视黄酸挽救的视黄酸合成酶Raldh2基因敲除鼠E10.75胚胎后肢发育正常

视黄酸合成酶Raldh2基因敲除鼠胚胎没有肢体的发育在胚胎E6.75-E 8.25期间,喂给怀孕母鼠含视黄酸（0.1 mg/g食物）食物后,Raldh2基因敲除鼠E10.75胚胎后肢形态正常,前肢发育较小.原位杂交结果表明,决定肢体近 远端轴发育的标志基因(marker gene)Fgf8,决定前-后轴发育的标志基因Shh以及后肢发育特异性基因Tbx4 和Pitx1在视黄酸挽救的Raldh2基因敲除鼠E10.75胚胎的后肢表达正常.上述结果提示,视黄酸可以挽救Raldh2基因敲除鼠E10.75胚胎后肢的正常发育.     

小鼠胚胎发育过程中Brachyury对Wnt信号通路的作用研究

Brachyury对调控小鼠胚胎发育起着至关重要的作用,缺乏Brachyury蛋白的小鼠胚胎不能正常发育。Wnt信号通路在小鼠胚胎发育中可控制胚胎的轴向发育等重要的生理过程,Brachyury可能通过与Wnt信号通路的相互作用导致短尾表型的产生。为了揭示Brachyury与Wnt信号通路相互作用关系,本研究制作了Brachyury突变小鼠,通过提取不同时期的胚胎并提取总RNA,经反转录进行qPCR检测Brachyury与Wnt信号通路相关成分的表达关系。结果显示,Brachyury、Axin2、Dkk1及Wnt3a的表达在突变胚胎和野生胚胎中的表达有显著差异。因此,Brachyury作为转录因子对上述Wnt信号通路成分的表达有调节作用,它们形成一个调控网络调控小鼠胚胎的正常发育。本研究为小鼠胚胎发育期间Brachyury (T)的功能作用提供了理论基础。     

Shh信号通路在牙早期发育中的研究进展

Sonichedgehog（Shh）信号通路在牙早期发育中起关键作用,Shh通过与其特定的受体Ptc／Smo蛋白复合物相互作用来激活整个信号通路。Shh在牙早期发育过程中的表达具有时间和空间特异性,通过自分泌和旁分泌作用于上皮组织以及周围的间充质,促进细胞增殖、分化,调控牙的形态发生。Shh基因缺失将导致小鼠在帽状期牙形态的严重畸形,牙体变小,牙索缺失。对Shh信号通路在牙早期发育的作用及其与Wnt信号通路、BMP家族、FGF家族和MSX家族之间的相互关系进行综述。     

经典饲养层细胞Wnt表达的差异及其对人胚胎干细胞Wnt/β-Catenin信号通路的影响

目的:研究比较三种经典饲养层体系使用的成纤维细胞中Wnt基因的表达,及其对共培养的人胚胎干细胞的影响。方法:PCR验证19种Wnt基因在三种不同来源饲养层细胞中的表达情况,q PCR验证各组共培养人胚胎干细胞的Wnt/β-Catenin信号通路相关基因表达水平,流式检测其在不同密度饲养层条件下的增殖分化情况。结果:在全部19种Wnt基因(Wnt1,Wnt2,Wnt2b,Wnt3,Wnt3a,Wnt4,Wnt5a,Wnt5b,Wnt6,Wnt7a,Wnt7b,Wnt8a,Wnt8b,Wnt9a,Wnt9b,Wnt10a,Wnt10b,Wnt11,Wnt16)的表达检测中,昆明白小鼠来源饲养层细胞表达其中的16种,ICR小鼠来源饲养层细胞表达其中的10种,人成纤维细胞来源饲养层细胞表达其中的10种;增加饲养层细胞密度能够不同程度活化Wnt/β-Catenin信号通路下游基因的表达,并激活人胚胎干细胞中的负反馈机制;高密度小鼠饲养层条件促进人胚胎干细胞的分化,高密度人饲养层条件促进人胚胎干细胞的增殖和分化。结论:不同经典饲养层体系提供的Wnt环境不同,其培养的人胚胎干细胞状态也有差异。     

C57BL/6小鼠PD-1基因敲除后炎症与心房电重构的关系研究

目的:研究C57BL/6小鼠在PD-1基因敲除后体内炎症升高对房颤发病易感性的影响。方法:对两组动物进行了观察:C57BL/6小鼠和C57BL/6-PD-1基因敲除小鼠(各组均为15只,雄性,6-8周龄)。应用流式细胞仪微球芯片捕获技术对比了实验组与对照组的血清炎性细胞因子表达水平,应用多导电生理记录仪检测了实验组与对照组心房有效不应期和有效不应期离散度。结果:和对照组相比较,C57BL/6-PD-1-/-小鼠血清炎性细胞因子水平明显升高,C57BL/6-PD-1-/-小鼠心房肌有效不应期较对照组减低,而有效不应期离散度则明显升高。结论:PD-1基因敲除后出现的机体内炎性细胞因子水平的升高导致了C57BL/6小鼠的心房电重构,并由此使得C57BL/6-PD-1-/-小鼠心房纤颤发病易感性升高。     

