Gene expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) in calcifying tissues of normal and cbfa1-null mutant mice in late stage of embryonic development.
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), one of the most recently described growth factors, is produced by chondrocytes, vascular endothelial cells, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-stimulated fibroblasts. CTGF was isolated from a chondrosarcoma-derived chondrocytic cell line, HCS-2/8, and found to be normally expressed in cartilage tissues, especially in hypertrophic chondrocytes, and also to stimulate both the proliferation and the differentiation of chondrocytes in vitro. Therefore, CTGF is thought to be one of the most important regulators of endochondral ossification in vivo. Herein we describe the expression pattern of the ctgf gene in the calcifying tissues of normal developing mouse embryos in comparison with that in core binding factor a1 (Cbfa1)-targeted mutant (cbfa1-null) mouse embryos, in which impaired development and growth were characteristically observed in the skeletal system. After 15 days of development (E15), the expression of ctgf was detected in the zone of hypertrophy and provisional calcification, in which ossification proceeds toward the epiphysis during the skeletal development of the mouse embryo. Furthermore, ctgf was expressed in developing molar and incisal tooth germs around the perinatal stage. However, no expression of the gene was found in the cbfa1-null mouse embryos. These results indicate that CTGF may have certain important roles in the development of the calcifying tissues in the mouse embryo.
Department of Oral Function and Anatomy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama, Japan.
Tomoichiro
T
Yamaai
Tohru
T
Nakanishi
Masahiro
M
Asano
Kumiko
K
Nawachi
Gen
G
Yoshimichi
Kazumi
K
Ohyama
Toshifumi
T
Komori
Tomosada
T
Sugimoto
Masaharu
M
Takigawa
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001483:Base Sequence; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D024121:Collagen Type X / Q000235:genetics; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D050660:Core Binding Factors; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005865:Gestational Age; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
C526318:CCN2 protein, mouse; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024121:Collagen Type X; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D050660:Core Binding Factors; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor