title: Enhancement of pig embryonic implants in factor VIII KO mice: a novel role for the coagulation cascade in organ size control.
abstract: Very little is known about the mechanisms that contribute to organ size differences between species. In the present study, we used a mouse model of embryonic pig tissue implantation to define the role of host Factor VIII in controlling the final size attained by the implant. We show here that pig embryonic spleen, pancreas, and liver all grow to an increased size in mice that are deficient in the Factor VIII clotting cascade. Similar results were obtained using the transplantation model after treatment with the low molecular weight heparin derivative Clexane which markedly enhanced transplant size. Likewise, enhanced size was found upon treatment with the direct thrombin inhibitor Dabigatran, suggesting that organ size regulation might be mediated by thrombin, downstream of Factor VIII. Considering that thrombin was shown to mediate various functions unrelated to blood clotting, either directly by cleavage of protease-activated receptors (PARs) or indirectly by cleaving osteopontin (OPN) on stroma cells, the role of PAR1 and PAR4 antagonists as well as treatment with cleaved form of OPN (tcOPN) were tested. While the former was not found to have an impact on overgrowth of embryonic pig spleen implants, marked reduction of size was noted upon treatment with the (tcOPN). Collectively, our surprising set of observations suggests that factors of the coagulation cascade have a novel role in organ size control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aronovich
authors.forename: Dalit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tchorsh
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shezen
authors.forename: Chava
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Klionsky
authors.forename: Sivan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Martinowitz
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katchman
authors.forename: Smadar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eventov-Friedman
authors.forename: Ninette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amariglio
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacob-Hirsch
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rechavi
authors.forename: Yair
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Reisner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008954:Models, Biological; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D044462:Receptors, Proteinase-Activated / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D044462:Receptors, Proteinase-Activated; D053495:Osteopontin; C064658:RAG-1 protein; D005169:Factor VIII; D013917:Thrombin