Mechanism of primitive duct formation in the pancreas and submandibular glands: a role for SDF-1.
BACKGROUND
The exocrine pancreas is composed of a branched network of ducts connected to acini. They are lined by a monolayered epithelium that derives from the endoderm and is surrounded by mesoderm-derived mesenchyme. The morphogenic mechanisms by which the ductal network is established as well as the signaling pathways involved in this process are poorly understood.


RESULTS
By morphological analyzis of wild-type and mutant mouse embryos and using cultured embryonic explants we investigated how epithelial morphogenesis takes place and is regulated by chemokine signaling. Pancreas ontogenesis displayed a sequence of two opposite epithelial transitions. During the first transition, the monolayered and polarized endodermal cells give rise to tissue buds composed of a mass of non polarized epithelial cells. During the second transition the buds reorganize into branched and polarized epithelial monolayers that further differentiate into tubulo-acinar glands. We found that the second epithelial transition is controlled by the chemokine Stromal cell-Derived Factor (SDF)-1. The latter is expressed by the mesenchyme, whereas its receptor CXCR4 is expressed by the epithelium. Reorganization of cultured pancreatic buds into monolayered epithelia was blocked in the presence of AMD3100, a SDF-1 antagonist. Analyzis of sdf1 and cxcr4 knockout embryos at the stage of the second epithelial transition revealed transient defective morphogenesis of the ventral and dorsal pancreas. Reorganization of a globular mass of epithelial cells in polarized monolayers is also observed during submandibular glands development. We found that SDF-1 and CXCR4 are expressed in this organ and that AMD3100 treatment of submandibular gland explants blocks its branching morphogenesis.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, our data show that the primitive pancreatic ductal network, which is lined by a monolayered and polarized epithelium, forms by remodeling of a globular mass of non polarized epithelial cells. Our data also suggest that SDF-1 controls the branching morphogenesis of several exocrine tissues.
Hick
Anne-Christine
AC
Université catholique de Louvain, de Duve Institute, Brussels, Belgium. anne-christine.hick@uclouvain.be
van Eyll
Jonathan M
JM
Cordi
Sabine
S
Forez
Céline
C
Passante
Lara
L
Kohara
Hiroshi
H
Nagasawa
Takashi
T
Vanderhaeghen
Pierre
P
Courtoy
Pierre J
PJ
Rousseau
Guy G
GG
Lemaigre
Frédéric P
FP
Pierreux
Christophe E
CE
D000818:Animals; D001596:Benzylamines; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000080027:Cyclams; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010179:Pancreas / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism
D001596:Benzylamines; C514936:CXCR4 protein, mouse; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; C515256:Cxcl12 protein, mouse; D000080027:Cyclams; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; C088327:plerixafor