Immediate early genes krox-24 and krox-20 are rapidly up-regulated after wounding in the embryonic and adult mouse.
Embryos show a remarkable capacity for perfect repair after injury. Wounding of embryonic skin triggers rapid activation of epithelial sweeping and mesenchymal contraction tissue movements that bear striking analogy to several naturally occurring morphogenetic tissue movements, but very little is known about the early molecular signals that might initiate such movements. Here, we describe the rapid and transient up-regulation of two immediate early genes, krox-24 and krox-20, after wounding of the embryonic mouse. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these signals are conserved, but of longer duration, in the neonate and adult wound situation. To further test the roles of these transcription factors in vivo, we performed wound healing studies on embryos lacking either Krox-24 or 20. Despite the dramatic up-regulation of these genes in response to injury, our studies reveal that neither of them on their own is essential for repair.
Grose
Richard
R
Institute of Cell Biology, HPM D25, ETH Zürich, Hönggerberg, Zürich, Switzerland.
Harris
Brett S
BS
Cooper
Lisa
L
Topilko
Piotr
P
Martin
Paul
P
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; D005697:Galactosides / Q000378:metabolism; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early; D005838:Genotype; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007211:Indoles / Q000378:metabolism; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014945:Wound Healing
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; C486109:Egr1 protein, mouse; C497327:Egr2 protein, mouse; D005697:Galactosides; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D007211:Indoles; D014157:Transcription Factors; C044888:5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-galactoside