Differential expression of GATA-4 and GATA-6 in fetal and adult mouse and human adrenal tissue.
Earlier work implicates transcription factors GATA-4 and GATA-6 in murine adrenal function. We have now studied their expression during mouse and human adrenal development in detail. GATA-4 and GATA-6 mRNAs and protein are readily detectable from embryonic d 14 and gestational wk 19 onwards in the mouse and human adrenal cortex, respectively. In the postnatal adrenal, GATA-4 expression is down-regulated, whereas GATA-6 mRNA and protein continue to be expressed. To clarify the significance of GATA-4 for early adrenocortical development, Gata4-/- ES cells were injected into eight-cell-stage embryos derived from ROSA26 mice, a transgenic line expressing beta-galactosidase in all cell types, including the adrenocortical cells. The resultant chimeric embryos were stained with X-gal to discriminate ES cell- and host-derived tissue. Gata4-/- cells contributed to adrenocortical cells in these chimeras, and these cells also expressed GATA-6. Taken together, our findings suggest that GATA-6 expression is needed throughout adrenal development from fetal to adult age. GATA-4, on the other hand, may serve a role in the fetal adrenal gene regulation, although it is not essential for early adrenocortical differentiation.
Children's Hospital, Program for Developmental and Reproductive Biology, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 Umiversity of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
Sanne
S
Kiiveri
Jianqi
J
Liu
Mia
M
Westerholm-Ormio
Naoko
N
Narita
David B
DB
Wilson
Raimo
R
Voutilainen
Markku
M
Heikinheimo
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; C494759:GATA6 protein, human; C494760:Gata6 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors