The BMP antagonist Gremlin regulates outgrowth, chondrogenesis and programmed cell death in the developing limb

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 5515-5522 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Merino ◽  
J. Rodriguez-Leon ◽  
D. Macias ◽  
Y. Ganan ◽  
A.N. Economides ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Limb Development ◽  
Limb Bud ◽  
Central Core ◽  
Limb Outgrowth ◽  
Bmp Antagonists ◽  
And Function ◽  
Bmp Antagonist

In this study, we have analyzed the expression and function of Gremlin in the developing avian limb. Gremlin is a member of the DAN family of BMP antagonists highly conserved through evolution able to bind and block BMP2, BMP4 and BMP7. At early stages of development, gremlin is expressed in the dorsal and ventral mesoderm in a pattern complementary to that of bmp2, bmp4 and bmp7. The maintenance of gremlin expression at these stages is under the control of the AER, ZPA, and BMPs. Exogenous administration of recombinant Gremlin indicates that this protein is involved in the control of limb outgrowth. This function appears to be mediated by the neutralization of BMP function to maintain an active AER, to restrict the extension of the areas of programmed cell death and to confine chondrogenesis to the central core mesenchyme of the bud. At the stages of digit formation, gremlin is expressed in the proximal boundary of the interdigital mesoderm of the chick autopod. The anti-apoptotic influence of exogenous Gremlin, which results in the formation of soft tissue syndactyly in the chick, together with the expression of gremlin in the duck interdigital webs, indicates that Gremlin regulates the regression of the interdigital tissue. At later stages of limb development, gremlin is expressed in association with the differentiating skeletal pieces, muscles and the feather buds. The different expression of Gremlin in relation with other BMP antagonists present in the limb bud, such as Noggin, Chordin and Follistatin indicates that the functions of BMPs are regulated specifically by the different BMP antagonists, acting in a complementary fashion rather than being redundant signals.

scholarly journals Role of FGFs in the control of programmed cell death during limb development

Development ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 128 (11) ◽  
pp. 2075-2084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Antonio Montero ◽  
Yolanda Gañan ◽  
Domingo Macias ◽  
Joaquin Rodriguez-Leon ◽  
Juan Jose Sanz-Ezquerro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Limb Development ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Limb Bud ◽  
Fgf Signaling ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Combined Action ◽  
Bmp Antagonist

We have investigated the role of FGFs in the control of programmed cell death during limb development by analyzing the effects of increasing and blocking FGF signaling in the avian limb bud. BMPs are currently considered as the signals responsible for cell death. Here we show that FGF signaling is also necessary for apoptosis and that the establishment of the areas of cell death is regulated by the convergence of FGF- and BMP-mediated signaling pathways. As previously demonstrated, cell death is inhibited for short intervals (12 hours) after administration of FGFs. However, this initial inhibition is followed (24 hours) by a dramatic increase in cell death, which can be abolished by treatments with a BMP antagonist (Noggin or Gremlin). Conversely, blockage of FGF signaling by applying a specific FGF-inhibitor (SU5402) into the interdigital regions inhibits both physiological cell death and that mediated by exogenous BMPs. Furthermore, FGF receptors 1, 2 and 3 are expressed in the autopodial mesoderm during the regression of the interdigital tissue, and the expression of FGFR3 in the interdigital regions is regulated by FGFs and BMPs in the same fashion as apopotosis. Together our findings indicate that, in the absence of FGF signaling BMPs are not sufficient to trigger apoptosis in the developing limb. Although we provide evidence for a positive influence of FGFs on BMP gene expression, the physiological implication of FGFs in apoptosis appears to result from their requirement for the expression of genes of the apoptotic cascade. We have identified MSX2 and Snail as candidate genes associated with apoptosis the expression of which requires the combined action of FGFs and BMPs.

Autoregulation of Shh expression and Shh induction of cell death suggest a mechanism for modulating polarising activity during chick limb development

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (22) ◽  
pp. 4811-4823 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Sanz-Ezquerro ◽  
C. Tickle
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Sonic Hedgehog ◽  
Limb Development ◽  
Retroviral Vector ◽  
Cellular Mechanism ◽  
Limb Bud ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Signalling Molecule ◽  
Vertebrate Limb

