Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Volume 119, Issue 4, October 2000, Pages 961-971
Gastroenterology

Alimentary Tract
Cdx1 and Cdx2 expression during intestinal development,☆☆

https://doi.org/10.1053/gast.2000.18142Get rights and content
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Abstract

Background & Aims: The intestine-specific transcription factors Cdx1 and Cdx2 are candidate genes for directing intestinal development, differentiation, and maintenance of the intestinal phenotype. This study focused on the complex patterns of expression of Cdx1 and Cdx2 during mouse gastrointestinal development. Methods: Embryonic and postnatal mouse tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to determine protein expression of Cdx1 and Cdx2 in the developing intestinal tract. Results: Cdx2 protein expression was observed at 9.5 postcoitum (pc), whereas weak expression of Cdx1 protein was first seen at 12.5 pc in the distal developing intestine (hindgut). Expression of Cdx1 increased from 13.5 to 14.5 pc during the endoderm/epithelial transition with predominately distal expression. In contrast to Cdx1, there was intense expression of Cdx2 in all but the distal portions of the developing intestine. Cdx2 expression remained low in the distal colon throughout postnatal development. A gradient of expression formed in the crypt–villus axis, with Cdx1 primarily in the crypt and Cdx2 primarily in the villus. Conclusions: Direct comparison of the patterns of Cdx1 and Cdx2 protein expression during development as performed in this study provides new insights into their potential functional roles. The relative expression of Cdx1 to Cdx2 protein may be important in the anterior to posterior patterning of the intestinal epithelium and in defining patterns of proliferation and differentiation along the crypt–villus axis.

GASTROENTEROLOGY 2000;119:961-971

Abbreviations

BCIP
5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-phosphate
DAB
3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride
EMSA
electrophoretic mobility shift assay
fabpi
intestinal fatty acid–binding protein
IPTG
isopropyl thiogalactoside
NBT
nitroblue tetrazolium chloride
pc
postcoitum
SSC
standard saline citrate

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Supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) grant PO1-DK49210 (project to P. Traber), a career development award to D. G. Silberg (NIDDK grant K08-DK02375), and the Morphology Core of the Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania (NIDDK grant P30-DK50306).

☆☆

Address requests for reprints to: Debra G. Silberg, M.D., Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Boulevard, 650 CRB, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104. e-mail: [email protected]; fax: (215) 573-2024.