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

Insulin-like growth factors in embryonic and fetal growth and skeletal development (Review)

The insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-I and -II have a predominant role in fetal growth and development. IGFs are involved in the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of fetal cells in vitro and the IGF serum concentration has been shown to be closely correlated with fetal growth and length. IGF transcripts and peptides have been detected in almost every fetal tissue from as early in development as pre‑implantation to the final maturation stage. Furthermore, IGFs have been demonstrated to be involved in limb morphogenesis. However, although ablation of Igf genes in mice resulted in growth retardation and delay in skeletal maturation, no impact on outgrowth and patterning of embryonic limbs was observed. Additionally, various molecular defects in the Igf1 and Igf1r genes in humans have been associated with severe intrauterine growth retardation and impaired skeletal maturation, but not with truncated limbs or severe skeletal dysplasia. The conflicting data between in vitro and in vivo observations with regard to bone morphogenesis suggests that IGFs may not be the sole trophic factors involved in fetal skeletal growth and that redundant mechanisms may exist in chondro- and osteogenesis. Further investigation is required in order to elucidate the functions of IGFs in skeletal development.

Disparate Igf1 expression and growth in the fore- and hind limbs of a marsupial mammal (Monodelphis domestica)

Proper regulation of growth is essential to all stages of life, from development of the egg into an embryo to the maintenance of normal cell cycle progression in adults. However, despite growth's importance to basic biology and health, little is known about how mammalian growth is regulated. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis of the highly disparate growth of opossum fore- and hind limbs in utero. We first used a novel, opossum-specific microarray to identify several growth-related genes that are differentially expressed in opossum fore- and hind limbs of comparable developmental stages. These genes included Igf1. Given Igf1's role in the growth of other systems, we further investigated the role of Igf1 in opossum limb growth. Supporting the microarray results, RT-PCR indicated that Igf1 levels are approximately two times higher in opossum fore- than hind limbs. Consistent with this, while Igf1 transcripts were readily detectable in opossum forelimbs using whole-mount in situ hybridization, they were not detectable in opossum hind limbs. Furthermore, opossum limbs treated with exogenous Igf1 protein experienced significantly greater cellular proliferation and growth than control limbs in vitro. Taken together, results suggest that the differential expression of Igf1 in developing opossum limbs contributes to their divergent rate of growth, and the unique limb phenotype of opossum newborns. This study establishes the opossum limb as a new mammalian model system for study of organ growth.

Cartilage engineering from mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal progenitor cells known as multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells or mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been isolated from various tissues. Since they are able to differentiate along the mesenchymal lineages of cartilage and bone, they are regarded as promising sources for the treatment of skeletal defects. Tissue regeneration in the adult organism and in vitro engineering of tissues is hypothesized to follow the principles of embryogenesis. The embryonic development of the skeleton has been studied extensively with respect to the regulatory mechanisms governing morphogenesis, differentiation, and tissue formation. Various concepts have been designed for engineering tissues in vitro based on these developmental principles, most of them involving regulatory molecules such as growth factors or cytokines known to be the key regulators in developmental processes. Growth factors most commonly used for in vitro cultivation of cartilage tissue belong to the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) super-family, and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family. In this chapter, in vivo actions of members of these growth factors described in the literature are compared with in vitro concepts of cartilage engineering making use of these growth factors.

Thalidomide induces limb anomalies by PTEN stabilization, Akt suppression, and stimulation of caspase-dependent cell death

Thalidomide, a drug used for the treatment of multiple myeloma and inflammatory diseases, is also a teratogen that causes birth defects, such as limb truncations and microphthalmia, in humans. Thalidomide-induced limb truncations result from increased cell death during embryonic limb development and consequential disturbance of limb outgrowth. Here we demonstrate in primary human embryonic cells and in the chicken embryo that thalidomide-induced signaling through bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps) protects active PTEN from proteasomal degradation, resulting in suppression of Akt signaling. As a consequence, caspase-dependent cell death is stimulated by the intrinsic and Fas death receptor apoptotic pathway. Most importantly, thalidomide-induced limb deformities and microphthalmia in chicken embryos could be rescued by a pharmacological PTEN inhibitor as well as by insulin, a stimulant of Akt signaling. We therefore conclude that perturbation of PTEN/Akt signaling and stimulation of caspase activity is central to the teratogenic effects of thalidomide.

Thalidomide induces limb anomalies by PTEN stabilization, Akt suppression, and stimulation of caspase-dependent cell death

Thalidomide, a drug used for the treatment of multiple myeloma and inflammatory diseases, is also a teratogen that causes birth defects, such as limb truncations and microphthalmia, in humans. Thalidomide-induced limb truncations result from increased cell death during embryonic limb development and consequential disturbance of limb outgrowth. Here we demonstrate in primary human embryonic cells and in the chicken embryo that thalidomide-induced signaling through bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps) protects active PTEN from proteasomal degradation, resulting in suppression of Akt signaling. As a consequence, caspase-dependent cell death is stimulated by the intrinsic and Fas death receptor apoptotic pathway. Most importantly, thalidomide-induced limb deformities and microphthalmia in chicken embryos could be rescued by a pharmacological PTEN inhibitor as well as by insulin, a stimulant of Akt signaling. We therefore conclude that perturbation of PTEN/Akt signaling and stimulation of caspase activity is central to the teratogenic effects of thalidomide.

Role of IGFBP2, IGF-I and IGF-II in regulating long bone growth

The IGF axis is important for long bone development, homeostasis and disease. The activities of IGF-I and IGF-II are regulated by IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGF-I and IGFBP2 are co-expressed in dynamic fashions in the developing long bones of the chick wing, and we have found that IGF-II is present in the cartilage model and surrounding perichondrium, proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes and developing periosteum. To gain insight into endogenous roles of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP2 in long bone development, we have overexpressed IGFBP2 in the developing skeletal elements of the embryonic chick wing in vivo, using an RCAS retroviral vector. IGFBP2 overexpression led to an obvious shortening of the long bones of the wing. We have investigated, at the cellular and molecular levels, the mechanism of action whereby IGFBP2 overexpression impairs long bone development in vivo. At an early stage, IGFBP2 excess dramatically inhibits proliferation by the chondrocytes of the cartilage models that prefigure the developing long bones. Later, IGFBP2 excess also reduces proliferation of the maturing chondrocytes and attenuates proliferation by the perichondrium/developing periosteum. IGFBP2 excess does not affect morphological or molecular indicators of chondrocyte maturation, osteoblast differentiation or cell/matrix turnover, such as expression of Ihh, PTHrP, type X collagen and osteopontin, or distribution and relative abundance of putative clast cells. We also have found that IGFBP2 blocks the ability of IGF-I and IGF-II to promote proliferation and matrix synthesis by wing chondrocytes in vitro. Together, our results suggest that the mechanism of action whereby IGFBP2 excess impairs long bone development is to inhibit IGF-mediated proliferation and matrix synthesis by the cartilage model; reduce the proliferation and progression to hypertrophy by the maturing chondrocytes; and attenuate proliferation and formation of the periosteal bony collar. These actions retard the growth and longitudinal expansion of the developing long bones, resulting in shortened wing skeletal elements. Our results emphasize the importance of a balance of IGF/IGFBP2 action at several stages during normal long bone development.

Studies on epidermal growth factor receptor signaling in vertebrate limb patterning

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) regulates multiple patterning events in Drosophila limb development, but its role in vertebrate limb morphogenesis has received little attention. The EGFR and several of its ligands are expressed in developing vertebrate limbs in manners consistent with potential patterning roles. To gain insight into functions of EGFR signaling in vertebrate limb development, we expressed a constitutively active EGFR in developing chick limbs in ovo. Expression of activated EGFR causes pre- and postaxial polydactyly, including mirror-image-type digit duplication, likely due to induction of ectopic expression and/or modulation of genes involved in anterior-posterior (AP) patterning such as Sonic hedgehog (Shh), dHand, Patched (Ptc), Gli3, Hoxd13, Hoxd11, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2), Gremlin, and FGF4. Activation of EGFR signaling dorsalizes the limb and alters expression of the dorsal-ventral (DV) patterning genes Wnt7a, Lmx, and En1. Ectopic and/or extended FGF8 expressing apical ectodermal ridges (AERs) are also seen. Interdigital regression is inhibited and the digits fail to separate, leading to syndactyly, likely due to antiapoptotic and pro-proliferative effects of activated EGFR signaling on limb mesoderm, and/or attenuation of interdigital Bmp4 expression. These findings suggest potential roles for EGFR signaling in AP and DV patterning, AER formation, and cell survival during limb morphogenesis.

Body building: regulation of shape and size by PI3K/TOR signaling during development

Growth of organisms and their constituent parts responds to both intrinsic and extrinsic cues during development: organisms of a given species generally grow at a predictable rate and to a specific body size, but individuals can modify this program during development in response to environmental conditions. Recent experiments, using gene knockouts and targeted overexpression, have revealed the central role of a signaling network controlled by the PI3K and TOR kinases in this regulation. These signaling molecules control growth by coordinately regulating a large number of cell biological processes. This review focuses on the cellular activities regulated by PI3K and TOR during development, and discusses how changes in different aspects of cellular metabolism may interact to regulate growth.

Function of BMPs in the apical ectoderm of the developing mouse limb

Several bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are expressed in the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), a critical signaling center that directs the outgrowth and patterning of limb mesoderm, but little is known about their function. To study the functions of apical ectodermal BMPs, an AER-specific promoter element from the Msx2 gene was used to target expression of the potent BMP antagonist noggin to the apical ectoderm of the limbs of transgenic mice. Msx2-noggin mutant mice have severely malformed limbs characterized by syndactyly, postaxial polydactyly, and dorsal transformations of ventral structures indicated by absence of ventral footpads and presence of supernumerary ventral nails. Mutant limb buds exhibit a dorsoventral (DV) and anteroposterior (AP) expansion in the extent of the AER. AER activity persists longer than normal and is maintained in regions of the apical ectoderm where its activity normally ceases. Mutant limbs possess a broad band of mesodermal tissue along the distal periphery that is absent from normal limbs and which fails to undergo the apoptosis that normally occurs in the subectodermal mesoderm. Taken together, our results suggest that apical ectodermal BMPs may delimit the boundaries of the AER by preventing adjacent nonridge ectodermal cells from becoming AER cells; negatively modulate AER activity and thus fine-tune the strength of AER signaling; and regulate the apoptosis of the distal subectodermal mesoderm that occurs as AER activity attenuates, an event that is essential for normal limb development. Our results also confirm that ectodermal BMP signaling regulates DV patterning.

Beta-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling in apical ectodermal ridge induction and FGF8 expression in normal and limbless mutant chick limbs

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and beta-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling pathways are key regulators of vertebrate limb development. FGF10 induces expression of Wnt3a, which regulates the formation and FGF8 expression of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER). In amelic limbless limbs, an AER fails to form and FGF8 is not expressed, despite expression of FGF10. It has been found that Wnt3a is initially expressed in limbless ectoderm, although subsequently is drastically reduced. In addition, changes in the expression pattern or level of several Frizzled receptors, Axin, Lef1/Tcf1 and beta-catenin have been found in limbless limbs. Notably, while normal wing buds respond to LiCl-stimulated activation of beta-catenin-dependent signaling by forming ectopic, FGF8-expressing AER, LiCl was unable to induce an AER in limbless wing buds. The results of this study suggest that the limbless gene is required for beta-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling in limb ectoderm leading to FGF8 expression and AER formation.

YY1 activates Msx2 gene independent of bone morphogenetic protein signaling

Msx2 is a homeobox gene expressed in multiple embryonic tissues which functions as a key mediator of numerous developmental processes. YY1 is a bi-functional zinc finger protein that serves as a repressor or activator to a variety of promoters. The role of YY1 during embryogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we report that Msx2 is regulated by YY1 through protein-DNA interactions. During embryogenesis, the expression pattern of YY1 was observed to overlap in part with that of Msx2. Most notably, during first branchial arch and limb development, both YY1 and Msx2 were highly expressed, and their patterns were complementary. To test the hypothesis that YY1 regulates Msx2 gene expression, P19 embryonal cells were used in a number of expression and binding assays. We discovered that, in these cells, YY1 activated endogenous Msx2 gene expression as well as Msx2 promoter-luciferase fusion gene activity. These biological activities were dependent on both the DNA binding and activation domains of YY1. In addition, YY1 bound specifically to three YY1 binding sites on the proximal promoter of Msx2 that accounted for this transactivation. Mutations introduced to these sites reduced the level of YY1 transactivation. As bone morphogenetic protein type 4 (BMP4) regulates Msx2 expression in embryonic tissues and in P19 cells, we further tested whether YY1 is the mediator of this BMP4 activity. BMP4 did not induce the expression of YY1 in early mouse mandibular explants, nor in P19 cells, suggesting that YY1 is not a required mediator of the BMP4 pathway in these tissues at this developmental stage. Taken together, these findings suggest that YY1 functions as an activator for the Msx2 gene, and that this regulation, which is independent of the BMP4 pathway, may be required during early mouse craniofacial and limb morphogenesis.

Insulin-like growth factor I stimulates myoblast expansion and myofiber development in the limb

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is expressed in the anterior and posterior mesodermal cells of the developing limb. However, a definite role for IGF-I during early limb organogenesis is unknown. To determine the inherent participation of IGF-I during limb organ development, a retroviral delivery system (RCAS) was used to overexpress IGF-I throughout the developing hind limb of stage 24 chicken embryos. The area of the belly of the external gastrocnemius muscle in the IGF-I infected limb was an average of 160, 90, 70, and 80% larger than the contralateral control muscle belly, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days postinjection, respectively (all differences P < 0.01). In comparison to the contralateral control muscles, there were a significantly greater number of muscle fibers in the IGF-I infected muscles (P < 0.05), confirming that the majority of IGF-I-mediated muscle enlargement was due to an increase in total fiber numbers (hyperplasia). Four days postinjection, there was a 32% increase in myoblast to myofiber ratio in the muscle of injected limbs compared with the muscle in the contralateral noninjected control limbs (P < 0.05). This result demonstrates that IGF-I acts to expand the undifferentiated myoblast population, and as a result, more myofibers subsequently develop, and the muscles expressing ectopic IGF-I are enlarged by means of hyperplasia. There was no difference in tibiotarsus and fibula length or diameter between the IGF-I injected and control limb, suggesting that ectopic IGF-I expression within the mesoderm was not a nonspecific growth stimulant of all tissues of the developing limb, but specifically enhanced skeletal muscle development and growth. Ectopic IGF-I expression had no significant effect on myostatin mRNA concentrations. Our results support a model where mesodermally expressed IGF-I acts to regulate the number of primary myofibers, and, therefore, size of skeletal muscles, which form during the initial events of limb myogenesis.

Roles of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-I binding protein-2 (IGFBP2) and -5 (IGFBP5) in developing chick limbs

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and the IGF-I binding proteins (IGFBPs) which modulate IGF-I action have been implicated in the development of the vertebrate limbs and skeleton. We have examined the distribution of IGF-I, IGFBP2 and IGFBP5 in developing chick limb buds and have investigated their functional roles and relationships during chick limb development. IGF-I and IGFBP2 are co-expressed throughout the lateral plate from which limbs form, although IGFBP2, unlike IGF-I, does not promote formation of rudimentary limb buds from non-limb-forming flank regions in vitro. During limb outgrowth, IGF-I is present in non-AER limb ectoderm, but little IGF-I is present in the AER itself, suggesting that restriction of endogenous IGF-I activity may be required for proper AER function. Consistent with this possibility, the ectoderm of mutant limbless and wingless wing buds, which fail to form an AER, continues to express IGF-I. We also found that the AER contains abundant IGFBP2 but that IGFBP2 is not present in limb subridge mesoderm. In contrast, IGFBP2 is present in the distal mesoderm of mutant limbless or wingless limb buds, which fail to grow out. This suggests that attenuation of IGFBP2 expression is controlled by the AER and that cessation of IGFBP2 expression may be necessary for the proliferation and suppression of differentiation of subridge mesoderm that is required for limb outgrowth to occur. Consistent with this possibility, we found that exogenous IGFBP2 inhibits the anti-differentiative activity of the AER in vitro. We also found that regions of cell death in the limb contain abundant IGF-I-immunoreactive cells, consistent with a role for IGF-I in apoptosis. During skeletogenesis, IGF-I and IGFBP2 are co-localized to the condensing central core of the limb, implicating these factors as potential regulators of the onset of chondrogenic differentiation. Intriguingly, we found that IGF-I and IGFBP2 have opposing effects on chondrogenesis, as IGF-I stimulates but IGFBP2 inhibits accumulation of cartilage matrix by micromass cultures in vitro. Long [R(3)] IGF-I, an analog of IGF-I that cannot bind IGFBPs, is more effective than IGF-I in stimulating matrix accumulation, consistent with a negative role for IGFBP2 in chondrogenesis. As the chondrocytes of the limb mature, IGF-I is present only in terminal hypertrophic chondrocytes, which undergo programmed cell death, while IGFBP2 becomes localized to prehypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocytes, suggesting involvement in chondrocyte maturation. Consistent with this possibility, we found that exogenous IGFBP2 induces precocious expression of Indian hedgehog, a marker of prehypertrophy, in maturing chondrocytes in vitro. IGF-I and IGFBP2 are also present in the osteoblasts, clasts and nascent matrix of the long bones, consistent with roles in endochondral bone formation. Unlike in rodent limbs, IGFBP5 is not expressed by chick limb ectoderm or AER. IGFBP5 expression is highly localized to developing limb musculature and, later, to the developing skeletal elements where it is expressed by osteoblast precursers and osteoblasts. The results of this study suggest potential novel roles for IGF-I and IGFBP2 in several aspects of limb development including limb outgrowth and AER activity, programmed cell death, chondrogenesis and chondrocyte maturation.

Insulin induces specific interaction between insulin receptor and protein kinase C delta in primary cultured skeletal muscle

Certain protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, in particular PKCs beta II, delta, and zeta, are activated by insulin stimulation. In primary cultures of skeletal muscle, PKCs beta II and zeta, but not PKC delta, are activated via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent pathway. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility that PKC delta may be activated upstream of PI3K by direct interaction with insulin receptor (IR). Experiments were done on primary cultures of newborn rat skeletal muscle, age 5--6 days in vitro. The time course of insulin-induced activation of PKC delta closely paralleled that of IR. Insulin stimulation caused a selective coprecipitation of PKC delta with IR, and these IR immunoprecipitates from insulin-stimulated cells displayed a striking induction of PKC activity due specifically to PKC delta. To examine the involvement of PKC delta in the IR signaling cascade, we used recombinant adenovirus constructs of wild-type (W.T.) or dominant negative (D.N.) PKC delta. Overexpression of W.T.PKC delta induced PKC delta activity and coassociation of PKC delta and IR without addition of insulin. Overexpression of D.N.PKC delta abrogated insulin- induced coassociation of PKC delta and IR. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IR was greatly attenuated in cells overexpressing W.T.PKC delta, whereas in myotubes overexpressing D.N.PKC delta, tyrosine phosphorylation occurred without addition of insulin and was sustained longer than that in control myotubes. In control myotubes IR displayed a low level of serine phosphorylation, which was increased by insulin stimulation. In cells overexpressing W.T.PKC delta, serine phosphorylation was strikingly high under basal conditions and did not increase after insulin stimulation. In contrast, in cells overexpressing D.N.PKC delta, the level of serine phosphorylation was lower than that in nonoverexpressing cells and did not change notably after addition of insulin. Overexpression of W.T.PKC delta caused IR to localize mainly in the internal membrane fractions, and blockade of PKC delta abrogated insulin-induced IR internalization. We conclude that PKC delta is involved in regulation of IR activity and routing, and this regulation may be important in subsequent steps in the IR signaling cascade.