The polarising region expresses the signalling molecule sonic hedgehog (Shh), and is an embryonic signalling centre essential for outgrowth and patterning of the vertebrate limb. Previous work has suggested that there is a buffering mechanism that regulates polarising activity. Little is known about how the number of Shh-expressing cells is controlled but, paradoxically, the polarising region appears to overlap with the posterior necrotic zone, a region of programmed cell death. We have investigated how Shh expression and cell death respond when levels of polarising activity are altered, and show an autoregulatory effect of Shh on Shh expression and that Shh affects cell death in the posterior necrotic zone. When we increased Shh signalling, by grafting polarising region cells or applying Shh protein beads, this led to a reduction in the endogenous Shh domain and an increase in posterior cell death. In contrast, cells in other necrotic regions of the limb bud, including the interdigital areas, were rescued from death by Shh protein. Application of Shh protein to late limb buds also caused alterations in digit morphogenesis. When we reduced the number of Shh-expressing cells in the polarising region by surgery or drug-induced killing, this led to an expansion of the Shh domain and a decrease in the number of dead cells. Furthermore, direct prevention of cell death using a retroviral vector expressing Bcl2 led to an increase in Shh expression. Finally, we provide evidence that the fate of some of the Shh-expressing cells in the polarising region is to undergo apoptosis and contribute to the posterior necrotic zone during normal limb development. Taken together, these results show that there is a buffering system that regulates the number of Shh-expressing cells and thus polarising activity during limb development. They also suggest that cell death induced by Shh could be the cellular mechanism involved. Such an autoregulatory process based on cell death could represent a general way for regulating patterning signals in embryos.

scholarly journals Frequent amplification of HDAC genes and efficacy of HDAC inhibitor chidamide and PD-1 blockade combination in soft tissue sarcoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e001696
Author(s):  
Yi Que ◽  
Xiao-Long Zhang ◽  
Ze-Xian Liu ◽  
Jing-Jing Zhao ◽  
Qiu-Zhong Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Soft Tissue Sarcoma ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Gene Family ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Drug Target ◽  
Class I ◽  
Mechanistic Study

BackgroundThe advent of immune checkpoint therapy has been a tremendous advance in cancer treatment. However, the responses are still insufficient in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS). We aimed to identify rational combinations to increase the response to immune checkpoint therapy and improve survival.MethodsWhole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed in 11 patients with liposarcoma. Somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) were analyzed at the gene level to identify obvious amplification patterns in drug-target genes. The expression and prognostic value of class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) was evaluated in 49 patients with sarcoma in our center and confirmed in 263 sarcoma samples from The Tumor Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Q-PCR, flow cytometry and RNA-seq were performed to determine the correlations between class I HDACs, chidamide and PD-L1 in vitro and in vivo. The efficacy of combining chidamide with PD-1 blockade was explored in an immunocompetent murine model and a small cohort of patients with advanced sarcoma. Western blot, ChIP assay and dual luciferase assessment were applied in the mechanistic study.ResultsThe HDAC gene family was frequently amplified in STS. SCNAs in the HDAC gene family were extensively amplified in 8 of 11 (73%) patients with liposarcoma, based on a drug-target gene set, and we verified amplification in 76.65% (197/257) of cases by analyzing TCGA sarcoma cohort. Class I HDAC expression is associated with a poor prognosis for patients with STS, and its inhibition is responsible for promoting apoptosis and upregulating of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). The HDAC class I inhibitor chidamide significantly increases PD-L1 expression, increased the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and reduced the number of MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment. The combination of chidamide with an anti-PD-1 antibody significantly promotes tumor regression and improves survival in a murine model. Moreover, chidamide combined with the anti-PD-1 antibody toripalimab is effective in patients with advanced and metastatic sarcoma, and the side effects are tolerable. Mechanistically, chidamide increases histone acetylation at the PD-L1 gene through the activation of the transcriptional factor STAT1.ConclusionsThe combination of chidamide and anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) therapy represents a potentially important strategy for STS.

The dominant hemimelia mutation uncouples epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and disrupts anterior mesenchyme formation in mouse hindlimbs

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (21) ◽  
pp. 4729-4736
Author(s):  
L. Lettice ◽  
J. Hecksher-Sorensen ◽  
R.E. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Pattern Formation ◽  
Limb Development ◽  
Limb Bud ◽  
Mouse Mutation ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Limb Outgrowth ◽  
Gene Functions ◽  
Regulatory Loop ◽  
Limb Initiation

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are essential for both limb outgrowth and pattern formation in the limb. Molecules capable of communication between these two tissues are known and include the signaling molecules SHH and FGF4, FGF8 and FGF10. Evidence suggests that the pattern and maintenance of expression of these genes are dependent on a number of factors including regulatory loops between genes expressed in the AER and those in the underlying mesenchyme. We show here that the mouse mutation dominant hemimelia (Dh) alters the pattern of gene expression in the AER such that Fgf4, which is normally expressed in a posterior domain, and Fgf8, which is expressed throughout are expressed in anterior patterns. We show that maintenance of Shh expression in the posterior mesenchyme is not dependent on either expression of Fgf4 or normal levels of Fgf8 in the overlying AER. Conversely, AER expression of Fgf4 is not directly dependent on Shh expression. Also the reciprocal regulatory loop proposed for Fgf8 in the AER and Fgf10 in the underlying mesenchyme is also uncoupled by this mutation. Early during the process of limb initiation, Dh is involved in regulating the width of the limb bud, the mutation resulting in selective loss of anterior mesenchyme. The Dh gene functions in the initial stages of limb development and we suggest that these initial roles are linked to mechanisms that pattern gene expression in the AER.

scholarly journals Cdc42 is required for chondrogenesis and interdigital programmed cell death during limb development

2012 ◽  
Vol 129 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 38-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Aizawa ◽  
Atsushi Yamada ◽  
Dai Suzuki ◽  
Tadahiro Iimura ◽  
Hidetoshi Kassai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Limb Development

scholarly journals An intrinsic cell cycle timer terminates limb bud outgrowth

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Pickering ◽  
Constance A Rich ◽  
Holly Stainton ◽  
Cristina Aceituno ◽  
Kavitha Chinnaiya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Rna Sequencing ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Limb Development ◽  
Limb Bud ◽  
Limb Outgrowth ◽  
Bmp Signalling ◽  
Mesenchyme Cells

The longstanding view of how proliferative outgrowth terminates following the patterning phase of limb development involves the breakdown of reciprocal extrinsic signalling between the distal mesenchyme and the overlying epithelium (e-m signalling). However, by grafting distal mesenchyme cells from late stage chick wing buds to the epithelial environment of younger wing buds, we show that this mechanism is not required. RNA sequencing reveals that distal mesenchyme cells complete proliferative outgrowth by an intrinsic cell cycle timer in the presence of e-m signalling. In this process, e-m signalling is required permissively to allow the intrinsic cell cycle timer to run its course. We provide evidence that a temporal switch from BMP antagonism to BMP signalling controls the intrinsic cell cycle timer during limb outgrowth. Our findings have general implications for other patterning systems in which extrinsic signals and intrinsic timers are integrated.

The role of Alx-4 in the establishment of anteroposterior polarity during vertebrate limb development

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (22) ◽  
pp. 4417-4425 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Takahashi ◽  
K. Tamura ◽  
D. Buscher ◽  
H. Masuya ◽  
S. Yonei-Tamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Limb Development ◽  
Feedback Loop ◽  
Limb Bud ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Negative Feedback Loop ◽  
Vertebrate Limb ◽  
Limb Outgrowth ◽  
Vertebrate Limb Development

We have determined that Strong's Luxoid (lstJ) [corrected] mice have a 16 bp deletion in the homeobox region of the Alx-4 gene. This deletion, which leads to a frame shift and a truncation of the Alx-4 protein, could cause the polydactyly phenotype observed in lstJ [corrected] mice. We have cloned the chick homologue of Alx-4 and investigated its expression during limb outgrowth. Chick Alx-4 displays an expression pattern complementary to that of shh, a mediator of polarizing activity in the limb bud. Local application of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), in addition to ectodermal apical ridge removal experiments suggest the existence of a negative feedback loop between Alx-4 and Shh during limb outgrowth. Analysis of polydactylous mutants indicate that the interaction between Alx-4 and Shh is independent of Gli3, a negative regulator of Shh in the limb. Our data suggest the existence of a negative feedback loop between Alx-4 and Shh during vertebrate limb outgrowth.

Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the interdigital tissue of the embryonic chick leg bud

1993 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Garcia-Martinez ◽  
D. Macias ◽  
Y. Ganan ◽  
J.M. Garcia-Lobo ◽  
M.V. Francia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Dna Fragmentation ◽  
Limb Development ◽  
Light Transmission ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Death Process ◽  
Chondrogenic Potential ◽  
Cell Death Process ◽  
Dying Cells

In this work we have attempted to characterize the programmed cell death process in the chick embryonic interdigital tissue. Interdigital cell death is a prominent phenomenon during limb development and has the role of sculpturing the digits. Morphological changes in the regressing interdigital tissue studied by light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy were correlated with the occurrence of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, evaluated using agarose gels. Programming of the cell death process was also analyzed by testing the chondrogenic potential of the interdigital mesenchyme, in high density cultures. Our results reveal a progressive loss of the chondrogenic potential of the interdigital mesenchyme, detectable 36 hours before the onset of the degenerative process. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was only detected concomitant with the appearance of cells dying with the morphology of apoptosis, but unspecific DNA fragmentation was also present at the same time. This unspecific DNA fragmentation was explained by a precocious activation of the phagocytic removal of the dying cells, confirmed in the tissue sections. From our observations it is suggested that programming of cell death involves changes before endonuclease activation. Further, cell surface changes involved in the phagocytic uptake of the dying cells appear to be as precocious as endonuclease activation.

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