Loss of Gli3 enhances the viability of embryonic telencephalic cells in vitro.
The transcription factor Gli3 is important for brain and limb development. Mice homozygous for a mutation in Gli3 (Gli3Xt/Xt) have severe abnormalities of telencephalic development and previous studies have suggested that aberrant cell death may contribute to the Gli3Xt/Xt phenotype. We demonstrate that telencephalic cells from embryonic Gli3Xt/Xt embryos survive better and are more resistant to death induced by cytosine arabinoside, a nucleoside analogue that induces death in neuronal progenitors and neurons, than are control counterparts in vitro. Culture medium conditioned by Gli3Xt/Xt cells is more effective at enhancing the viability of control telencephalic cells than medium conditioned by control cells, indicating that Gli3Xt/Xt cells release a factor or factors which enhance telencephalic cell viability. Gli3(Xt/Xt) cells are also more sensitive to released factors present in conditioned media. These data suggest that Gli3 plays both cell-autonomous and cell-nonautonomous roles in mediating telencephalic cell viability.
Zaki
Paulette A
PA
Genes and Development Group, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.
Martynoga
Ben
B
Delafield-Butt
Jonathan T
JT
Fotaki
Vassiliki
V
Yu
Tian
T
Price
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology*; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3
D000963:Antimetabolites; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; C465571:Gli3 protein, mouse; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine