Neurogenin 3 is essential for the proper specification of gastric enteroendocrine cells and the maintenance of gastric epithelial cell identity

• Published in: Genes & development Vol. 16; no. 12; pp. 1488 - 1497
• Main Authors: Lee, Catherine S, Perreault, Nathalie, Brestelli, John E, Kaestner, Klaus H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 15-06-2002
• Subjects: Alleles; Animals; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cell Lineage; Digestive System - metabolism; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Enterochromaffin Cells - metabolism; Enteroendocrine Cells - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Gastric Mucosa - pathology; Gastrins - biosynthesis; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Glucagon - biosynthesis; Glucagon - metabolism; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Immunohistochemistry; Luminescent Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microscopy, Electron; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Models, Genetic; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - physiology; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Research Paper; RNA - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Somatostatin - biosynthesis; Stomach - cytology; Stomach - metabolism; Transcription Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 0890-9369; 1549-5477
• DOI: 10.1101/gad.985002

The notch signaling pathway is essential for the endocrine cell fate in various tissues including the enteroendocrine system of the gastrointestinal tract. Enteroendocrine cells are one of the four major cell types found in the gastric epithelium of the glandular stomach. To understand the molecular basis of enteroendocrine cell development, we have used gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem cells to derive an EGFP-marked null allele of the bHLH transcription factor, neurogenin 3 (ngn3). In ngn3(-/-) mice, glucagon secreting A-cells, somatostatin secreting D-cells, and gastrin secreting G-cells are absent from the epithelium of the glandular stomach, whereas the number of serotonin-expressing enterochromaffin (EC) cells is decreased dramatically. In addition, ngn3(-/-) mice display intestinal metaplasia of the gastric epithelium. Thus, ngn3 is required for the differentiation of enteroendocrine cells in the stomach and the maintenance of gastric epithelial cell identity.