TGF alpha can act as a chemoattractant to perioptic mesenchymal cells in developing mouse eyes

摘要: Growth factors are believed to play an important role in regulating cell fate and behavior during embryonic development. Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), a member of the epidermal (EGF) superfamily, is small polypeptide factor. Upon binding its receptor, EGF receptor (EGFR), TGF can exert diverse biological activities, such as induction proliferation or differentiation. To explore possibility that might regulate murine eye development, we generated transgenic mice express human lens under control mouse A-crystallin promoter. The displayed multiple defects, including corneal opacities, cataracts microphthalmia. At early stages induced perioptic mesenchymal cells migrate abnormally into accumulate around lens. In situ hybridization revealed EGFR mRNA highly expressed mesenchyme, suggesting migratory response mediated by activation. order test this model, were bred mutant waved-2 (wa-2) mice. We found defects significantly abated wa-2 homozygote background. Because mutation located kinase domain, result indicates tyrosine activity critical for signaling response. Taken together, our studies demonstrate capable altering decisions mesenchyme