Lmx1b controls the differentiation and migration of the superficial dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord
Lmx1b controls the differentiation and migration of the superficial dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord
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DOI：
10.1242/dev.01250
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发表时间：
2004-08-01
期刊：
影响因子：
4.6
通讯作者：
Chen, ZF
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Ding, YQ;Yin, J;Chen, ZF
背角浅层神经元的分化和迁移以及随后的皮肤传入纤维的长入是脊髓背侧体感回路形成的关键事件。我们报告，浅层背角神经元的分化和迁移受LIM同源框基因Lmx1b，其下游目标Rnx和Drg11，两个转录因子参与背角电路的发展。对Lmx1b突变体的分析表明，Lmx1b通常起维持Ebf基因表达和抑制Zic基因的作用。lmx1b突变体也表现出皮肤传入向内生长的中断，这表明背角细胞可能提供重要的线索，引导感觉轴突进入脊髓背侧。因此，我们的研究结果表明，Lmx1b在控制浅层背角电路组装的遗传级联中起着关键作用。
The differentiation and migration of superficial dorsal horn neurons and subsequent ingrowth of cutaneous afferents are crucial events in the formation of somatosensory circuitry in the dorsal spinal cord. We report that the differentiation and migration of the superficial dorsal horn neurons are regulated by the LIM homeobox gene Lmx1b, and its downstream targets Rnx and Drg11, two transcription factors implicated in the development of dorsal horn circuitry. An analysis of Lmx1b mutants shows that Lmx1b normally acts to maintain the expression of the Ebf genes and to repress the Zic genes. Lmx1b mutants also exhibit the disruption of the cutaneous afferent ingrowth, suggesting that the dorsal horn cells might provide important cues guiding sensory axons into the dorsal spinal cord. Our results thus indicate that Lmx1b has a pivotal role in genetic cascades that control the assembly of circuitry in the superficial dorsal horn.