title: Homeodomain Transcription Factor Msx-2 Regulates Uterine Progenitor Cell Response to Diethylstilbestrol.
abstract: The fate of mouse uterine epithelial progenitor cells is determined between postnatal days 5 to 7. Around this critical time window, exposure to an endocrine disruptor, diethylstilbestrol (DES), can profoundly alter uterine cytodifferentiation. We have shown previously that a homeo domain transcription factor MSX-2 plays an important role in DES-responsiveness in the female reproductive tract (FRT). Mutant FRTs exhibited a much more severe phenotype when treated with DES, accompanied by gene expression changes that are dependent onMsx2. To better understand the role that MSX-2 plays in uterine response to DES, we performed global gene expression profiling experiment in mice lackingMsx2By comparing this result to our previously published microarray data performed on wild-type mice, we extracted common and differentially regulated genes in the two genotypes. In so doing, we identified potential downstream targets of MSX-2, as well as genes whose regulation by DES is modulated through MSX-2. Discovery of these genes will lead to a better understanding of how DES, and possibly other endocrine disruptors, affects reproductive organ development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI.
authors.forename: Congxing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Ivy
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Maulik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhandha
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
keywords: Endometrium; Enviromental hormone; Msx2; diethylstilbestrol (DES)