The Hlx homeobox transcription factor is required early in enteric nervous system development
2006
Hlx Transcription Factor's Role in Enteric Nervous System Development
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Michael D Bates, Dana T Dunagan, Lynn C Welch, Ajay Kaul, Richard P Harvey
Primary Institution: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Hypothesis
Hlx is required for ENS development.
Conclusion
The Hlx homeobox transcription factor is required for early aspects of ENS development.
Supporting Evidence
- Hlx is expressed in intestinal mesenchyme at a key time for ENS development.
- Hlx-/- embryos show significantly altered enteric neuronal precursors as early as E10.5.
- The absence of Hlx leads to a lack of NCC/early enteric neurons in the intestine.
Takeaway
Hlx is a gene that helps develop the nervous system in the gut, and without it, the gut's nerve cells don't form properly.
Methodology
The study compared developing enteric neurons in Hlx+/+ and Hlx-/- mouse embryos using immunostaining techniques.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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