Sox18 is transiently expressed during angiogenesis in granulation tissue of skin wounds with an identical expression pattern to Flk-1 mRNA.
Sox18 encodes a member of the Sry-related high mobility group box (SOX) family of developmental transcription factors. Examination of Sox18 expression during embryogenesis has shown that Sox18 is expressed transiently in endothelial cells of developing blood vessels, and mutations in Sox18 have been found to underlie the mouse vascular and hair follicle mutant ragged. In this study we have examined the expression of Sox18 in angiogenesis during wound healing. Full-thickness skin wounds were created in mice, and subsequent expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the VEGF receptor Flk-1, alpha1 (iv) collagen (Col4a1), and Sox18 were studied using in situ hybridization. As has been previously reported, VEGF was expressed predominantly in the keratinocytes at the wound margins. Sox18 expression was found five days after wounding during capillary sprouting in granulation tissue and persisted through the proliferative phase of healing, but was not detected in fully epithelialized wounds 21 days after wounding. Sox18 mRNA expression was detected in capillaries within the granulation tissue and showed an identical pattern of distribution to Flk-1 and Col4a1 mRNA expression in endothelial cells. Immunostaining with a polyclonal anti-Sox18 antibody showed SOX18 protein localized in capillary endothelial cells within the granulation tissue. Capillaries in the subcutaneous tissue of unwounded skin showed no Sox18 expression. Sox18 may therefore represent a transcription factor involved in the induction of angiogenesis during wound healing and tissue repair, but not in the maintenance of endothelial cells in undamaged tissue.
Darby
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Microvascular Biology and Wound Healing Group (IADTB), Department of Human Biology, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia. ian.derby@rmit.edu.au
Bisucci
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Raghoenath
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Olsson
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Muscat
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Koopman
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D000818:Animals; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D055760:SOXF Transcription Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000235:genetics*
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D055760:SOXF Transcription Factors; C490653:Sox18 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor