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Characterisation of Wnt gene expression during the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells in vitro: role of Wnt3 in enhancing hematopoietic differentiation

Lako, M; Lindsay, S; Lincoln, J; Cairns, PM; Armstrong, L; Hole, N

Authors

M Lako

S Lindsay

J Lincoln

PM Cairns

L Armstrong

N Hole



Abstract

The first haematopoietic stem cells in mammalian and non-mammalian vertebrates are derived from mesoderm, therefore genes that are important in mesoderm patterning and formation might also play an essential role in haematopoietic stem cell commitment and differentiation. Several members of the Wnt gene family are expressed in very specific patterns in embryonic mesoderm and have previously been shown to act as haematopoietic growth factors. In order to investigate in detail the role that such secreted proteins play in the biology of early haematopoietic commitment we have used in vitro differentiation of murine embryonal stem (ES) as a model system. Using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis we identified several candidate Wnt genes whose expression pattern was consistent with a role in generation, maintenance and/or differentiation of early haematopoietic progenitor cells including three genes previously shown to have a role in haematopoiesis (Wnt5a, Wnt2b and Wnt10b). The most interesting candidate was Wnt3, because of its strong and regulated expression during in vitro differentiation of murine ES cells as well as its early embryonic expression in mesoderm. Overexpression of Wnt3 was sufficient to cause a consistent increase in the number of embryoid bodies committing to haematopoiesis further strengthening the evidence that this protein can enhance haematopoietic commitment during in vitro differentiation of ES cells. In addition, overexpression of Wnt3 caused a marked upregulation of Brachyury expression, thus providing some evidence that Brachyury may be one of the target genes for the Wnt3 signalling pathway.

Citation

Lako, M., Lindsay, S., Lincoln, J., Cairns, P., Armstrong, L., & Hole, N. (2001). Characterisation of Wnt gene expression during the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells in vitro: role of Wnt3 in enhancing hematopoietic differentiation. Mechanisms of development, 103(1-2), 49-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0925-4773%2801%2900331-8

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date May 1, 2001
Deposit Date Feb 13, 2009
Journal Mechanisms of Development
Print ISSN 0925-4773
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 103
Issue 1-2
Pages 49-59
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/s0925-4773%2801%2900331-8
Keywords Wnt genes, Embryonic stem cells, Haematopoiesis, GFP, CFU-A, Dimethylsulfoxide, Retinoic acid, Neutrophils, Macrophages, Haematopoietic stem cells, Brachyury, Collagen-IV, Alpha-fetoprotein, Activin-B, C-kit, GATA-1, Flk-1, Globin.