Studies on insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin in chick limb morphogenesis

The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) promotes the proliferation and directed outgrowth of the subridge mesodermal cells of the developing limb bud, while suppressing their differentiation. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its receptor are expressed by the subridge mesodermal cells of the chick limb bud growing out in response to the AER, and specific insulin receptors are present in the limb bud during its outgrowth. To study the possible roles of IGF-I and insulin in limb outgrowth, we have examined their effects on the morphogenesis of posterior and anterior portions of the distal tip of stage 25 embryonic chick wing buds subjected to organ culture in serum-free medium in the presence or absence of the AER and limb ectoderm. The distal mesoderm of control posterior explants lacking an AER or all limb ectoderm ceases expressing IGF-I mRNA, exhibits little or no proliferation, fails to undergo outgrowth, and rapidly differentiates. Exogenous IGF-I and insulin promote the outgrowth and proliferation and suppress the differentiation of distal mesodermal cells in posterior explants lacking an AER or limb ectoderm, thus mimicking at least to some extent the outgrowth promoting and anti-differentiative effects normally elicited on the subridge mesoderm by the AER. Furthermore, IGF-I and insulin-treated posterior explants exhibit high IGF-I mRNA expression, indicating that IGF-I and insulin maintain the expression of endogenous IGF-I by the subridge mesoderm. We have also found IGF-I and insulin can affect the morphology and activity of the AER. When the posterior portion of the wing bud tip is cultured with the AER intact in control medium, on day 4-5 the AER flattens, ceases expressing high amounts of the AER-characteristic homeobox-containing gene Msx2, and concomitantly an elongated cartilaginous element differentiates in the subridge mesoderm. In contrast, in the presence of exogenous IGF-I or insulin the AER of such explants does not flatten, continues expressing high amounts of Msx2, and the subridge mesoderm remains undifferentiated and proliferative. Thus, exogenous IGF-I and insulin maintain the thickness of the AER and sustain its expression of Msx2, while sustaining the anti-differentiative effect normally elicited on the subridge mesoderm by a thickened functional AER. Notably, we have also found that exogenous IGF-I and insulin induce the formation of a thickened ridge-like structure that expresses high amounts of Msx2 from the normally thin distal anterior ectoderm of the limb bud, while promoting dramatic outgrowth and proliferation of the anterior mesoderm, which normally undergoes little outgrowth or proliferation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Limb mesenchymal cells inhibited from undergoing cartilage differentiation by a tumor promoting phorbol ester maintain expression of the homeobox-containing gene Msx1 and fail to exhibit gap junctional communication

Tumor promoting phorbol esters are potent inhibitors of the chondrogenic differentiation of limb mesenchymal cells, but the mechanism by which these agents elicit their antichondrogenic effect is unknown. Here we report that limb mesenchymal cells inhibited from undergoing chondrogenesis by a tumor promoting phorbol ester exhibit deregulated expression of the homeobox-containing gene Msx1, a gene implicated in suppressing differentiation of limb mesenchymal cells, and fail to exhibit the extensive gap junctional intercellular communication that normally occurs at the onset of chondrogenesis. These results suggest that tumor promoting activity of phorbol esters may relate to their ability to modulate the expression of regulatory genes involved in controlling terminal differentiation, as well as to their ability to disrupt the intercellular communication involved in initiating the differentiated phenotype of cells.

Expression patterns of mRNAs for the gap junction proteins connexin43 and connexin42 suggest their involvement in chick limb morphogenesis and specification of the arterial vasculature

Gap junctions which comprise a family of proteins called connexins have been implicated in the morphogenesis of the chick limb bud. We have examined the expression patterns of two members of the connexin family, connexin43 (Cx43) and connexin42 (Cx42), during the early development of the chick limb bud and embryo by in situ hybridization. Cx43 mRNA is expressed in high amounts in the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), which promotes the outgrowth of the mesodermal cells of the limb bud, and in the ectopic AER of the limb buds of polydactylous diplopodia-5 mutant embryos. In contrast, little Cx43 expression is detectable in nonridge limb ectoderm at early stages of limb development. These results suggest that Cx43 gap junctions may integrate the activity of the cells comprising the AER and compartmentalize them into a functionally distinct entity capable of directing limb outgrowth. In addition, Cx43 exhibits high expression in the posterior subridge mesoderm of the early limb bud that is growing out in response to the AER, but little expression in the anterior mesoderm. This graded distribution of Cx43 transcripts correlates with a functional gradient of gap junctional communication along the anteroposterior (AP) axis, and suggests that Cx43 gap junctions may be involved in pattern formation across the AP axis. At later stages of development, Cx43 is transiently expressed in high amounts in the precartilage condensations of the carpals and metacarpals, at a time when critical cell-cell interactions are occurring that trigger cartilage differentiation. In contrast, in the developing limb, Cx42 is expressed exclusively by the central artery. In the remainder of the chick embryo, Cx42 is expressed in high amounts by the vessels comprising the arterial vasculature, but is not expressed by the venous vasculature. Thus, Cx42 gap junctions may be involved in specification of the arterial vasculature of the limb and embryo. Cx42, but not Cx43, is expressed in the ventricle of the heart, and by cells along the intrasclerotomal fissure that separates the rostral and caudal halves of the sclerotome of somites into distinct communication compartments.

Wnt-5a and Wnt-7a are expressed in the developing chick limb bud in a manner suggesting roles in pattern formation along the proximodistal and dorsoventral axes

The Wnt gene family encodes a group of secreted signalling molecules that have been implicated in the regulation of cell fate and pattern formation during embryogenesis. We have examined the patterns of expression of two members of the chicken Wnt family, Wnt-5a and Wnt-7a, during development of the chick limb bud. Wnt-5a is expressed in the apical ectodermal ridge which directs outgrowth of limb mesoderm. Wnt-5a also exhibits three quantitatively distinct domains of expression along the proximodistal (PD) axis of the limb mesoderm that may correspond to the regions which will give rise to the three distinct PD segments of the limb, the autopod, zeugopod, and stylopod. In contrast, Wnt-7a expression in the limb bud is specifically limited to the dorsal ectoderm. These observations suggest possible roles for Wnt-5a and Wnt-7a in pattern formation along the PD and dorsoventral axes of the developing chick limb bud. In addition, Wnt-5a and Wnt-7a exhibit spatially discrete domains of expression in several other regions of the chick embryo consistent with developmental roles for these genes in a variety of other tissues.

Ectoderm from various regions of the developing chick limb bud differentially regulates the expression of the chicken homeobox-containing genes GHox-7 and GHox-8 by limb mesenchymal cells

The apical ectodermal ridge expresses high amounts of the homeobox gene GHox-8 when placed upon dissociated limb mesenchymal cells in culture and induces high expression of GHox-7, but only low expression of GHox-8, in the underlying mesenchymal cells. Ectoderm from the proximal anterior border of the limb induces high expression of both GHox-7 and GHox-8, while ectoderm from the proximal posterior border does not induce expression of either gene. Thus, ectoderm in various regions of the limb bud has distinct regulatory activities and may be involved in controlling the regionally specific expression of GHox-7 and GHox-8 in the mesoderm.

The expression pattern of the chicken homeobox-containing gene GHox-7 in developing polydactylous limb buds suggests its involvement in apical ectodermal ridge-directed outgrowth of limb mesoderm and in programmed cell death

The limb buds of the polydactylous mutant embryos, talpid2 and diplopodia-5, possess expanded distal apexes surmounted by prolongated thickened apical ectodermal ridges that promote the outgrowth and formation of digits from both the anterior and posterior mesoderm of the mutant limb buds. The chicken homeobox-containing gene GHox-7 exhibits an expanded domain of expression throughout the expanded subridge mesoderm of the mutant limb buds, providing support for the hypothesis that GHox-7 expression by subridge mesenchymal cells is involved in the outgrowth-promoting effect of the apical ectodermal ridge. During normal limb development GHox-7 is also expressed by the mesoderm in the proximal anterior nonchondrogenic periphery of the limb bud, which includes, but is not limited to the anterior necrotic zone. GHox-7 is also expressed in the posterior necrotic zone at the mid-proximal posterior edge of the limb bud. In contrast, GHox-7 is not expressed in either the proximal anterior or posterior peripheral mesoderm of talpid2 and diplopodia-5 limb buds which lack proximal anterior and posterior necrotic zones. Furthermore, retinoic acid-coated bead implants, which diminish cell death in the anterior necrotic zone, elicit a local inhibition of GHox-7 expression in the proximal anterior peripheral mesoderm. These results support the suggestion that GHox-7 may be involved in defining regions of programmed cell death during limb development. Furthermore, these studies indicate that the distal subridge and proximal anterior nonchondrogenic mesodermal domains of GHox-7 expression are independently regulated.

