title: Correlation of Versican Expression, Accumulation, and Degradation during Embryonic Development by Quantitative Immunohistochemistry.
abstract: Versican, a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, is important in embryonic development, and disruption of the versican gene is embryonically lethal in the mouse. Although several studies show that versican is increased in various organs during development, a focused quantitative study on versican expression and distribution during lung and central nervous system development in the mouse has not previously been performed. We tracked changes in versican (Vcan) gene expression and in the accumulation and degradation of versican. Vcan expression and quantitative immunohistochemistry performed from embryonic day (E) 11.5 to E15.5 showed peak Vcan expression at E13.5 in the lungs and brain. Quantitative mRNA analysis and versican immunohistochemistry showed differences in the expression of the versican isoforms in the embryonic lung and head. The expression of Vcan mRNA and accumulation of versican in tissues was complementary. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated co-localization of versican accumulation and degradation, suggesting distinct roles of versican deposition and degradation in embryogenesis. Very little versican mRNA or protein was found in the lungs of 12- to 16-week-old mice but versican accumulation was significantly increased in mice with Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection. These data suggest that versican plays an important role in fundamental, overlapping cellular processes in lung development and infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (JMS, IMW, MYC, CWF)
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (JMS, IMW, MYC, CWF)
authors.forename: Ida M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.affiliation: Center for Lung Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (TB, MYC, CWF)
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Birkland
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (JMS, IMW, MYC, CWF)|Center for Lung Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (TB, MYC, CWF)
authors.forename: Mary Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (JMS, IMW, MYC, CWF)|Center for Lung Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (TB, MYC, CWF)
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Frevert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055550:Protein Stability; D059748:Proteolysis; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000254:growth & development; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053675:Versicans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053675:Versicans
keywords: DPEAAE; Embryonic development; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; brain; image analysis; immunohistochemistry; lungs; versican