title: Regulation of the Hoxa4 and Hoxa5 genes in the embryonic mouse lung by retinoic acid and TGFbeta1: implications for lung development and patterning.
abstract: We have previously described a 5; cis-acting retinoic acid response element that is required for a subset of Hoxa4 expression, including the midgestation mouse lung. As both retinoids and Hox genes have been implicated in lung development and patterning, we have examined Hoxa4 expression in the developing mouse lung and extended our work on its regulation. At E12.5, a Hoxa4/lacZ transgene is expressed in the mesenchymal compartment of the lung. Later in development expression is restricted to the proximal mesenchyme and is also observed in smooth muscle cells, subepithelial fibroblasts, and alveolar cells. We show that both Hoxa4 and Hoxa5 are upregulated when cultured in the presence of all-trans retinoic acid. In addition, retinoic acid extends the domain of Hoxa4 and Hoxa5 expression to the periphery of the explants where the distal epithelia are developing. Interestingly, the effect of retinoic acid on Hoxa5 expression was not observed in a Hoxa4 mutant background. In contrast, TGFbeta1 was found to downregulate both Hoxa4 and Hoxa5 expression in cultured lung explants. We also establish that retinoic acid has the effect of proximalizing the mouse lung when cultured in a serum-free medium, as evidenced by reduced expression of the distal marker surfactant protein-C. Lungs from Hoxa4 mutant embryos exhibited a similar response to retinoic acid, suggesting that Hoxa4 alone is not required for the proximalizing effect. Based on their retinoid-dependent expression, we conclude that members of the group 4 and/or group 5 Hox genes are likely to be involved in patterning of the mouse lung. Dev Dyn 2000;217:62-74.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Mailutha
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ambrozewicz
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wolgemuth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489213:HOXA5 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C484111:Hoxa4 protein, mouse; C059637:Hoxa5 protein, mouse; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014212:Tretinoin