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An activating mutation in the PDGF receptor alpha results in embryonic lethality caused by malformation of the vascular system
Author(s) -
Kurth Patricia,
Moenning Anne,
Jäger Richard,
Beine Gaby,
Schorle Hubert
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.21939
Subject(s) - biology , embryonic stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , platelet derived growth factor receptor , blood vessel , receptor , embryo , cancer research , anatomy , endocrinology , growth factor , genetics , gene
Platelet‐derived growth factors (PDGF) and their receptors control cell proliferation, survival, and migration. To test the influence of an oncogenic mutation to embryonic development, a transgenic mouse line expressing PDGFRα (D842V) was established and analyzed. Most of the embryos die on embryonic day 12.5 due to massive hemorrhages in the trunk. In mesenchymal cells of mutant animals, proliferation is decreased while apoptosis is increased. Further analyses reveal that the aortic blood vessels are enlarged showing a reduced numbers of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC) around the aorta. We hypothesize that the process of aortic wall formation is impaired, leading to subsequent rupture and leakage of the blood vessel resulting in death of the embryos. We speculate that misexpression of PDGFRα in SMCs causes failure of vSMC recruitment to the aorta. Developmental Dynamics 238:1064–1072, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.