Apical ridge dependent and independent mesodermal domains of GHox-7 and GHox-8 expression in chick limb buds

The homeobox-containing genes GHox-7 and GHox-8 have been proposed to play fundamental roles in limb development. The expression of GHox-8, by the apical ridge cells, and GHox-7, in the subridge mesoderm, suggests the involvement of these two genes in limb outgrowth and proximo-distal pattern formation. A straightforward way to test this is to remove the apical ridge. Here we report the relationship between the mesodermal expression of GHox-7 and GHox-8 and the apical ectodermal ridge in the chick limb bud. The data from ridge removal experiments indicate that there are at least two domains of GHox-7 expression in the apical limb bud mesoderm. The posterior subridge GHox-7 domain in the progress zone requires the influence of the apical ridge for continued expression, while the anterior GHox-7 domain continues expression after ridge removal. Posterior subridge mesoderm is exquisitely sensitive to the loss of the ridge in that GHox-7 expression by these cells is reduced in only two hours and undetectable by three hours after ridge removal. It would appear that one of the ways progress zone cells respond to the apical ridge signal is by expressing GHox-7. The loss of ridge influence whether by growth at the apex or by ridge removal is followed by an unusually rapid decline in detectable GHox-7 transcripts. Maintenance of GHox-8 expression by the anterior mesoderm appears to be independent of the presence of the apical ridge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of the chicken homeobox-containing genes GHox-4.6 and GHox-8 in the specification of positional identities during the development of normal and polydactylous chick limb buds

During early stages of normal chick limb development, the homeobox-containing (HOX) gene GHox-4.6 is expressed throughout the posterior mesoderm of the wing bud from which most of the skeletal elements including the digits will develop, whereas GHox-8 is expressed in the anterior limb bud mesoderm which will not give rise to skeletal elements. In the present study, we have examined the expression of GHox-4.6 and GHox-8 in the wing buds of two polydactylous mutant chick embryos, diplopodia-5 and talpid2, from which supernumerary digits develop from anterior limb mesoderm, and have also examined the expression of these genes in response to polarizing zone grafts and retinoic acid-coated bead implants which induce the formation of supernumerary digits from anterior limb mesoderm. We have found that the formation of supernumerary digits from the anterior mesoderm in mutant and experimentally induced polydactylous limb buds is preceded by the ectopic expression of GHox-4.6 in the anterior mesoderm and the coincident suppression of GHox-8 expression in the anterior mesoderm. These observations suggest that the anterior mesoderm of the polydactylous limb buds is “posteriorized” and support the suggestion that GHox-8 and GHox-4.6, respectively, are involved in specifying the anterior non-skeletal and posterior digit-forming regions of the limb bud. Although the anterior mesodermal domain of GHox-8 expression is severely impaired in the mutant and experimentally induced polydactylous limb buds, this gene is expressed by the prolonged, thickened apical ectodermal ridges of the polydactylous limb buds that extend along the distal anterior as well as the distal posterior mesoderm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Syndecan 3: a member of the syndecan family of membrane-intercalated proteoglycans that is expressed in high amounts at the onset of chicken limb cartilage differentiation

A partial cDNA that encodes a newly discovered member of the syndecan family of integral membrane proteoglycans, which we have termed syndecan 3, has been isolated from an embryonic chicken limb bud cDNA library. Syndecan 3 is distinct from but structurally related to syndecan and fibroglycan, two previously characterized members of this family of membrane-intercalated proteoglycans. Syndecan 3 contains a cytoplasmic domain potentially associated with the cytoskeleton that is 85% identical in amino acid sequence to the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan. Syndecan 3 also possesses a hydrophobic transmembrane domain and an extracellular domain containing several clustered potential glycosaminoglycan attachment sites. Like syndecan, the ectodomain of syndecan 3 has a single dibasic protease-susceptible site adjacent to the transmembrane domain, which might be involved in shedding the ectodomain from the cell surface. A striking feature of syndecan 3 is an extensive (182 amino acid) threonine, serine, and proline (T+S+P)-rich domain that closely resembles T+S+P-rich regions in several mucin-like proteins in which O-linked oligosaccharides are bound to the threonine and serine residues. Syndecan 3 is expressed in high amounts during a critical phase of chicken limb chondrogenesis in which limb mesenchymal cells condense, round up, and interact with one another before depositing a cartilage matrix. The multiple functional domains of syndecan 3 provide potential sites for mediating the adhesive cell-matrix interactions and cytoskeletal reorganization involved in this critical condensation process.

The pattern of expression of the chicken homolog of HOX1I in the developing limb suggests a possible role in the ectodermal inhibition of chondrogenesis

