title: Expression patterns of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) during development of the mouse embryo.
abstract: Expression of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is elevated in multiple human cancers including brain tumors, neuroblastomas, melanomas, breast cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, liver cancers, prostate cancers, and esophageal cancers. This gene plays crucial roles in tumor cell growth, invasion, angiogenesis and progression to metastasis. In addition, over-expression of AEG-1 protects primary and transformed cells from apoptosis-inducing signals by activating PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. These results suggest that AEG-1 is intimately involved in tumorigenesis and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for various human cancers. However, the normal physiological functions of AEG-1 require clarification. We presently analyzed the expression pattern of AEG-1 during mouse development. AEG-1 was expressed in mid-to-hindbrain, fronto-nasal processes, limbs, and pharyngeal arches in the early developmental period from E8.5 to E9.5. In addition, at stages of E12.5-E18.5 AEG-1 was localized in the brain, and olfactory and skeletal systems suggesting a role in neurogenesis, as well as in skin, including hair follicles, and in the liver, which are organ sites in which AEG-1 has been implicated in tumor development and progression. AEG-1 co-localized with Ki-67, indicating a role in cell proliferation, as previously revealed in tumorigenesis. Taken together, these results suggest that AEG-1 may play a prominent role during normal mouse development in the context of cell proliferation as well as differentiation, and that temporal regulation of AEG-1 expression may be required during specific stages and in specific tissues during development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
authors.forename: Hyun Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Murim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Howlett
authors.forename: Nikollaq
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vozhilla
authors.forename: Byoung Kwon
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Joyce A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Devanand
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Seok-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C483038:Mtdh protein, mouse; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins