title: Traffic jam in the primitive streak: the role of defective mesoderm migration in birth defects.
abstract: Gastrulation is the process in which the three germ layers are formed that contribute to the formation of all major tissues in the developing embryo. We here review mouse genetic models in which defective gastrulation leads to mesoderm insufficiencies in the embryo. Depending on severity of the abnormalities, the outcomes range from incompatible with embryonic survival to structural birth defects, such as heart defects, spina bifida, or caudal dysgenesis. The combined evidence from the mutant models supports the notion that these congenital anomalies can originate from perturbations of mesoderm specification, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and mesodermal cell migration. Knowledge about the molecular pathways involved may help to improve strategies for the prevention of major structural birth defects.
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Department of Developmental Biology, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Nils J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Herion
authors.forename: J Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Salbaum
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kappen
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000196:embryology; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D054262:Gastrulation / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000196:embryology; D008588:Meningocele / Q000196:embryology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D054240:Primitive Streak / Q000196:embryology*; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000196:embryology; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000235:genetics; D060508:Wnt3 Protein / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D060508:Wnt3 Protein; C555508:Wnt3 protein, mouse
keywords: Fgf signaling; VACTERL; Wnt signaling; basement membrane; caudal regression; cell accumulation; cell adhesion; cell migration; endoderm; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; gastrulation; maternal diabetes; mouse mutant; neural tube defect; neuroepithelium; spinal cord