Homeobox-containing genes have been implicated in a variety of patterning events during vertebrate limb development. In an attempt to isolate cDNAs corresponding to 5' members of the chicken HOX 4 cluster of homeobox-containing genes, a cDNA library constructed from mRNAs expressed during early stages of chick limb development was screened with probes generated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using oligonucleotide primers corresponding to sequences in the homeoboxes of the human HOX4C and HOX4F genes, the human homologs of Hox-4.4 and Hox-4.6. This screening resulted in the isolation of full length cDNAs for the chicken homolog of HOX4F (cognate of mouse Hox-4.6), which we have termed GHox-4.6, and the chicken homolog of human HOX1I, which we have named GHox-1i, a paralog of Hox-4.6 in the HOX 1 cluster. The homeodomains encoded by GHox-4.6 and GHox-1i differ by only three amino acids, and the two proteins show extensive similarity along their entire lengths. Despite their sequence similarity, in situ hybridization analysis has revealed that GHox-4.6 and GHox-1i exhibit strikingly different spatial patterns of expression during embryonic chick limb development. At early stages of limb development (stages 20-22), GHox-4.6 transcripts are present in high amounts throughout the posterior half of the limb mesoderm and are absent from the anterior half of the mesoderm, an expression pattern consistent with the possible involvement of GHox-4.6 in the specification of posterior positional identity. In contrast, GHox-1i exhibits no distinct anterior-posterior polarity of expression at stage 22, but rather is expressed in high amounts throughout the mesenchyme of the limb bud. At later stages of development (stage 25), GHox-1i continues to be expressed in high amounts throughout the undifferentiated mesenchyme subjacent to the apical ectodermal ridge, and, in addition, is expressed in the mesodermal cells in the proximal peripheral regions of the limb bud subjacent to the ectoderm which are differentiating into nonchondrogenic lineages. Conversely, little or no expression of GHox-1i is detectable in the proximal central core of the limb bud where chondrogenic differentiation is occurring. Thus, GHox-1i is expressed by the undifferentiated subridge mesenchymal cells and proximal peripheral mesenchymal cells of the limb bud that are being inhibited from undergoing chondrogenesis by the apical ectodermal ridge and nonridge ectoderm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

GHox-7: A chicken homeobox-containing gene expressed in a fashion consistent with a role in patterning events during embryonic chick limb development

Homeobox-containing (HOX) genes are thought to be involved in the regulation of pattern formation and specification of positional information during vertebrate limb development. We report the isolation from a chick limb bud cDNA library of several overlapping chicken HOX cDNAs, which on the basis of their nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences have been identified as corresponding to the chicken cognate of mouse Hox-7.1. The gene encoding these chicken (Gallus) HOX cDNAs has been designated GHox-7, and is a member of a family of vertebrate HOX genes that are highly similar in sequence to the Drosophila msh gene. GHox-7 encodes an mRNA transcripts of about 1.8-2.0 kb that is expressed at early stages of chick limb development. In situ hybridization analysis has revealed that GHox-7 is expressed in limb bud mesoderm in a temporal and spatial fashion. This is consistent with its involvement in specifying anterior positional identity and/or in the response of limb mesenchymal cells to the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), which directs polarized proximodistal limb outgrowth. At early stages (stages 20-21) of chick limb development when positional values along the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis are being specified, GHox-7 exhibits an asymmetric arc of expression extending from the anterior border of the limb bud to the mesenchymal cells directly subjacent to the AER.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Altered expression of the chicken homeobox-containing genes GHox-7 and GHox-8 in the limb buds of limbless mutant chick embryos

It has been suggested that the reciprocal expression of the chicken homeobox-containing genes GHox-8 and GHox-7 by the apical ectodermal ridge and subjacent limb mesoderm might be involved in regulating the proximodistal outgrowth of the developing chick limb bud. In the present study the expression of GHox-7 and GHox-8 has been examined by in situ and dot blot hybridization in the developing limb buds of limbless mutant chick embryos. The limb buds of homozygous mutant limbless embryos form at the proper time in development (stage 17/18), but never develop an apical ectodermal ridge, fail to undergo normal elongation, and eventually degenerate. At stage 18, which is shortly following the formation of the limb bud, the expression of GHox-7 is considerably reduced (about 3-fold lower) in the mesoderm of limbless mutant limb buds compared to normal limb bud mesoderm. By stages 20 and 21, as the limb buds of limbless embryos cease outgrowth, GHox-7 expression in limbless mesoderm declines to very low levels, whereas GHox-7 expression increases in the mesoderm of normal limb buds which are undergoing outgrowth. In contrast to GHox-7, expression of GHox-8 in limbless mesoderm at stage 18 is quantitatively similar to its expression in normal limb bud mesoderm, and in limbless and normal mesoderm GHox-8 expression is highly localized in the anterior mesoderm of the limb bud. In normal limb buds, GHox-8 is also expressed in high amounts by the apical ectodermal ridge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A gradient of gap junctional communication along the anterior-posterior axis of the developing chick limb bud

A modification of the scrape-loading/dye transfer technique was used to study gap junctional communication along the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis of embryonic chick wing buds at an early stage of development (stage 20/21) when positional values along the A-P axis are being specified. Extensive intercellular transfer of the gap junction-permeable dye, lucifer yellow, from scrape-loaded mesenchymal cells to contiguous cells occurs in the posterior mesenchymal tissue of the wing bud adjacent to the zone of polarizing activity, which is thought to be the source of a diffusible morphogen that specifies A-P positional identity according to its local concentration. Considerably less transfer of lucifer yellow dye occurs in scrape-loaded mesenchymal tissue in the middle of the limb bud compared to posterior mesenchymal tissue, and little or no transfer of lucifer yellow is observed in the mesenchymal tissue in the anterior portion of the limb bud. No intercellular transfer of the gap junction-impermeable dye, rhodamine dextran, occurs in any region of the limb bud. These results indicate that there is a gradient of gap junctional communication along the A-P axis of the developing chick wing bud. This gradient of gap junctional communication along the A-P axis might generate a graded distribution of a relatively low molecular weight intracellular regulatory molecule involved in specifying A-P positional identities.

