Hyperalgesia, anxiety, and decreased hypoxic neuroprotection in mice lacking the adenosine A1 receptor.

Caffeine is believed to act by blocking adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptors (A(1)R, A(2A)R), indicating that some A(1) receptors are tonically activated. We generated mice with a targeted disruption of the second coding exon of the A(1)R (A(1)R(-/-)). These animals bred and gained weight normally and had a normal heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-B-deficient mice display an atrial conduction defect.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors are essential regulators of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in both embryos and adults. One of the factors with a still unknown physiological function is VEGF-B, which is expressed in many tissues, including the heart.

Methods And Results: Mice carrying a targeted deletion in the VEGF-B gene were developed.

Developmental roles of platelet-derived growth factors.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was originally identified in platelets and in serum as a mitogen for fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells (SMC) and glia cells in culture. PDGF has since expanded to a family of dimers of at least four gene products, whose biological actions are mediated through two receptor tyrosine kinases, PDGFRs. The present review summarizes and discusses the biological functions of PDGFs and PDGFRs in developmental processes, mainly as revealed through genetic analysis in mice.

Lack of pericytes leads to endothelial hyperplasia and abnormal vascular morphogenesis.

The association of pericytes (PCs) to newly formed blood vessels has been suggested to regulate endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, survival, migration, differentiation, and vascular branching. Here, we addressed these issues using PDGF-B-- and PDGF receptor-beta (PDGFR-beta)--deficient mice as in vivo models of brain angiogenesis in the absence of PCs. Quantitative morphological analysis showed that these mutants have normal microvessel density, length, and number of branch points.

Basis of hematopoietic defects in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B and PDGF beta-receptor null mice.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B and PDGF beta-receptor (PDGFR beta) deficiency in mice is embryonic lethal and results in cardiovascular, renal, placental, and hematologic disorders. The hematologic disorders are described, and a correlation with hepatic hypocellularity is demonstrated. To explore possible causes, the colony-forming activity of fetal liver cells in vitro was assessed, and hematopoietic chimeras were demonstrated by the transplantation of mutant fetal liver cells into lethally irradiated recipients.

Abnormal gastrointestinal development in PDGF-A and PDGFR-(alpha) deficient mice implicates a novel mesenchymal structure with putative instructive properties in villus morphogenesis.

Development of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract depends on reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal cell signaling. Here, we demonstrate a role for platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A) and its receptor, PDGFR-(alpha), in this process. Mice lacking PDGF-A or PDGFR-(alpha) were found to develop an abnormal GI mucosal lining, including fewer and misshapen villi and loss of pericryptal mesenchyme.

Leydig cell loss and spermatogenic arrest in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A-deficient mice.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)- A-deficient male mice were found to develop progressive reduction of testicular size, Leydig cells loss, and spermatogenic arrest. In normal mice, the PDGF-A and PDGF-Ralpha expression pattern showed positive cells in the seminiferous epithelium and in interstitial mesenchymal cells, respectively. The testicular defects seen in PDGF-A-/- mice, combined with the normal developmental expression of PDGF-A and PDGF-Ralpha, indicate that through an epithelial-mesenchymal signaling, the PDGF-A gene is essential for the development of the Leydig cell lineage.

PDGF-C is a new protease-activated ligand for the PDGF alpha-receptor.

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are important in many types of mesenchymal cell. Here we identify a new PDGF, PDGF-C, which binds to and activates the PDGF alpha-receptor. PDGF-C is activated by proteolysis and induces proliferation of fibroblasts when overexpressed in transgenic mice.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin)-deficient mice develop a more severe form of alloxan-induced diabetes.

To examine whether islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), other than through amyloid formation, may be of importance in diabetes pathogenesis, IAPP-deficient mice (IAPP(-/-)) were challenged with alloxan (day 0). Diabetes in IAPP(-/-) mice was more severe at day 35, indicated by greater weight loss; glucose levels were higher in alloxan-treated IAPP(-/-) mice, whereas insulin levels were lower, indicating a greater impairment of islet function. Accordingly, glucose levels upon intravenous glucose challenges at days 7 and 35 were consistently higher in alloxan-treated IAPP(-/-) mice.

Absence of epithelial immunoglobulin A transport, with increased mucosal leakiness, in polymeric immunoglobulin receptor/secretory component-deficient mice.

Mucosal surfaces are protected specifically by secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and SIgM generated through external translocation of locally produced dimeric IgA and pentameric IgM. Their active transport is mediated by the epithelial polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR), also called the transmembrane secretory component. Paracellular passive external transfer of systemic and locally produced antibodies also provides mucosal protection, making the biological importance of secretory immunity difficult to assess.

EPS8 and E3B1 transduce signals from Ras to Rac.

The small guanine nucleotide (GTP)-binding protein Rac regulates mitogen-induced cytoskeletal changes and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK), and its activity is required for Ras-mediated cell transformation. Epistatic analysis placed Rac as a key downstream target in Ras signalling; however, the biochemical mechanism regulating the cross-talk among these small GTP-binding proteins remains to be elucidated. Eps8 (relative molecular mass 97,000) is a substrate of receptors with tyrosine kinase activity which binds, through its SH3 domain, to a protein designated E3b1/Abi-1.

Intermediate filament protein partnership in astrocytes.

Intermediate filaments are general constituents of the cytoskeleton. The function of these structures and the requirement for different types of intermediate filament proteins by individual cells are only partly understood. Here we have addressed the role of specific intermediate filament protein partnerships in the formation of intermediate filaments in astrocytes.