Involvement of Ras and Ral in chemotactic migration of skeletal myoblasts

In skeletal myoblasts, Ras has been considered to be a strong inhibitor of myogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that Ras is involved also in the chemotactic response of skeletal myoblasts. Expression of a dominant-negative mutant of Ras inhibited chemotaxis of C2C12 myoblasts in response to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), key regulators of limb muscle development and skeletal muscle regeneration. A dominant-negative Ral also decreased chemotactic migration by these growth factors, while inhibitors for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) showed no effect. Activation of the Ras-Ral pathway by expression of an activated mutant of either Ras, the guanine-nucleotide dissociation stimulator for Ral, or Ral resulted in increased motility of myoblasts. The ability of Ral to stimulate motility was reduced by introduction of a mutation which prevents binding to Ral-binding protein 1 or phospholipase D. These results suggest that the Ras-Ral pathway is essential for the migration of myoblasts. Furthermore, we found that Ras and Ral are activated in C2C12 cells by bFGF, HGF and IGF-1 and that the Ral activation is regulated by the Ras- and the intracellular Ca(2+)-mediated pathways. Taken together, our data indicate that Ras and Ral regulate the chemotactic migration of skeletal muscle progenitors.

Mechanism of action in thalidomide teratogenesis

In this commentary, we describe a model to explain the mechanism of the embryopathy of thalidomide. We propose that thalidomide affects the following pathway during development: insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) stimulation of the transcription of alphav and beta3 integrin subunit genes. The resulting alphavbeta3 integrin dimer stimulates angiogenesis in the developing limb bud, which promotes outgrowth of the bud. The promoters of the IGF-I and FGF-2 genes, the genes for their binding proteins and receptors, as well as the alphav and beta3 genes, lack typical TATA boxes, but instead contain multiple GC boxes (GGGCGG). Thalidomide, or a breakdown product of thalidomide, specifically binds to these GC promoter sites, decreasing transcription efficiency of the associated genes. A cumulative decrease interferes with normal angiogenesis, which results in truncation of the limb. Intercalation into G-rich promoter regions of DNA may explain why certain thalidomide analogs are not teratogenic while retaining their anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activity, and suggests that we look elsewhere to explain the action of thalidomide on TNF-alpha. On the other hand, the anti-cancer action of thalidomide may be based on its antiangiogenic action, resulting from specific DNA intercalation. The tissue specificity of thalidomide and its effect against only certain neoplasias may be explained by the fact that various developing tissues and neoplasias depend on different angiogenesis or vasculogenesis pathways, only some of which are thalidomide-sensitive.

Expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-II in the avian brain: relationship of in situ hybridization patterns with IGF type 1 receptor expression

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are expressed in defined spatiotemporal patterns during the development of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Since IGF expression in avian species is less well documented, we studied here the expression of IGF-I and IGF-II during chicken CNS development, using in situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase-PCR, and compared the results with the expression of the IGF type 1 receptor (IGF-1R). IGF-II expression started early in embryonic life, shortly after the onset of IGF-1R expression. During organogenesis, IGF-II was strongly expressed in kidney, liver and gut primordia, in contrast with IGF-1R mRNA, which is highly enriched in proliferating neuroepithelia. During the second half of embryonic development, IGF-I and IGF-II had distinct expression patterns, suggesting specific roles for each ligand during brain maturation. IGF-II mRNA was found in numerous brainstem nuclei and in the optic tectum, whereas IGF-I mRNA was found predominantly in telencephalic regions. Both ligands were expressed in the cerebellum, but each by different cell layers. Some brain regions (olfactory bulb and olivo-cerebellar system) did not exhibit the postnatal downregulation typical of extrahepatic IGF-I expression, but continued to express IGF-I into adulthood. Purkinje cells expressed IGF-II in the embryo, but switched to IGF-I expression in the adult. The conservation of embryonic and postnatal IGF expression patterns in the CNS between avians and mammals suggests that the involvement of the IGF system in neurogenesis and differentiation, and possibly in neural plasticity and learning, may have arisen early during tetrapode/vertebrate evolution.

Pattern of skeletal malformations produced by Dominant hemimelia (Dh)

The hindlimb malformations in adult mice heterozygous for the dominant gene Dominant hemimelia (Dh) and +/+ littermates were characterized in skeletons that had been fixed, stained, and cleared. When the tibia was shortened, the deficiency was always an absence of the distal portion, and never the proximal portion. Although tibial hemimelia has been well documented in Dh mice, this study demonstrated a distinctive pattern of shortening of the tibia. Measurements of the length of the tibia (relative to the length of the humerus) showed only three patterns of shortening of the tibia (i.e., mild, moderate, and severe), rather than a continuous spectrum of shortening from mild to complete absence. The hindlimb malformation of Dh/+ mice occurred in association with a reduced number (five) of lumbar vertebrae. The interrelationship of the hindlimb malformations and the reduction in the vertebral number suggests a relationship between the development of the axial skeleton and the abnormal limb.

FGF7 and FGF10 directly induce the apical ectodermal ridge in chick embryos

During vertebrate limb development, the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) plays a vital role in both limb initiation and distal outgrowth of the limb bud. In the early chick embryo the prelimb bud mesoderm induces the AER in the overlying ectoderm. However, the direct inducer of the AER remains unknown. Here we report that FGF7 and FGF10, members of the fibroblast growth factor family, are the best candidates for the direct inducer of the AER. FGF7 induces an ectopic AER in the flank ectoderm of the chick embryo in a different manner from FGF1, -2, and -4 and activates the expression of Fgf8, an AER marker gene, in a cultured flank ectoderm without the mesoderm. Remarkably, FGF7 and FGF10 applied in the back induced an ectopic AER in the dorsal median ectoderm. Our results suggest that FGF7 and FGF10 directly induce the AER in the ectoderm both of the flank and of the dorsal midline and that these two regions have the competence for AER induction. Formation of the AER of the dorsal median ectoderm in the chick embryo is likely to appear as a vestige of the dorsal fin of the ancestors.

Flt3 ligand can promote survival and macrophage development without proliferation in myeloid progenitor cells

Flt3 ligand elicits a variety of effects on early hemopoietic progenitors by occupying its cognate receptor, Flt3, a member of the type III tyrosine kinase receptor family. The cytokines macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF) bind to related members of this tyrosine kinase receptors family, c-fms and c-kit, respectively. The relative effects of the cytokines M-CSF, SCF, and Flt3L on the proliferation and development of the late myeloid progenitors granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFC) were investigated. Distinct biologic responses were stimulated by ligand binding to these different tyrosine kinase receptors in enriched GM-CFC. M-CSF stimulated GM-CFC to proliferate and develop into macrophages. SCF, on the other hand, stimulated GM-CFC to develop into neutrophils. Flt3 ligand had a relatively small proliferative effect on enriched GM-CFC compared to SCF and M-CSF and had no ability to either stimulate colony formation or synergize with these two cytokines in promoting DNA synthesis, colony formation, or expansion in liquid culture. Flt3 ligand, however, was capable of maintaining the clonogenic potential of GM-CFC and acted as an anti-apoptotic agent as assessed using the Annexin-V apoptosis assay. GM-CFC cultured in Flt3 ligand eventually formed macrophages and neutrophils in liquid culture. Labeling with the membrane-associated cell tracker dye PKH26 indicated that the majority of the enriched GM-CFC responded to Flt3 ligand by undergoing limited proliferation and macrophage development, whereas other cells survived but did not proliferate and differentiate into macrophages. Thus, Flt3 ligand promoted survival and stimulated development without proliferation in primary-enriched myeloid progenitor cells.

Roles of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor in chick limb development

We have examined the distribution of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the chicken EGF receptor (c-erbB), in embryonic chick limbs. Prior to limb budding, TGF-alpha is present in prospective limb-forming mesoderm and in prospective apical ectodermal ridge (AER)-forming ectoderm, but is not detected in non-limb-forming flank mesoderm or ectoderm, nor in presumptive non-AER-forming limb ectoderm, suggesting possible roles in initial limb formation and AER induction. Consistent with this possibility, TGF-alpha is present in the mesoderm of the wing buds of the amelic chick mutants limbless and wingless, which form and bud normally, but is absent from limbless and wingless ectoderm, which fails to form an AER. TGF-alpha and EGF are present in the AER of the developing limb, and TGF-alpha, EGF, and c-erbB are present in the underlying subridge mesoderm, suggesting possible roles in reciprocal AER/subridge mesoderm interactions required for limb outgrowth. We found that exogenous TGF-alpha and EGF can promote the outgrowth of limb mesoderm in the absence of the AER in vitro and can also promote the outgrowth of limbless and wingless wing bud explants. EGF is present in ventral but not dorsal limb ectoderm, suggesting a role for EGF in specification of ventral ectoderm. TGF-alpha and EGF are not detected in the differentiating cartilaginous elements or muscle primordia of the limb, suggesting that cessation of TGF-alpha and EGF expression may be required for cartilage and muscle formation. We have found that exogenous TGF-alpha and EGF inhibit chondrogenesis and myogenesis of limb mesenchyme in vitro. Together these results indicate that signaling through the EGF receptor via endogenous TGF-alpha and EGF may be important for initial limb formation, AER induction, outgrowth of limb mesoderm, and regulation of limb chondrogenic and myogenic differentiation.

An avian model for comparative studies of insulin teratogenicity

This study was designed to explore the effects of purified insulin during early stages of chick embryo development, and to search for variations between different molecular structures of the hormone. Chicken embryos were treated in ovo with a single dose of insulin (porcine or bovine), in only one stage of development between day 0 and day 9. Two susceptible periods were found. The earliest period (day 0 to day 3), characterized by abnormalities in the caudal vertebrae and a high mortality rate, was followed by a period with a different set of malformations, a syndrome classified as achondroplasia. The rate of achondroplastic embryos was significantly higher with porcine rather than with bovine insulin. Paradoxically, insulin at physiological doses has stimulatory effects in growth and development but, in contrast, has inhibitory effects at higher doses. The precise signalling cascade of events in the target cells is still unclear. The possible interpretations of our results are discussed. The similarity between the insulin-induced abnormalities in the chicken embryos and the caudal regression syndrome, the most common malformation found in infants of diabetic women, suggests a common mechanism. This circumstance offers the chicken embryos as an excellent in vivo model for research on the mechanism of action of insulin during normal and abnormal development.

The role of p53 and cell death by apoptosis and necrosis in 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide-induced limb malformations

The exposure of embryonic murine limbs in vitro to an activated analog of cyclophosphamide, 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4OOH-CPA), induced limb malformations and apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the tumor suppressor/cell cycle checkpoint gene, p53, and of cell cycle arrest in the response of the limbs to cyclophosphamide. Limbs, excised on day 12 of gestation from wild-type, heterozygous or homozygous p53-knockout transgenic murine embryos, were treated with vehicle (water) or 4OOH-CPA (0.3, 1.0 or 3.0 microgram/ml) and cultured for 6 days. Exposure of wild-type (+/+) limbs to 4OOH-CPA resulted in limb malformations, and reduced limb areas and developmental scores. The homozygous (−/−) limbs were dramatically more sensitive to the effects of 4OOH-CPA, as assessed by limb morphology, area and score. Heterozygous limbs exposed to the drug were intermediate for each parameter. Apoptosis, as assessed by the formation of a DNA ladder, was increased in drug-exposed wild-type limbs, but not in the drug-exposed homozygous limbs. Light and electron microscopy examination of the limbs revealed that drug treatment of wild-type limbs induced the morphological changes typical of apoptosis, particularly in the interdigital regions. In contrast, there was no evidence of apoptosis in homozygous limbs exposed to 4-OOH-CPA; morphological characteristics of necrosis such as cell membrane breakdown, mitochondrial swelling and cellular disintegration were evident throughout these limbs. Heterozygous limbs had cells dying with the characteristics of both apoptosis and necrosis. Fragments of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase characteristic of necrosis predominated in the drug-treated heterozygous and homozygous limbs. 4-OOH-CPA-treatment of limbs from wild-type embryos led to arrest of the cell cycle at the G1/S phase. No cell cycle arrest was observed after drug treatment of homozygous limbs, in which populations of cells in S and G2/M phases, as well as a population of sub G1 cells, were found. Thus, the presence of p53 and of p53-dependent apoptosis protect organogenesis-stage limbs from insult with a teratogen. The absence of p53 may decrease DNA repair capacity and contribute to the accumulation of DNA damage in limb cells and their daughter cells; the failure of apoptosis to eliminate cells with DNA damage may result in increased cell death by necrosis and major limb malformations.