Type IX collagen gene expression during limb cartilage differentiation

Changes in the steady-state levels of mRNAs for the alpha 1(IX) and alpha 2(IX) polypeptide chains of cartilage-characteristic type IX collagen were examined during the course of chick limb chondrogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Cytoplasmic type IX collagen mRNAs begin to accumulate at the onset of overt chondrogenesis in high density micromass culture coincident with the crucial condensation phase of the process, in which prechondrogenic mesenchymal cells become closely juxtaposed prior to depositing a cartilage matrix. The initiation of type IX collagen mRNA accumulation at condensation coincides with the initiation of accumulation of cartilage proteoglycan core protein mRNA and with a striking increase in type II collagen mRNA accumulation. Following condensation in vitro, there is a concomitant progressive increase in cytoplasmic type IX collagen, core protein, and type II collagen mRNA levels which parallels the progressive accumulation of cartilage matrix. Type IX collagen mRNAs also begin to accumulate at the initiation of overt chondrogenesis in vivo in the chondrogenic central core of the developing limb bud. In contrast, little, or no type IX collagen mRNAs are detectable in the nonchondrogenic peripheral regions of the developing limb bud.

Expression of the chicken homeobox-containing gene GHox-8 during embryonic chick limb development

Homeobox-containing genes are thought to be involved in the regulation of pattern formation and specification of positional information during vertebrate limb development. Because of its accessibility to microsurgical manipulation, the developing chick limb bud provides a powerful system for investigating the role of homeobox-containing genes in patterning events. We report the isolation from a chick limb bud cDNA library of a chicken homeobox-containing cDNA, which on the basis of its nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences has been identified as the chicken cognate of mouse Hox-8. The gene encoding this chicken (Gallus) homeobox-containing cDNA has been designated GHox-8, and is a member of a family of vertebrate homeobox-containing genes that are highly similar in sequence to the Drosophila msh gene. GHox-8 encodes an mRNA transcript of about 3 kb that is expressed at several early stages of chick limb development. In situ and dot-blot hybridization analyses have revealed that GHox-8 is expressed in limb bud mesoderm in a temporal and spatial fashion consistent with its involvement in specifying anterior positional identity. At early stages (stages 20-21) of chick limb development when positional values along the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis are being specified, GHox-8 is expressed in high amounts in the anterior mesoderm of the wing bud. Little expression of the gene is detectable in the middle region of the wing bud mesoderm or in the posterior mesoderm that contains the zone of polarizing activity, which is thought to be the source of a diffusible morphogen, possibly retinoic acid, that specifies the A-P positional values of the skeletal elements of the limb according to its local concentration. Similarly, at later stages of development (stages 23-25), high expression of GHox-8 is localized to the proximal anterior periphery of the wing bud, with no detectable expression in the proximal dorsal and ventral (myogenic) regions, or in the chondrogenic central core. In the proximal posterior periphery of the wing bud at these later stages of development, expression of GHox-8 is limited to a small region in the mid-proximal periphery corresponding to the posterior necrotic zone in which programmed cell death is occurring. The possible involvement of GHox-8 in programmed cell death during limb development is also suggested by the fact that it is expressed in the necrotic interdigital mesenchyme in 6-7 day (stage 31-32) wing buds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Gap junctional communication during limb cartilage differentiation

The onset of cartilage differentiation in the developing limb bud is characterized by a transient cellular condensation process in which prechondrogenic mesenchymal cells become closely apposed to one another prior to initiating cartilage matrix deposition. During this condensation process intimate cell-cell interactions occur which are necessary to trigger chondrogenic differentiation. In the present study, we demonstrate that extensive cell-cell communication via gap junctions as assayed by the intercellular transfer of lucifer yellow dye occurs during condensation and the onset of overt chondrogenesis in high density micromass cultures prepared from the homogeneous population of chondrogenic precursor cells comprising the distal subridge region of stage 25 embryonic chick wing buds. Furthermore, in heterogeneous micromass cultures prepared from the mesodermal cells of whole stage 23/24 limb buds, extensive gap junctional communication is limited to differentiating cartilage cells, while the nonchondrogenic cells of the cultures that are differentiating into the connective tissue lineage exhibit little or no intercellular communication via gap junctions. These results provide a strong incentive for considering and further investigating the possible involvement of cell-cell communication via gap junctions in the regulation of limb cartilage differentiation.

Stimulation of limb cartilage differentiation by cyclic AMP is dependent on cell density

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) has been implicated in the regulation of limb cartilage differentiation. This study represents an attempt to clarify potential mechanisms by which cAMP might regulate chondrogenesis. We have found that the ability of cAMP to stimulate limb cartilage differentiation in vitro is dependent on cell density. Dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) elicits a striking increase in the accumulation of Alcian blue, pH 1.0-positive cartilage matrix, and a corresponding three- to fourfold increase in the accumulation of 35S-labeled glycosaminoglycans (GAG) by limb mesenchymal cells cultured in low serum medium at densities greater than confluence (i.e. micromass cultures established with 1-2 x 10(5) cells in 10 microliters of medium). Moreover, dbcAMP causes a striking (two- to fourfold) increase in the steady-state cytoplasmic levels of mRNAs for cartilage-characteristic type II collagen and the core protein of cartilage-specific sulfated proteoglycan in these high density, supraconfluent cultures. In contrast, cAMP does not promote the chondrogenesis of limb mesenchymal cells cultured at subconfluent densities (i.e. cultures initiated with 2.5-5 x 10(4) cells in 10 microliters of medium). In these low density cultures, dbcAMP does not promote the formation of cartilage matrix, sulfated GAG accumulation or the accumulation of cartilage-specific mRNAs. These observations suggest that cAMP may exert its regulatory effect in part by facilitating cell-cell communication during the critical condensation phase of chondrogenesis.

Promotion of embryonic chick limb cartilage differentiation by transforming growth factor-beta

This study represents a first step in investigating the possible involvement of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in the regulation of embryonic chick limb cartilage differentiation. TGF-beta 1 and 2 (1-10 ng/ml) elicit a striking increase in the accumulation of Alcian blue, pH 1-positive cartilage matrix, and a corresponding twofold to threefold increase in the accumulation of 35S-sulfate- or 3H-glucosamine-labeled sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) by high density micromass cultures prepared from the cells of whole stage 23/24 limb buds or the homogeneous population of chondrogenic precursor cells comprising the distal subridge mesenchyme of stage 25 wing buds. Moreover, TGF-beta causes a striking (threefold to sixfold) increase in the steady-state cytoplasmic levels of mRNAs for cartilage-characteristic type II collagen and the core protein of cartilage-specific proteoglycan. Only a brief (2 hr) exposure to TGF-beta at the initiation of culture is sufficient to stimulate chondrogenesis, indicating that the growth factor is acting at an early step in the process. Furthermore, TGF-beta promotes the formation of cartilage matrix and cartilage-specific gene expression in low density subconfluent spot cultures of limb mesenchymal cells, which are situations in which little, or no chondrogenic differentiation normally occurs. These results provide strong incentive for considering and further investigating the role of TGF-beta in the control of limb cartilage differentiation.

Fibronectin gene expression during limb cartilage differentiation

A critical event in limb cartilage differentiation is a transient cellular condensation process in which prechondrogenic mesenchymal cells become closely juxtaposed and interact with one another prior to initiating cartilage matrix deposition. Fibronectin (FN) has been suggested to be involved in regulating the onset of condensation and chondrogenesis by actively promoting prechondrogenic aggregate formation during the process. We have performed a systematic quantitative study of the expression of the FN gene during the progression of chondrogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In high-density micromass cultures of limb mesenchymal cells, FN mRNA levels increase about 5-fold coincident with the crucial condensation process, and remain relatively high during the initial deposition of cartilage matrix by the cells. Thereafter, FN mRNA levels progressively decline to relatively low levels as the cultures form a virtually uniform mass of cartilage. The changes in FN mRNA levels in vitro are paralleled closely by changes in the relative rate of FN synthesis as determined by pulse-labeling and immunoprecipitation analysis. The relative rate of FN synthesis increases 4- to 5-fold at condensation and the onset of chondrogenesis, after which it progressively declines to low levels as cartilage matrix accumulates. High levels of FN gene expression also occur at the onset of chondrogenesis in vivo. In the proximal central core regions of the limb bud in which condensation and cartilage matrix deposition are being initiated, FN mRNA levels and the relative rates of FN synthesis become progressively about 4-fold higher than in the distal subridge region, which consists of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells that have not yet initiated condensation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Widespread distribution of type II collagen during embryonic chick development

