ヒト・ホメオドメインタンパクによる新しいカドヘリン遺伝子の発現制御機構の解析

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We isolated the human homeobox gene HOXD3 on chromosome 2 from a human genomic library and determined its nucleotide sequence. In the present study, in order to study the role of the HOXD3 gene in erythropoiesis, expression vectors containing the HOXD3 gene inthe sense or antisense orientation were introduced into HEL cells. The sensetransfectants overexpressing the HOXD3 gene formed aggregates, which were composed of densely associated cells adhering to tissue-culture dishes, whereas the parental HEL cells and antisense transfectants adhered poorly to the dishes. Furthermore, the sense transfectants overexpressing the HOXD3 gene attached more efficiently to fibronectin and collagen than did the antisense transfectants and parental HEL cells. Northern blot analysis showed that integrin beta3 mRNA levels were significantly increased in the HEL cells overexpressing the HOX4A gene. FACS analysis showed that the sense transfectants expressed increased levelsof integrin alpha II bbeta3 complex. In addition, the antisense transfectants expressed R-cadherin more abundantly than the sense transfectants and parental HEL cells. These results implicate the homeobox gene HOXD3 in the regulation of cell abhesion processes.