Sequential progression of the differentiation program by bone morphogenetic protein-2 in chondrogenic cell line ATDC5

During embryonic development of long bones, chondroprogenitor cells exhibit the transitions of phenotype, i.e., from type I collagen-expressing cells to type II collagen-expressing chondrocytes through cellular condensation (early-phase differentiation) and then to type X collagen-expressing mineralizing chondrocytes (late-phase differentiation). The chondrogenic cell line ATDC5 displays the sequential transitions of phenotype in a synchronous manner in vitro. Taking advantage of the sequential differentiation, the effects of growth factors were evaluated at each differentiation step of ATDC5 cells. Among the factors examined, bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) specifically stimulated a progression of the early-phase differentiation. Rounded chondrocytic cells were formed all over the culture plates by skipping out a cellular condensation stage. Fibroblast growth factor-2 stimulated growth of undifferentiated ATDC5 cells, but failed to stimulate overt chondrogenesis. The proliferation of differentiated cells ceased as cartilage nodules became maturated. At this stage, BMP-2 markedly up-regulated expression of type X collagen mRNA (a 9.1-fold increase) and alkaline phosphatase mRNA (a 7.5-fold increase) within 48 h. On the other hand, it down-regulated expression of type II collagen and parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) receptor mRNAs, markers of the early differentiation. BMP-2 stimulated the formation of calcified matrix, an end product of terminally differentiated chondrocytes. These results indicated that BMP stimulated the sequential progression of early- and late-phase differentiation of ATDC5 cells.

Ectopic expression of Msx-2 in posterior limb bud mesoderm impairs limb morphogenesis while inducing BMP-4 expression, inhibiting cell proliferation, and promoting apoptosis

During early stages of chick limb development, the homeobox-containing gene Msx-2 is expressed in the mesoderm at the anterior margin of the limb bud and in a discrete group of mesodermal cells at the midproximal posterior margin. These domains of Msx-2 expression roughly demarcate the anterior and posterior boundaries of the progress zone, the highly proliferating posterior mesodermal cells underneath the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) that give rise to the skeletal elements of the limb and associated structures. Later in development as the AER loses its activity, Msx-2 expression expands into the distal mesoderm and subsequently into the interdigital mesenchyme which demarcates the developing digits. The domains of Msx-2 expression exhibit considerably less proliferation than the cells of the progress zone and also encompass several regions of programmed cell death including the anterior and posterior necrotic zones and interdigital mesenchyme. We have thus suggested that Msx-2 may be in a regulatory network that delimits the progress zone by suppressing the morphogenesis of the regions of the limb mesoderm in which it is highly expressed. In the present study we show that ectopic expression of Msx-2 via a retroviral expression vector in the posterior mesoderm of the progress zone from the time of initial formation of the limb bud severely impairs limb morphogenesis. Msx-2-infected limbs are typically very narrow along the anteroposterior axis, are occasionally truncated, and exhibit alterations in the pattern of formation of skeletal elements, indicating that as a consequence of ectopic Msx-2 expression the morphogenesis of large portions of the posterior mesoderm has been suppressed. We further show that Msx-2 impairs limb morphogenesis by reducing cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis in the regions of the posterior mesoderm in which it is ectopically expressed. The domains of ectopic Msx-2 expression in the posterior mesoderm also exhibit ectopic expression of BMP-4, a secreted signaling molecule that is coexpressed with Msx-2 during normal limb development in the anterior limb mesoderm, the posterior necrotic zone, and interdigital mesenchyme. This indicates that Msx-2 regulates BMP-4 expression and that the suppressive effects of Msx-2 on limb morphogenesis might be mediated in part by BMP-4. These studies indicate that during normal limb development Msx-2 is a key component of a regulatory network that delimits the boundaries of the progress zone by suppressing the morphogenesis of the regions of the limb mesoderm in which it is highly expressed, thus restricting the outgrowth and formation of skeletal elements and associated structures to the progress zone. We also report that rather large numbers of apoptotic cells as well as proliferating cells are present throughout the AER during all stages of normal limb development we have examined, indicating that many of the cells of the AER are continuously undergoing programmed cell death at the same time that new AER cells are being generated by cell proliferation. Thus, a balance between cell proliferation and programmed cell death may play a very important role in maintaining the activity of the AER.

mRNA expression patterns of the IGF system during mouse limb bud development, determined by whole mount in situ hybridization

During limb development the primary limb bud requires various signals to differentiate. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II serve as ubiquitous cellular growth promoters and are modulated by their binding proteins (IGFBPs), which inhibit or augment IGF bioavailability. This is the first study to give a complete overview of the mRNA expression patterns of Igf-1, Igf-2, type 1 Igf receptor (Igf1r) and six Igf binding proteins (IGFBP-1-6) in embryonic mouse limbs, at various stages of development, by whole mount in situ hybridization (ISH). Our results show that all the members of the Igf system, except Igfbp-1 and -6, have specific spatio-temporal mRNA expression patterns. IGFBP-2 and -5 are found in the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), and IGF-I and IGFBP-4 in the region of the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA). IGF-II and IGF1R are found in regions of pre-cartilage formation. At 13.5 days post coitus (dpc) the IGF system colocalizes with apoptosis areas; IGFBP-2, -4 and -5 are found in the interdigital zone, while IGFBP-3 and IGF-I border this region. Furthermore, IGFBP-3, -4 and -5 are found in the phalangeal joint areas, at an early stage of joint formation. This supports the hypothesis that the IGF system may be involved in chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchyme and the regulation of apoptosis in the developing limb.

Hensen's node provides an endogenous limb-forming signal

Acquisition of limb-forming ability by discrete regions of the lateral plate of the chick embryo is thought to depend on a signaling cascade moving sequentially from the area of Hensen's node to the somitic mesoderm, the intermediate mesoderm, and then to the prospective limb-forming regions of the lateral plate (Stephens et al., 1991). In the present study it is demonstrated that grafts of Hensen's node can induce the formation of supernumerary rudimentary limbs from the non-limb-forming flank region of the lateral plate of stage 9-15 chick embryos. The rudimentary limbs that form from the flank in response to Hensen's node grafts often contain elongated, jointed cartilaginous elements arranged in three distinct proximodistal segments resembling the developing stylopod, zeugopod, and autopod and express the limb-characteristic genes Msx-2 and BMP-4. However, the rudimentary limbs are incomplete and nonpolarized in that they do not form girdles or paired skeletal elements and fail to express sonic hedgehog, FGF-4, and FGF-8, signaling molecules that have been implicated in regulating the patterning of the developing limb bud. These results indicate that Hensen's node can provide a limb-forming signal to the lateral mesoderm, but that other signals are necessary to promote the expression of genes required for the complete patterning and morphogenesis of the limb.

FGF-stimulated outgrowth and proliferation of limb mesoderm is dependent on syndecan-3

The outgrowth of the mesoderm of the developing limb bud in response to the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) is mediated at least in part by members of the FGF family. Recent studies have indicated that FGFs need to interact with heparan sulfate proteoglycans in order to bind to and activate their specific cell surface receptors. Syndecan-3 is an integral membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is highly expressed by the distal mesodermal cells of the chick limb bud that are undergoing proliferation and outgrowth in response to the AER. Here we report that maintenance of high-level syndecan-3 expression by the subridge mesoderm of the chick limb bud is directly or indirectly dependent on the AER, since its expression is severely impaired in the distal mesoderm of the limb buds of limbless and wingless mutant embryos which lack functional AERs capable of directing the outgrowth of limb mesoderm. We have also found that exogenous FGF-2 maintains a domain of high-level syndecan-3 expression in the outgrowing mesodermal cells of explants of the posterior mesoderm of normal limb buds cultured in the absence of the AER and in the outgrowing subapical mesoderm of explants of limbless mutant limb buds which lack a functional AER. These results suggest that the domain of high-level syndecan-3 expression in the subridge mesoderm of normal limb buds is maintained by FGFs produced by the AER. Finally, we report that polyclonal antibodies against a syndecan-3 fusion protein inhibit the ability of FGF-2 to promote the proliferation and outgrowth of the posterior subridge mesoderm of limb buds cultured in the absence of the AER. These results suggest that syndecan-3 plays an essential role in limb outgrowth by mediating the interaction of FGFs produced by the AER with the underlying mesoderm of the limb bud.

Inhibition of in vitro limb cartilage differentiation by syndecan-3 antibodies

The transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecan-3 is transiently expressed in high amounts during the cellular condensation process that characterizes the onset of limb cartilage differentiation. During condensation, limb mesenchymal cells become closely juxtaposed and undergo cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that are necessary to trigger cartilage differentiation and cartilage-specific gene expression. To test directly the possible involvement of syndecan-3 in regulating the onset of limb chondrogenesis, we examined the effect of polyclonal antibodies against a syndecan-3 fusion protein on the chondrogenic differentiation of chick limb mesenchymal cells in micromass culture. Syndecan-3 antiserum elicits a dose-dependent inhibition of the accumulation of Alcian blue-stainable cartilage matrix by high density limb mesenchymal cell micromass cultures (2 x 10(5) cells/10 microliters) and a corresponding reduction in steady-state levels of mRNAs for cartilage-characteristic type II collagen and the core protein of the cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan. In preimmune serum-treated control cultures proliferating cells are limited to the periphery of areas of cartilage matrix deposition, whereas large numbers of proliferating cells are uniformly distributed throughout the undifferentiated cultures supplemented with syndecan-3 antiserum. Limb mesenchymal cells cultured at lower densities (1 x 10(5) cells/10 microliters) in the presence of preimmune serum form extensive precartilage condensations characterized by the close juxtaposition of rounded cells by day 2 of culture. In contrast, in the presence of syndecan-3 antiserum, the cells fail to aggregate but rather remain flattened and spatially separated from one another, suggeting that syndecan-3 antibodies impair the formation of precartilage condensations. These results indicate that syndecan-3 plays an important role in regulating the onset of limb chondrogenesis, perhaps by mediating the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions required for condensation and subsequent cartilage differentiation.

Ability of FGFs to promote the outgrowth and proliferation of limb mesoderm is dependent on IGF-I activity

IGF-I and members of the FGF family have been implicated in the reciprocal interactions between the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) and underlying subridge mesoderm that are required for outgrowth of the developing limb bud. Several FGFs are expressed by the AER and appear to mediate its outgrowth and patterning effects on the subridge mesoderm. IGF-I is expressed by the subridge mesoderm that is growing out in response to the AER, and exogenous IGF-I can promote the outgrowth of the subridge mesoderm in the absence of the AER. Maintenance of IGF-I expression by the subridge mesoderm is dependent on the AER. Here we report that exogenous FGF-2 and FGF-4 can substitute for the AER in maintaining IGF-I expression by the posterior subridge mesoderm of the chick limb bud. Furthermore, we have found that neutralizing antibodies against IGF-I inhibit the ability of FGFs to promote the outgrowth and proliferation of the posterior subridge mesoderm cultured in the absence of the AER. These results indicate that FGFs secreted by the AER maintain IGF-I expression by the subridge mesoderm, and that the ability of FGFs to promote the outgrowth and proliferation of limb mesoderm is dependent on IGF-I activity. Interestingly, however, the ability of FGFs to maintain the expression of the homeobox containing gene Msx-1 by the subridge mesoderm is not dependent on IGF-I activity.

