Logo image
Irx1 regulates dental outer enamel epithelial and lung alveolar type II epithelial differentiation
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Irx1 regulates dental outer enamel epithelial and lung alveolar type II epithelial differentiation

Wenjie Yu, Xiao Li, Steven Eliason, Miguel Romero-Bustillos, Ryan J Ries, Huojun Cao and Brad A Amendt
Developmental biology, Vol.429(1), pp.44-55
09/01/2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.07.011
PMCID: PMC5599132
PMID: 28746823
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.07.011View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The Iroquois genes (Irx) appear to regulate fundamental processes that lead to cell proliferation, differentiation, and maturation during development. In this report, the Iroquois homeobox 1 (Irx1) transcription factor was functionally disrupted using a LacZ insert and LacZ expression demonstrated stage-specific expression during embryogenesis. Irx1 is highly expressed in the brain, lung, digits, kidney, testis and developing teeth. Irx1 null mice are neonatal lethal and this lethality it due to pulmonary immaturity. Irx1-/- mice show delayed lung maturation characterized by defective surfactant protein secretion and Irx1 marks a population of SP-C expressing alveolar type II cells. Irx1 is specifically expressed in the outer enamel epithelium (OEE), stellate reticulum (SR) and stratum intermedium (SI) layers of the developing tooth. Irx1 mediates dental epithelial cell differentiation in the lower incisors resulting in delayed growth of the lower incisors. Irx1 is specifically and temporally expressed during developmental stages and we have focused on lung and dental development in this report. Irx1+ cells are unique to the development of the incisor outer enamel epithelium, patterning of Lef-1+ and Sox2+ cells as well as a new marker for lung alveolar type II cells. Mechanistically, Irx1 regulates Foxj1 and Sox9 to control cell differentiation during development. •Iroquois homeobox 1 (Irx1) expression is stage-specific during embryogenesis.•Irx1 null mice are neonatal lethal due to respiratory failure.•Irx1 marks specific populations of lung and dental progenitor cells.•Irx1 regulates Foxj1 and Sox9 to control cell differentiation during development.
Irx1 Tooth Cell differentiation Lung Alveolar type II cells Stem cells

Details

Metrics

Logo image