Open AccessDisruption of actin cytoskeleton and anchorage‐dependent cell spreading induces apoptotic death of mouse neural crest cells cultured in vitro
Author(s) -
Hinoue Atsushi,
Takigawa Toshiya,
Miura Takashi,
Nishimura Yoshihiko,
Suzuki Shigehiko,
Shiota Kohei
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the anatomical record part a: discoveries in molecular, cellular, and evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1552-4892
pISSN - 1552-4884
DOI - 10.1002/ar.a.20150
Subject(s) - neural crest , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , cytoskeleton , apoptosis , actin , actin cytoskeleton , programmed cell death , cell , biology , embryo , genetics
In vertebrate embryos, neural crest cells emigrate out of the neural tube and contribute to the formation of a variety of neural and nonneural tissues. Some neural crest cells undergo apoptotic death during migration, but its biological significance and the underlying mechanism are not well understood. We carried out an in vitro study to examine how the morphology and survival of cranial neural crest (CNC) cells of the mouse embryo are affected when their actin cytoskeleton or anchorage‐dependent cell spreading is perturbed. Disruption of actin fiber organization by cytochalasin D (1 μg/ml) and inhibition of cell attachment by matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2; 2.0 units/ml) were followed by morphologic changes and apoptotic death of cultured CNC cells. When the actin cytoskeleton was disrupted by cytochalasin D, the morphologic changes of cultured CNC cells preceded DNA fragmentation. These results indicate that the maintenance of cytoskeleton and anchorage‐dependent cell spreading are required for survival of CNC cells. The spatially and temporally regulated expression of proteinases may be essential for the differentiation and migration of neural crest cells. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.