Type II collagen is a major component of hyaline cartilage, and has been suggested to be causally involved in promoting chondrogenesis during embryonic development. In the present study we have performed an immunohistochemical analysis of the distribution of type II collagen during several early stages of embryonic chick development. Unexpectedly, we have found that type II collagen is widely distributed in a temporally and spatially regulated fashion in basement membranes throughout the trunk of the embryo at stages 14 through 19, including regions with no apparent relationship to chondrogenesis. Immunohistochemical staining with two different monoclonal antibodies against type II collagen, as well as with an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody, is detectable in the basement membranes of the neural tube, notochord, auditory vesicle, dorsal/lateral surface ectoderm, lateral/ventral gut endoderm, mesonephric duct, and basal surface of the splanchnic mesoderm subjacent to the dorsal aorta, and at the interface between the epimyocardium and endocardium of the developing heart. In contrast, immunoreactive type IX collagen is detectable only in the perinotochordal sheath in the trunk of the embryo at these stages of development. Thus type II collagen is much more widely distributed during early development than previously thought, and may be fulfilling some as yet undefined function, unrelated to chondrogenesis, during early embryogenesis.

In situ hybridization analysis of the expression of the type II collagen gene in the developing chicken limb bud

In situ hybridization with [32P]- or [35S]-labeled double-stranded DNA or single-stranded RNA probes was used to investigate the temporal and spatial distribution of cartilage-characteristic type II collagen mRNA during embryonic chick limb development and cartilage differentiation in vivo. When the type II collagen probes were hybridized to sections through embryonic limb buds at the earliest stages of their development (stages 18-25), an accumulation of silver grains representing type II collagen mRNA first became detectable in the proximal central core of the limb coincident with the prechondrogenic condensation of mesenchymal cells that characterizes the onset of cartilage differentiation. At later stages of development (stage 32; 7 days) intense hybridization signals with the type II collagen probes were localized over the well differentiated cartilage rudiments, whereas few or no silver grains above background were observed over the non-chondrogenic tissues. In contrast, sections hybridized with a probe complementary to mRNA for the alpha 1 chain of type I collagen exhibited an intense hybridization signal over the perichondrium and little or no signal over the cartilage primordia. At all stages of development examined, [32P]-labeled double-stranded DNA probes or single-stranded RNA probes labeled with either [32P] or [35S] provided adequate hybridization signals. Several experimental protocols were employed to control for the potential cross-hybridization and non-specific hybridization of the type II collagen probes. These included the utilization of labeled noncomplementary "sense-strand" type II collagen RNA as a control probe for nonspecific background, and prehybridization with a large excess of appropriate unlabeled RNA to block sequences in heterologous collagen RNAs that might cross-hybridize to the specific labeled probe.

Temporal and spatial analysis of cartilage proteoglycan core protein gene expression during limb development by in situ hybridization

As limb mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes they initiate the synthesis of a cartilage-specific sulfated proteoglycan, cartilage-characteristic type II collagen, and other cartilage-specific proteins. In the present study, in situ hybridization with a 32P-labeled cloned cDNA probe complementary to mRNA encoding the core protein of cartilage proteoglycan has been used to visualize and localize the accumulation of cartilage proteoglycan core protein mRNA sequences during development of the chick limb bud in vivo. When the probe was hybridized to sections through 7-day (stage 32) limbs, an intense hybridization signal was observed over the well-differentiated cartilage rudiments of the limb, while no signal above background was observed over nonchondrogenic tissues including muscle, loose connective tissue, and epidermis. At early stages of limb development, an accumulation of silver grains representing hybridizable core protein mRNA first became detectable in the proximal central core of the limb where the prechondrogenic condensation of mesenchymal cells that characterizes the onset of cartilage differentiation was occurring. In fact, the pattern of silver grain accumulation closely followed the pattern of mesenchymal cell condensation, and no hybridizable core protein mRNA sequences were detectable in the limb bud prior to condensation. Cartilage-characteristic type II collagen mRNA was colocalized with core protein mRNA in the condensing central core of the limb suggesting that the genes for these two major constituents of cartilage matrix are coordinately regulated at the onset of chondrogenesis. Furthermore, the appearance of hybridizable core protein mRNA was closely followed by the appearance of the protein for which it codes as detected by immunohistochemical staining with monospecific antibody. These observations support the hypothesis that at the initial stages of limb chondrogenesis core protein gene expression is controlled primarily at the transcriptional level.

Separation of the myogenic and chondrogenic progenitor cells of undifferentiated limb mesenchyme

