Expression of EGFL7 in primordial germ cells and in adult ovaries and testes.
We have previously reported the isolation and characterization of a novel endothelial-restricted gene, Egfl7, that encodes a secreted protein of about 30-kDa. We and others demonstrated that Egfl7 is highly expressed by endothelial cells during embryonic development and becomes down-regulated in the adult vasculature. In the present paper, we show that during mouse embryonic development, Egfl7 is also expressed by primordial germ cells (PGC). Expression is down-regulated when PGCs differentiate into pro-spermatogonia and oogonia, and by 15.5 dpc Egfl7 can no longer be detected in the germ line of both sexes. Notably, Egfl7 is again transiently up-regulated in germ cells of the adult testis. In contrast, expression in the ovary remains limited to the vascular endothelium. Our results provide the first evidence of a non-endothelial expression of EGFL7 and suggest distinctive roles for Egfl7 in vascular development and germ cell differentiation.
Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Luisa
L
Campagnolo
Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Ilana
I
Moscatelli
Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Manuela
M
Pellegrini
Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Gregorio
G
Siracusa
Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Heidi
H
Stuhlmann
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; C479627:Egfl7 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger