title: Cdx2 is required for correct cell fate specification and differentiation of trophectoderm in the mouse blastocyst.
abstract: Blastocyst formation marks the segregation of the first two cell lineages in the mammalian preimplantation embryo: the inner cell mass (ICM) that will form the embryo proper and the trophectoderm (TE) that gives rise to the trophoblast lineage. Commitment to ICM lineage is attributed to the function of the two transcription factors, Oct4 (encoded by Pou5f1) and Nanog. However, a positive regulator of TE cell fate has not been described. The T-box protein eomesodermin (Eomes) and the caudal-type homeodomain protein Cdx2 are expressed in the TE, and both Eomes and Cdx2 homozygous mutant embryos die around the time of implantation. A block in early TE differentiation occurs in Eomes mutant blastocysts. However, Eomes mutant blastocysts implant, and Cdx2 and Oct4 expression are correctly restricted to the ICM TE. Blastocoel formation initiates in Cdx2 mutants but epithelial integrity is not maintained and embryos fail to implant. Loss of Cdx2 results in failure to downregulate Oct4 and Nanog in outer cells of the blastocyst and subsequent death of those cells. Thus, Cdx2 is essential for segregation of the ICM and TE lineages at the blastocyst stage by ensuring repression of Oct4 and Nanog in the TE.
authors.affiliation: Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto M5G 1X5, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strumpf
authors.forename: Chai-An
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yojiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ralston
authors.forename: Kallayanee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chawengsaksophak
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rossant
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; C487514:Cdx2 protein, mouse; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C491198:Eomes protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; C475540:Nanog protein, mouse; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494174:Pou5f1 protein, mouse; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors