title: The Gli2 transcriptional activator is a crucial effector for Ihh signaling in osteoblast development and cartilage vascularization.
abstract: Indian hedgehog (Ihh) critically regulates multiple aspects of endochondral bone development. Although it is generally believed that all Ihh functions are mediated by the Gli family of transcription activators and repressors, formal genetic proof for this notion has not been provided. Moreover, the extent to which different Gli proteins contribute to Ihh functions is not fully understood. Previous work has shown that de-repression of the Gli3 repressor is the predominant mode through which Ihh controls chondrocyte proliferation and maturation, but that osteoblast differentiation and hypertrophic cartilage vascularization require additional mechanisms. To test the involvement of Gli2 activation in these processes, we have generated a mouse strain that expresses a constitutive Gli2 activator in a Cre-dependent manner, and have attempted to rescue the Ihh-null mouse with the Gli2 activator, either alone or in combination with Gli3 removal. Here, we report that the Gli2 activator alone is sufficient to induce vascularization of the hypertrophic cartilage in the absence of Ihh but requires simultaneous removal of Gli3 to restore osteoblast differentiation. These results therefore provide direct genetic evidence that Gli2 and Gli3 collectively mediate all major aspects of Ihh function during endochondral skeletal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Kyu Sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Joeng
authors.forename: Fanxin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000196:embryology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000075746:Zinc Finger Protein Gli2; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3
chemical_list: C000618551:Gli2 protein, mouse; C465571:Gli3 protein, mouse; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000075746:Zinc Finger Protein Gli2; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3; C514061:ihh protein, mouse