PDGFB regulates the development of the labyrinthine layer of the mouse fetal placenta.

PDGFB is a growth factor which is vital for the completion of normal prenatal development. In this study, we report the phenotypic analysis of placentas from mouse conceptuses that lack a functional PDGFB or PDGFRbeta gene. Placentas of both types of mutant exhibit changes in the labyrinthine layer, including dilated embryonic blood vessels and reduced numbers of both pericytes and trophoblasts.

Role of PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta in recruitment of vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes during embryonic blood vessel formation in the mouse.

Development of a vascular system involves the assembly of two principal cell types - endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells/pericytes (vSMC/PC) - into many different types of blood vessels. Most, if not all, vessels begin as endothelial tubes that subsequently acquire a vSMC/PC coating. We have previously shown that PDGF-B is critically involved in the recruitment of pericytes to brain capillaries and to the kidney glomerular capillary tuft.

Roles for PDGF-A and sonic hedgehog in development of mesenchymal components of the hair follicle.

Skin appendages, such as hair, develop as a result of complex reciprocal signaling between epithelial and mesenchymal cells. These interactions are not well understood at the molecular level. Platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A) is expressed in the developing epidermis and hair follicle epithelium, and its receptor PDGF-Ralpha is expressed in associated mesenchymal structures.

Abnormal reaction to central nervous system injury in mice lacking glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin.

In response to injury of the central nervous system, astrocytes become reactive and express high levels of the intermediate filament (IF) proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, and nestin. We have shown that astrocytes in mice deficient for both GFAP and vimentin (GFAP-/-vim-/-) cannot form IFs even when nestin is expressed and are thus devoid of IFs in their reactive state. Here, we have studied the reaction to injury in the central nervous system in GFAP-/-, vimentin-/-, or GFAP-/-vim-/- mice.

Targeted disruption of the mouse phospholipase C beta3 gene results in early embryonic lethality.

In order to investigate the biological function of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC) we generated mutant mice by gene targeting. Homozygous inactivation of PLCbeta3 is lethal at embryonic day 2.5.

Defective oligodendrocyte development and severe hypomyelination in PDGF-A knockout mice.

There is a class of oligodendrocyte progenitors, called O-2A progenitors, that is characterized by expression of platelet-derived growth factor &agr;-receptors (PDGFR(&agr;)). It is not known whether all oligodendrocytes are derived from these PDGFRalpha-progenitors or whether a subset(s) of oligodendrocytes develops from a different, PDGFR alpha-negative lineage(s). We investigated the relationship between PDGF and oligodendrogenesis by examining mice that lack either PDGF-A or PDGF-B.

Reduced nociceptive behavior in islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin) knockout mice.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP or amylin) is predominantly expressed by insulin cells, but occurs also in primary sensory neurons in the rat. Here, using mice targeted for a null mutation in the IAPP gene, we establish murine expression of IAPP in sensory neurons; its distribution in a population of calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing neurons in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion is similar to that previously described in the rat. We also report the IAPP mutant mice display a reduced pain response in the paw formalin test.

Endothelial-perivascular cell signaling in vascular development: lessons from knockout mice.

The importance of perivascular-endothelial cell interactions during blood vessel development is discussed in the light of recent findings in platelet-derived growth factor-B, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta, angiopoietin-1 and tie-2 knockout mice, which all show deficient development of perivascular cells. The initial formation of networks of endothelial tubes (vasculogenesis) does not seem to depend on the perivascular cells but subsequent vessel remodeling relies on mesenchymal-endothelial short-range signaling. Based on findings in platelet-derived growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor knockout mice, a general model for the role of platelet-derived growth factors in smooth muscle development is proposed.

Altered taurine release following hypotonic stress in astrocytes from mice deficient for GFAP and vimentin.

Astrocytes maintain their volume in response to changes in osmotic pressure in their environment by an afflux/influx of ions and organic osmoequivalents. The initial swelling of an astrocyte transferred to a hypoosmotic medium is thus reversed within minutes. The mechanisms which trigger this process as well as the sensors for cell volume are largely unknown, however, the cytoskeleton appears to be involved.

Increased insulin secretion and glucose tolerance in mice lacking islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin).

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP or amylin) is costored and cosecreted with insulin and may regulate insulin secretion and blood glucose handling. However, the role and importance of endogenous IAPP in the regulation of insulin release and glucose homeostasis have been controversial. Here we report on the generation and phenotypic analysis of IAPP-deficient mice.

Paracrine PDGF-B/PDGF-Rbeta signaling controls mesangial cell development in kidney glomeruli.

Kidney glomerulus mesangial cells fail to develop in mice carrying targeted null mutations in the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B or PDGF-Rbeta genes. We have examined the pattern of expression of these genes and smooth muscle markers during kidney development, to address the possible mechanisms underlying the mutant phenotypes. In wild-type embryos, PDGF-B was expressed in vascular endothelial cells, particularly in capillary endothelial cells in the developing glomeruli, whereas PDGF-Rbeta was found in perivascular mesenchymal cells in the developing renal cortex.

Oligodendrocyte population dynamics and the role of PDGF in vivo.

Oligodendrocyte progenitors originate near the floor plate of the spinal cord, then proliferate and migrate throughout the cord before giving rise to oligodendrocytes. Progenitor cell proliferation stops before birth because the cell cycle slows down, linked to an increase in differentiation and death. Experiments with transgenic mice show that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) drives progenitor cell division and suggest that slowing of and exit from the cycle reflects a decline in PDGF signaling.