Wnt11/Fgfr1b cross-talk modulates the fate of cells in palate development

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.11.033
• Publication Date: 2008-01-12T12:20:42Z
• Authors: Jong-Min Lee; Jae-Young Kim; Kyoung-Won Cho; Min-Jung Lee; Sung-Won Cho; Sungwook Kwak; Jinglei Cai; Han-Sung Jung
• Keywords: Aging; Fibroblast Growth Factor; Maxilla - Cytology - Growth & Development; z-VAD-fmk; Apoptosis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Small Interfering - Genetics; Aging - Physiology; Mice; Palate/growth & development; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 - Genetics - Physiology; Maxilla; Wnt Proteins/physiology*; RNA, Small Interfering; Cell proliferation; In Situ Hybridization; Mice, Inbred Icr; Mice, Inbred ICR; 0303 health sciences; Palatal fusion; Wnt11 siRNA; Inbred ICR; Inbred Icr; Immunohistochemistry; Electroporation; Palatogenesis; Small Interfering/genetics; Wnt Proteins - Genetics - Physiology; Maxilla/growth & development; Receptor; Wnt11; 570; Maxilla/cytology; 610; 03 medical and health sciences; Organ Culture Techniques; Type 1/physiology*; 616; Animals; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1; Molecular Biology; Wnt Proteins/genetics; Fgfr1b; Palate - Cytology - Growth & Development; Palate; Type 1 - Genetics - Physiology; Receptor Cross-Talk/physiology; Cell Biology; Receptor Cross-Talk; Aging/physiology; Palatal growth; Wnt Proteins; Palate/cytology*; Receptor Cross-Talk - Physiology; Rna, Small Interfering - Genetics; RNA; Rna; Type 1/genetics; Developmental Biology

Various cellular and molecular events underlie the elevation and fusion of the developing palate that occurs during embryonic development. This includes convergent extension, where the medial edge epithelium is intercalated into the midline epithelial seam. We examined the expression patterns of Wnt11 and Fgfr1b - which are believed to be key factors in convergent extension - in mouse palate development. Wnt-11 overexpression and beads soaked in SU5402 (an Fgfr1 inhibitor) were employed in in vitro organ cultures. The results suggested that interactions between Wnt11 and Fgfr1b are important in modulating cellular events such as cell proliferation for growth and apoptosis for fusion. Moreover, the Wnt11 siRNA results showed that Wnt11-induced apoptosis was necessary for palatal fusion. In summary, Fgfr1b induces cell proliferation in the developing palate mesenchyme so that the palate grows and contacts each palatal shelf, with negative feedback of Fgfs triggered by excessive cell proliferation then inhibiting the expression of Fgfr1b and activating the expression of Wnt11 to fuse each palate by activating apoptosis.