epithelial gene expression.
- Other C/EBP family members might fulfill a generic requirement for intestinal development.