外源性Wnt3a持续作用对小鼠胚胎干细胞Wnt／β-catenin信号通路的调控作用

目的观察Wnt/β-catenin信号通路是否在体外以外源性Wnt3a持续作用小鼠胚胎干细胞后被激活,并进一步调控该通路下游基因的表达。方法应用外源性Wnt3a持续作用ES-E14TG2a小鼠胚胎干细胞21d,通过细胞免疫荧光及Western Blotting检测细胞内β-catenin蛋白,以观察该蛋白的胞内积聚情况;同时QRT-PCR检测WNT下游靶标基因的表达量,采用完全随机F检验并用LSD法进行两两比较,来确定经典WNT／β-catenin信号通路是否被激活。结果ES-E14TG2a小鼠胚胎干细胞经Wnt3a连续培养21d后,β-catenin蛋白的细胞荧光明显较强,而对照组中的荧光强度较弱,说明细胞内β-catenin蛋白没有被降解而是在胞内大量积累;Western Blotting检测结果显示Wnt3a连续培养21d后ES-E14TG2a细胞内β-catenin蛋白条带明显比空白对照的蛋白条带粗;ES—E14TG2a细胞经wnt3a培养后Pitx2、Frizzled、Sox17的表达量均持续上升,Pitx2在培养7d、14d、21d分别为4．17±0．20、7．27±0．35、8．59±0．21（F=222．757,P=0．000）;Frizzled在培养7d、14d、21d分别为1．01±0．06、2．93±0．22、5．44±0．30（F=302．703,P=0．000）;Sox17在培养7d、14d、21d分别为8．45±0．41、18．35±0．17、34．93±0．16（F=7217．083,P=0．000）;Oct4培养到7d、14d的表达量持续增加分别为1．22±0．21、1．56±0．04,而连续培养21d后Oct4基因的表达量下降为1．15±0．07（F=8．827,P=0．016）。结论Wnt3a持续作用可激活Wnt／β-catenin信号通路,并调控下游基因的表达。     

解离的小鼠牙胚上皮细胞在重聚发育过程仍维持牙齿发育基因的表达

为了解牙胚细胞解离重聚过程的细胞形态和分子机制,将小鼠帽状期牙胚解离细胞重聚,移植到小鼠肾囊膜下培养,组织切片,HE染色,观察再生牙齿的形态发生过程,并用原位杂交的方法进一步检测了与牙上皮发育密切相关的基因在再生牙上皮中的表达情况。结果发现,解离重聚的牙胚细胞在牙齿器官的再生过程重现了正常牙齿的形态发生过程;解离的牙上皮细胞在重聚和再生过程中保持Fgf8、Noggin和Shh等牙上皮发育基因表达。以上结果表明,即便是被解离形成分散状态的牙上皮细胞,在与牙胚间充质细胞重新聚合后,仍保持牙向分化的潜能。该结果为理解牙齿再生的机理提供新的实验数据,对利用干细胞进行牙齿再生的研究有重要的提示意义。     

体外培养小鼠卵母细胞及其生长分化因子-9基因表达

体外培养小鼠的窦前卵泡以得到第二次减数分裂中期(MⅡ)卵母细胞，比较体外发育卵母细胞与体内生长的卵母细胞生长分化因子-9(GDF-9)的基因表达量，探讨GDF-9的表达对卵母细胞体外发育成熟的影响。选择体外培养第2天(D2)、D4、D6、D8、D10、D12卵母细胞作为体外发育组；同窝雌性小鼠出生后D12、D14、D16、D18、D20、D22卵母细胞作为体内发育组；半定量逆转录多聚酶链反应技术分别检测两组MⅠ卵母细胞GDF-9基因表达量。结果体外培养小鼠窦前卵泡可以得到MⅡ期卵母细胞，卵泡成活率、窦腔形成率、卵母细胞成熟率分别达到89.5%、51.8%和56.6%。小鼠卵母细胞GDF-9基因表达量随发育时间的改变而发生变化，而体外发育D8—12卵母细胞GDF-9表达量显著低于同期体内发育卵母细胞(P<0.05)。体外发育D8—12卵母细胞GDF-9基因表达量低于同期体内发育的卵母细胞的原因之一可能是其发育潜能较低。     

