Open AccessExpression of Signaling Components in Embryonic Eyelid Epithelium
Author(s) -
Qingxi Meng,
Jin Chang,
Yinglei Chen,
Jing Chen,
Mario Medvedovic,
Ying Xia
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0087038
Subject(s) - wnt signaling pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , jag1 , notch signaling pathway , epithelium , signal transduction , embryonic stem cell , laser capture microdissection , gene expression , gene , genetics
Closure of an epithelium opening is a critical morphogenetic event for development. An excellent example for this process is the transient closure of embryonic eyelid. Eyelid closure requires shape change and migration of epithelial cells at the tip of the developing eyelids, and is dictated by numerous signaling pathways. Here we evaluated gene expression in epithelial cells isolated from the tip (leading edge, LE) and inner surface epithelium (IE) of the eyelid from E15.5 mouse fetuses by laser capture microdissection (LCM). We showed that the LE and IE cells are different at E15.5, such that IE had higher expression of muscle specific genes, while LE acquired epithelium identities. Despite their distinct destinies, these cells were overall similar in expression of signaling components for the “eyelid closure pathways”. However, while the LE cells had more abundant expression of Fgfr2 , Erbb2 , Shh , Ptch1 and 2 , Smo and Gli2 , and Jag1 and Notch1 , the IE cells had more abundant expression of Bmp5 and Bmpr1a . In addition, the LE cells had more abundant expression of adenomatosis polyposis coli down-regulated 1 ( Apcdd1 ), but the IE cells had high expression of Dkk2 . Our results suggest that the functionally distinct LE and IE cells have also differential expression of signaling molecules that may contribute to the cell-specific responses to morphogenetic signals. The expression pattern suggests that the EGF, Shh and NOTCH pathways are preferentially active in LE cells, the BMP pathways are effective in IE cells, and the Wnt pathway may be repressed in LE and IE cells via different mechanisms.