中国神经再生研究(英文版) ›› 2022, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (11): 2484-2490.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.339010

• 原著:脊髓损伤修复保护与再生 • 上一篇    下一篇

大鼠脊髓发育过程中Egfr的进化与调控网络

  

  • 出版日期:2022-11-15 发布日期:2022-04-22
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金(31730031)、江苏省自然科学基金(BK20202013)以及江苏省重点医学中心和江苏省高等院校重点学科建设(PAPD)基金

Evolution of the ErbB gene family and analysis of regulators of Egfr expression during development of the rat spinal cord

Yu Zhang1, Tao Zhang1, Lian Xu2, Ye Zhu2, Li-Li Zhao2, Xiao-Di Li1, Wei-Wei Yang1, Jing Chen2, Miao Gu1, Xiao-Song Gu2, *, Jian Yang2, *   

  1. 1School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China; 2Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Online:2022-11-15 Published:2022-04-22
  • Contact: Jian Yang, MD, dna2009@ntu.edu.cn; Xiao-Song Gu, MD, nervegu@ntu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31730031 (to XSG), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, No. BK20202013 (to XSG), and the Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Center and Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu High Education Institutions (PAPD) (to XSG).

摘要:

作者以往研究已对大鼠脊髓发育的调控网络进行了系统研究;然而,目前对Egfr在中枢神经系统发育过程中的整体基因表达模式及其调控网络研究相对比较零散,更没有跨越胚胎到成年的长期而系统的研究数据。实验对大量动物ErbB家族基因的进化分析显示,在古脊椎动物中,ErbB是通过Egfr的复制形成的。但直到有颌类动物形成之时,ErbB家族基因才开始分化。然后,发现了一个含有Egfr的共表达模块,该模块主要参与细胞增殖和血管发育。紧接着,预测到可能调控Egfr表达的25miRNA9个转录因子。并且通过实验证明9个转录因子中有6个可以显著影响Egfr启动子报告基因的活性。多种实验结果联合提示Egfr上游调控因子Foxa2在胚胎脊髓发育中的重要性。考虑到Egfr在神经系统发育和再生过程中的重要性,该研究发现的调控因子可能在未来为神经再生和疾病治疗提供新的候选靶点。

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6318-8854 (Jian Yang); https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2562-6275 (Xiao-Song Gu)

Abstract: Egfr, a member of the ErbB gene family, plays a critical role in tissue development and homeostasis, wound healing, and disease. However, expression and regulators of Egfr during spinal cord development remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated ErbB evolution and analyzed co-expression modules, miRNAs, and transcription factors that may regulate Egfr expression in rats. We found that ErbB family members formed via Egfr duplication in the ancient vertebrates but diverged after speciation of gnathostomes. We identified a module that was co-expressed with Egfr, which involved cell proliferation and blood vessel development. We predicted 25 miRNAs and nine transcription factors that may regulate Egfr expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed six out of nine transcription factors significantly affected Egfr promoter reporter activity. Two of these transcription factors (KLF1 and STAT3) inhibited the Egfr promoter reporter, whereas four transcription factors (including FOXA2) activated the Egfr promoter reporter. Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence experiments showed high expression of FOXA2 during the embryonic period and FOXA2 was expressed in the floor plate of the spinal cord, suggesting the importance of FOXA2 during embryonic spinal cord development. Considering the importance of Egfr in embryonic spinal cord development, wound healing, and disease (specifically in cancer), regulatory elements identified in this study may provide candidate targets for nerve regeneration and disease treatment in the future.

Key words: co-expression, Egfr, evolution, FOXA2, gene expression, miRNA, spinal cord, transcription factor