Plexin-B family members demonstrate non-redundant expression patterns in the developing mouse nervous system: an anatomical basis for morphogenetic effects of Sema4D during development.
Semaphorins and their receptors play important roles in patterning the connectivity of the developing nervous system and recent data suggest that members of the plexin-B family of semaphorin receptors may be involved in axonal guidance. Here we show that the mRNAs of the three plexin-B genes, plxnb1, plxnb2 and plxnb3 (plexin-B1, plexin-B2 and plexin-B3), respectively, are expressed in highly specific and non-redundant patterns in peripheral and central components of the nervous system over defined periods during murine development. Whereas plexin-B1 and plexin-B2 are strongly expressed in the neuroepithelium and developing neurons, plexin-B3 mRNA is selectively localized to the white matter. Moreover, plexin-B1 and its ligand Sema4D are expressed in complementary patterns in several regions such as the developing neopallial cortex, the dorsal root ganglia and the spinal cord over embryonic stages. The Sema4d gene demonstrates a dramatic switch from prenatal expression in neuronal populations to a postnatal expression in oligodendrocytes. In contrast to its collapsing activity on growth cones of embryonic retinal ganglion cells and hippocampal neurons, soluble Sema4D enhances axonal outgrowth in embryonic cortical explants cultured in collagen matrices. Thus, plexin-B family members and Sema4D are likely to play complex and non-redundant roles during the development of the nervous system.
Worzfeld
Thomas
T
Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Püschel
Andreas W
AW
Offermanns
Stefan
S
Kuner
Rohini
R
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D007668:Kidney; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039961:Semaphorins
D015703:Antigens, CD; C093224:CD100 antigen; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C492119:PLXNB1 protein, human; C492118:Plxnb1 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D039961:Semaphorins