Axial skeletal patterning in mice lacking all paralogous group 8 Hox genes

We present a detailed study of the genetic basis of mesodermal axial patterning by paralogous group 8 Hox genes in the mouse. The phenotype of Hoxd8 loss-of-function mutants is presented, and compared with that of Hoxb8- and Hoxc8-null mice. Our analysis of single mutants reveals common features for the Hoxc8 and Hoxd8 genes in patterning lower thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. In the Hoxb8 mutant, more anterior axial regions are affected. The three paralogous Hox genes are expressed up to similar rostral boundaries in the mesoderm, but at levels that strongly vary with the axial position. We find that the axial region affected in each of the single mutants mostly corresponds to the area with the highest level of gene expression. However, analysis of double and triple mutants reveals that lower expression of the other two paralogous genes also plays a patterning role when the mainly expressed gene is defective. We therefore conclude that paralogous group 8 Hox genes are involved in patterning quite an extensive anteroposterior (AP) axial region. Phenotypes of double and triple mutants reveal that Hoxb8, Hoxc8 and Hoxd8 have redundant functions at upper thoracic and sacral levels, including positioning of the hindlimbs. Interestingly, loss of functional Hoxb8 alleles partially rescues the phenotype of Hoxc8- and Hoxc8/Hoxd8-null mutants at lower thoracic and lumbar levels. This suggests that Hoxb8 affects patterning at these axial positions differently from the other paralogous gene products. We conclude that paralogous Hox genes can have a unique role in patterning specific axial regions in addition to their redundant function at other AP levels.     

Developmental genetic basis for the evolution of pelvic fin loss in the pufferfish Takifugu rubripes

Paired appendages were a key developmental innovation among vertebrates and they eventually evolved into limbs. Ancient developmental control systems for paired fins and limbs are broadly conserved among gnathostome vertebrates. Some lineages including whales, some salamanders, snakes, and many ray-fin fish, independently lost the pectoral, pelvic, or both appendages over evolutionary time. When different taxa independently evolve similar developmental morphologies, do they use the same molecular genetic mechanisms? To determine the developmental genetic basis for the evolution of pelvis loss in the pufferfish Takifugu rubripes (fugu), we isolated fugu orthologs of genes thought to be essential for limb development in tetrapods, including limb positioning (Hoxc6, Hoxd9), limb bud initiation (Pitx1, Tbx4, Tbx5), and limb bud outgrowth (Shh, Fgf10), and studied their expression patterns during fugu development. Results showed that bud outgrowth and initiation fail to occur in fugu, and that pelvis loss is associated with altered expression of Hoxd9a, which we show to be a marker for pelvic fin position in three-spine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus. These results rule out changes in appendage outgrowth and initiation genes as the earliest developmental defect in pufferfish pelvic fin loss and suggest that altered Hoxd9a expression in the lateral mesoderm may account for pelvis loss in fugu. This mechanism appears to be different from the mechanism for pelvic loss in stickleback, showing that different taxa can evolve similar phenotypes by different mechanisms.     

Some distal limb structures develop in mice lacking Sonic hedgehog signaling

Patterning of the limb is coordinated by the complex interplay of three signaling regions: the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA), and the non-ridge limb ectoderm. Complex feedback loops exist between Shh in the ZPA, Bmps and their antagonists in the adjacent mesenchyme, Wnt7a in the dorsal ectoderm and Fgfs in the AER. In contrast to the previously reported complete absence of digits in Shh(-/-) mice, we show that one morphologically distinct digit, with a well-delineated nail and phalanges, forms in Shh(-/-) hindlimbs, while intermediate structures are severely truncated and fused. The presence of distal autopod elements is consistent with weak expression of Hoxd13 in Shh(-/-) hindlimbs. Shh(-/-) forelimbs in contrast have one distal cartilage element, a less-well differentiated nail and fused intermediate bones. Interestingly, Ihh is expressed at the tip of Shh mutant limbs and could account for formation of distal structures. In contrast to previous studies we also demonstrate that Shh signaling is required for maintenance of normal Fgf8 expression, since expression of Fgf8, unlike some other AER marker genes, is rapidly lost from anterior to posterior after E10.5, with only a small domain of Fgf8 expression remaining posteriorly. Furthermore, loss of expanded Fgf8 expression is paralleled by a collapse of the handplate. Our data show that development of most intermediate elements of the hindlimb skeleton are Shh-dependent, and that Shh signaling is required for anterior-posterior expansion of the AER in both limbs and for the subsequent branching of zeugopod and autopod elements. Finally, we show that Shh is also required for outgrowth of the limb ectoderm and thus for the formation of a distinct limb compartment.     

Expression patterns of Hox10 paralogous genes during lumbar spinal cord development

We have examined the expression of three paralogous Hox genes from E11.5 through E15.5 in the mouse spinal cord. These ages coincide with major phases of spinal cord neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, cell migration, gliogenesis, and motor neuron cell death. The three genes, Hoxa10, Hoxc10, and Hoxd10, are all expressed in the lumbar spinal cord and have distinct expression patterns. Mutations in these three genes are known to affect motor neuron patterning. All three genes show lower levels of expression at the rostral limits of their domains, with selective regions of higher expression more caudally. Hoxa10 and Hoxd10 expression appears confined to postmitotic cell populations in the intermediate and ventral gray, while Hoxc10 is also expressed in proliferating cells in the dorsal ventricular zone. Hoxc10 and Hoxd10 expression is clearly excluded from the lateral motor columns at rostral lumbar levels but is present in this region more caudally. Double labeling demonstrates that Hoxc10 expression is correlated with ventrolateral LIM gene expression in the caudal part of the lumbar spinal cord.