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.
Campagnolo
Luisa
L
Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Moscatelli
Ilana
I
Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Pellegrini
Manuela
M
Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Siracusa
Gregorio
G
Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Stuhlmann
Heidi
H
Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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