title: Loss of Erk3 function in mice leads to intrauterine growth restriction, pulmonary immaturity, and neonatal lethality.
abstract: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 3 (Erk3) is an atypical member of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family. No function has yet been ascribed to this MAP kinase. Here we show that targeted disruption of the Mapk6 gene (encoding Erk3) leads to intrauterine growth restriction, associated with marked pulmonary hypoplasia, and early neonatal death during the first day of life. Around 40% of Erk3(-/-) neonates die within minutes after birth from acute respiratory failure. Erk3-deficient mice have normal lung-branching morphogenesis, but show delayed lung maturation characterized by decreased sacculation, atelectasis, and defective type II pneumocyte differentiation. Interestingly, in utero administration of glucocorticoid promoted fetal lung maturity and rescued differentiation of type II cells, but failed to alter the neonatal lethality. We observed that loss of Erk3 retards intrauterine growth, as reflected by a marked reduction in fetal lung, heart, and liver weights, and by low body weight at birth. Importantly, we found that insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-2 levels are decreased in the serum of Erk3-deficient mice. Our findings reveal a critical role for Erk3 in the establishment of fetal growth potential and pulmonary function in the mouse.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Immunologie et Cancérologie and Departments of Pharmacology and Molecular Biology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klinger
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turgeon
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lévesque
authors.forename: Geoffrey A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Kjersti M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Aagaard-Tillery
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meloche
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000201:enzymology*; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000502:physiology*; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D048053:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C474633:Mapk6 protein, mouse; D048053:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 6