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.
Kiiveri
Sanne
S
Children's Hospital, Program for Developmental and Reproductive Biology, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 Umiversity of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
Liu
Jianqi
J
Westerholm-Ormio
Mia
M
Narita
Naoko
N
Wilson
David B
DB
Voutilainen
Raimo
R
Heikinheimo
Markku
M
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