RESUMO
The mamillary body (MM) is a group of hypothalamic nuclei related to memory and spatial navigation that interconnects hippocampal, thalamic, and tegmental regions. Here we demonstrate that Lhx5, a LIM-HD domain transcription factor expressed early in the developing posterior hypothalamus, is required for the generation of the MM and its derived tracts. The MM markers Foxb1, Sim2, and Lhx1 are absent in Lhx5 knock-out mice from early embryonic stages, suggesting abnormal specification of this region. This was supported by the absence of Nkx2.1 and expansion of Shh in the prospective mamillary area. Interestingly, we also found an ectopic domain expressing Lhx2 and Lhx9 along the anterio-posterior hypothalamic axis. Our results suggest that Lhx5 controls early aspects of hypothalamic development by regulating gene expression and cellular specification in the prospective MM.
RESUMO
The hypothalamus regulates the homeostasis of the organism by controlling hormone secretion from the pituitary. The molecular mechanisms that regulate the differentiation of the hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) phenotype are poorly understood. We have previously shown that Klf10 or TGFß inducible early gene-1 (TIEG1) is enriched in fetal hypothalamic TRH neurons. Here, we show that expression of TGFß isoforms (1-3) and both TGFß receptors (TßRI and II) occurs in the hypothalamus concomitantly with the establishment of TRH neurons during late embryonic development. TGFß2 induces Trh expression via a TIEG1 dependent mechanism. TIEG1 regulates Trh expression through an evolutionary conserved GC rich sequence on the Trh promoter. Finally, in mice deficient in TIEG1, Trh expression is lower than in wild type animals at embryonic day 17. These results indicate that TGFß signaling, through the upregulation of TIEG1, plays an important role in the establishment of Trh expression in the embryonic hypothalamus.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Hipotálamo/metabolismo , Neurônios/metabolismo , Hormônio Liberador de Tireotropina/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta2/metabolismo , Animais , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/deficiência , Embrião de Mamíferos , Feto , Hipotálamo/citologia , Hipotálamo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Imuno-Histoquímica , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Neurônios/citologia , Cultura Primária de Células , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Receptor do Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta Tipo I , Receptor do Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta Tipo II , Receptores de Fatores de Crescimento Transformadores beta/genética , Receptores de Fatores de Crescimento Transformadores beta/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Hormônio Liberador de Tireotropina/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/deficiência , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta1/genética , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta1/metabolismo , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta2/genética , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta3/genética , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta3/metabolismoRESUMO
Embryonic neurogenesis is controlled by the activation of specific genetic programs. In the hypothalamus, neuronal thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) populations control important physiological process, including energy homeostasis and autonomic function; however, the genetic program leading to the TRH expression is poorly understood. Here, we show that the Klf4 gene, encoding the transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4), was expressed in the rat hypothalamus during development and regulated Trh expression. In rat fetal hypothalamic cells Klf4 regulated Trh promoter activity through CACCC and GC motifs present on the Trh gene promoter. Accordingly, hypothalamic Trh expression was down-regulated at embryonic day 15 in the Klf4(-/-) mice resulting in diminished bioactive peptide levels. Although at the neonatal stage the Trh transcript levels of the Klf4(-/-) mice were normal, the reduction in peptide levels persisted. Thus, our data indicate that Klf4 plays a key role in the maturation of TRH expression in hypothalamic neurons.
