title: Lhx6 and Lhx8: cell fate regulators and beyond.
abstract: As transcription factors of the lines (LIN)-11/Islet (Isl)-1/mitosis entry checkpoint (MEC)-3 (LIM)-homeobox subfamily, LIM homeobox (Lhx)6 and -8 are remarkably conserved and involved in the morphogenesis of multiple organ systems. Lhx6 and -8 play overlapping and distinctive roles, but in general act as cell fate mediators and in turn are regulated by several transcriptional factors, such as sonic hedgehog, fibroblast growth factors, and wingless-int (Wnt)/β-catenin. In this review, we first summarize Lhx6 and -8 distributions in development and then explore how Lhx6 and -8 act as transcription factors and coregulators of cell lineage specification. Known Lhx6 and -8 functions and targets are outlined in neurogenesis, craniofacial development, and germ cell differentiation. The underlying mechanisms of Lhx6 and -8 in regulating cell fate remain elusive. Whether Lhx6 and -8 affect functions in tissues and organs other than neural, craniofacial, oocytes, and germ cells is largely unexplored. Taken together, Lhx6 and -8 are important regulators of cell lineage specification and may act as one of the pivotal mediators of stem cell fate. Undoubtedly, future investigations of Lhx6 and -8 biology will continue to yield fascinating insights into tissue development and homeostasis, in addition to their putative roles in tissue regeneration and ageing.
authors.affiliation: *Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA; Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: *Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA; Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Guodong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: *Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA; Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: *Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA; Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: *Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA; Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lusai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: *Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA; Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricupero
authors.affiliation: *Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA; Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China jmao@columbia.edu lingjq@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jeremy J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: *Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA; Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China jmao@columbia.edu lingjq@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Junqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014070:Tooth / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C498504:LHX6 protein, mouse; C112960:LIM homeobox protein 8; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: LIM homeobox genes; neurogenesis; palatogenesis; tooth development; transcriptional regulation