The limb field mesoderm determines initial limb bud anteroposterior asymmetry and budding independent of sonic hedgehog or apical ectodermal gene expressions

We have analyzed the pattern of expression of several genes implicated in limb initiation and outgrowth using limbless chicken embryos. We demonstrate that the expressions of the apical ridge associated genes, Fgf-8, Fgf-4, Bmp-2 and Bmp-4, are undetectable in limbless limb bud ectoderm; however, FGF2 protein is present in the limb bud ectoderm. Shh expression is undetectable in limbless limb bud mesoderm. Nevertheless, limbless limb bud mesoderm shows polarization manifested by the asymmetric expression of Hoxd-11, −12 and −13, Wnt-5a and Bmp-4 genes. The posterior limbless limb bud mesoderm, although not actually expressing Shh, is competent to express it if supplied with exogenous FGF or transplanted to a normal apical ridge environment, providing further evidence of mesodermal asymmetry. Exogenous FGF applied to limbless limb buds permits further growth and determination of recognizable skeletal elements, without the development of an apical ridge. However, the cells competent to express Shh do so at reduced levels; nevertheless, Bmp-2 is then rapidly expressed in the posterior limbless mesoderm. limbless limb buds appear as bi-dorsal structures, as the entire limb bud ectoderm expresses Wnt-7a, a marker for dorsal limb bud ectoderm; the ectoderm fails to express En-1, a marker of ventral ectoderm. As expected, C-Lmx1, which is downstream of Wnt-7a, is expressed in the entire limbless limb bud mesoderm. We conclude that anteroposterior polarity is established in the initial limb bud prior to Shh expression, apical ridge gene expression or dorsal-ventral asymmetry. We propose that the initial pattern of gene expressions in the emergent limb bud is established by axial influences on the limb field. These permit the bud to emerge with asymmetric gene expression before Shh and the apical ridge appear. We report that expression of Fgf-8 by the limb ectoderm is not required for the initiation of the limb bud. The gene expressions in the pre-ridge limb bud mesoderm, as in the limb bud itself, are unstable without stimulation from the apical ridge and the polarizing region (Shh) after budding is initiated. We propose that the defect in limbless limb buds is the lack of a dorsal-ventral interface in the limb bud ectoderm where the apical ridge induction signal would be received and an apical ridge formed. These observations provide evidence for the hypothesis that the dorsal-ventral ectoderm interface is a precondition for apical ridge formation.

In vivo inhibition of programmed cell death by local administration of FGF-2 and FGF-4 in the interdigital areas of the embryonic chick leg bud

The formation of the digits in amniote vertebrates is accompanied by a massive degeneration process that accounts for the disappearance of the interdigital mesenchyme. The establishment of these areas of interdigital cell death (INZs) is concomitant with the flattening of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), but a possible causal relationship between these processes has not been demonstrated. Recent studies have shown that the function of the AER can be substituted for by implantation of beads bearing either FGF-2 or FGF-4 into the apical mesoderm of the early limb bud. According to these observations, if the onset of INZs is triggered by the cessation of the AER function, local administration of FGFs to the interdigital tissue prior to cell death should delay or inhibit interdigit degeneration. In the present study we have confirmed this prediction. Implanting Affi-gel blue or heparin beads pre-absorbed with either FGF-2 or FGF-4 into the interdigital tissue of the chick leg bud in the stages prior to cell death stimulates cell proliferation and causes the formation of webbed digits. Vital staining with neutral red confirmed an intense temporal inhibition of interdigital cell death after FGF treatment. This inhibition of interdigital cell death was not accompanied by modifications in the pattern of expression of Msx-1 or Msx-2 genes, which in normal development display a domain of expression in the interdigital tissue preceding the onset of degeneration.

IGF-I, insulin and FGFs induce outgrowth of the limb buds of amelic mutant chick embryos

IGF-I, insulin, FGF-2 and FGF-4 have been implicated in the reciprocal interactions between the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) and underlying mesoderm required for outgrowth and patterning of the developing limb. To study further the roles of these growth factors in limb outgrowth, we have examined their effects on the in vitro morphogenesis of limb buds of the amelic mutant chick embryos wingless (wl) and limbless (ll). Limb buds of wl and ll mutant embryos form at the proper time in development, but fail to undergo further outgrowth and subsequently degenerate. Wl and ll limb buds lack thickened AERs capable of promoting limb outgrowth, and their thin apical ectoderms fail to express the homeobox-containing gene Msx-2, which is highly expressed by normal AERs and has been implicated in regulating AER activity. Here we report that exogenous IGF-I and insulin, and, to a lesser extent, FGF-2 and FGF-4 induce the proliferation and directed outgrowth of explanted wl and ll mutant limb buds, which in vitro, like in vivo, normally fail to undergo outgrowth and degenerate. IGF-I and insulin, but not FGFs, also cause the thin apical ectoderms of wl and ll limb buds to thicken and form structures that grossly resemble normal AERs and, moreover, induce high level expression of Msx-2 in these thickened AER-like structures. Neither IGF-I, insulin nor FGFs induce expression of the homeobox-containing gene Msx-1 in the subapical mesoderm of wl or ll limb buds, although FGFs, but not IGF-I or insulin, maintain Msx-1 expression in normal (non-mutant) limb bud explants lacking an AER. The implications of these results to the relationships among the wl and ll genes, IGF-I/insulin, FGFs, Msx-2 and Msx-1 in the regulation of limb outgrowth is discussed.

The expression pattern of the Distal-less homeobox-containing gene Dlx-5 in the developing chick limb bud suggests its involvement in apical ectodermal ridge activity, pattern formation, and cartilage differentiation

Here we report the isolation from a chick limb bud cDNA library of a cDNA that contains the full coding sequence of chicken Dlx-5, a member of the Distal-less (Dlx) family of homeobox-containing genes that encode homeodomains highly similar to that of the Drosophila Distal-less gene, a gene that is required for limb development in the Drosophila embryo. The expression pattern of Dlx-5 in the developing chick limb bud suggests that it may be involved in several aspects of limb morphogenesis. Dlx-5 is expressed in the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) which directs the outgrowth and patterning of underlying limb mesoderm. During early limb development Dlx-5 is also expressed in the mesoderm at the anterior margin of the limb bud and in a discrete group of mesodermal cells at the mid-proximal posterior margin that corresponds to the posterior necrotic zone. These mesodermal domains of Dlx-5 expression roughly correspond to the anterior and posterior boundaries of the progress zone, the group of highly proliferating undifferentiated mesodermal cells underneath the AER that will give rise to the skeletal elements of the limb and associated structures. The AER and anterior and posterior mesodermal domains of Dlx-5 expression are regions in which the homeobox-containing gene Msx-2 is also highly expressed, suggesting that Dlx-5 and Msx-2 might be involved in regulatory networks that control AER activity and demarcate the progress zone. In addition, Dlx-5 is expressed in high amounts by the differentiating cartilaginous skeletal elements of the limb, suggesting it may be involved in regulating the onset of limb cartilage differentiation.