Undifferentiated limb bud mesenchyme consists of at least two separate, possibly predetermined, populations of progenitor cells, one derived from somitic mesoderm that gives rise exclusively to skeletal muscle and one derived from somatopleural mesoderm that gives rise to the cartilage and connective tissue of the limb. In the present study, we demonstrate that the inherent migratory capacity of myogenic precursor cells can be used to physically separate the myogenic and chondrogenic progenitor cells of the undifferentiated limb mesenchyme at the earliest stages of limb development. When the undifferentiated mesenchyme of stage 18/19 chick embryo wing buds or from the distal subridge region of stage 22 wing buds is placed intact upon the surface of fibronectin (FN)-coated petri dishes, a large population of cells emigrates out of the explants onto the FN substrates and differentiates into an extensive interlacing network of bipolar spindle-shaped myoblasts and multinucleated myotubes that stain with monoclonal antibody against muscle-specific fast myosin light chain. In contrast, the cells of the explants that remain in place and do not migrate away undergo extensive cartilage differentiation. Significantly, there is no emigration of myogenic cells out of explants of stage 25 distal subridge mesenchyme, which lacks myogenic progenitor cells. Myogenic precursor cells stream out of mesenchyme explants in one or occasionally two discrete locations, suggesting they are spatially segregated in discrete regions of tissue at the time of its explantation. There are subtle overall differences in the morphologies of the myogenic cells that form in stage 18/19 and stage 22 distal subridge mesenchyme explants. Finally, groups of nonmyogenic nonfibroblastic cells which are fusiform-shaped and oriented in distinct parallel arrays characteristically are found along the periphery of stage 18/19 wing mesenchyme explants. Our observations provide support for the concept that undifferentiated limb mesenchyme consists of independent subpopulations of committed precursor cells and provides a system for studying the early determinative and regulatory events involved in myogenesis or chondrogenesis.

Temporal and spatial analysis of hyaluronidase activity during development of the embryonic chick limb bud

The glycosaminoglycan hyaluronate (HA) appears to play an important role in limb cartilage differentiation. The large amount of extracellular HA accumulated by prechondrogenic mesenchymal cells may prevent the cell-cell and/or cell-matrix interactions necessary to trigger chondrogenesis, and the removal of extracellular HA may be essential to initiate the crucial cellular condensation process that triggers cartilage differentiation. It has generally been assumed that HA turnover during chondrogenesis is controlled by the activity of the enzyme hyaluronidase (HAase). In the present study we have performed a temporal and spatial analysis of HAase activity during the progression of limb development and cartilage differentiation in vivo. We have separated embryonic chick wing buds at several stages of development into well-defined regions along the proximodistal axis in which cells are in different phases of differentiation, and we have examined HAase activity in each region. We have found that HAase activity is clearly detectable in undifferentiated wing buds at stage 18/19, which is shortly following the formation of a morphologically distinct limb bud rudiment, and remains relatively constant throughout subsequent stages of development through stage 27/28, at which time well-differentiated cartilage rudiments are present. Moreover, HAase activity in the prechondrogenic distal subridge regions of the limb at stages 22/23 and 25 is just as high as, or even slightly higher than, it is in proximal central core regions where condensation and cartilage differentiation are progressing. We have also found that limb bud HAase is active between pH 2.2 and 4.5 and is inactive above pH 5.0. This suggests that limb HAase is a lysosomal enzyme and that extracellular HA would have to be internalized to be degraded. These results indicate that the onset of chondrogenesis is not associated with the appearance or increase in activity of HAase. We suggest that possibility that HA turnover may be regulated by the binding and endocytosis of extracellular HA in preparation for its intracellular degradation by lysosomal HAase. Finally, we have found that the apical ectodermal ridge (AER)-containing distal limb bud ectoderm possesses a relatively high HAase activity. We suggest the possibility that a high HAase activity in the AER may ensure a rapid turnover and remodeling of the disorganized HA-rich basal lamina of the AER that might be essential for limb outgrowth.

Cartilage proteoglycan core protein gene expression during limb cartilage differentiation

Changes in the steady-state cytoplasmic levels of mRNA for the core protein of the major sulfated proteoglycan of cartilage were examined during the course of limb chondrogenesis in vitro using cloned cDNA probes. Cytoplasmic core protein mRNA begins to accumulate at the onset of overt chondrogenesis in micromass culture coincident with the crucial condensation phase of the process, in which prechondrogenic mesenchymal cells become closely juxtaposed prior to depositing a cartilage matrix. The initiation of core protein mRNA accumulation coincides with a dramatic increase in the accumulation of mRNA for type II collagen, the other major constituent of hyaline cartilage matrix. Following condensation, there is a concomitant progressive increase in cytoplasmic core protein and type II collagen mRNA accumulation which parallels the progressive accumulation of cartilage matrix by the cells. The relative rate of accumulation of cytoplasmic type II collagen mRNA is greater than twice that of core protein mRNA during chondrogenesis in micromass culture. Cyclic AMP, an agent implicated in the regulation of chondrogenesis elicits a concomitant two- to fourfold increase in both cartilage core protein and type II collagen mRNA levels by limb mesenchymal cells. Core protein gene expression is more sensitive to cAMP than type II collagen gene expression. These results suggest that the cartilage proteoglycan core protein and type II collagen genes are coordinately regulated during the course of limb cartilage differentiation, although there are quantitative differences in the extent of expression of the two genes.