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. 2007 Nov 23;7:129. doi: 10.1186/1471-213X-7-129

Gene array identification of Ipf1/Pdx1-/- regulated genes in pancreatic progenitor cells

Per Svensson 1, Cecilia Williams 2,3, Joakim Lundeberg 2, Patrik Rydén 4, Ingela Bergqvist 1,5, Helena Edlund 1,✉
PMCID: PMC2212654  PMID: 18036209

Abstract

Background

The homeodomain transcription factor IPF1/PDX1 exerts a dual role in the pancreas; Ipf1/Pdx1 global null mutants fail to develop a pancreas whereas conditional inactivation of Ipf1/Pdx1 in β-cells leads to impaired β-cell function and diabetes. Although several putative target genes have been linked to the β-cell function of Ipf1/Pdx1, relatively little is known with respect to genes regulated by IPF1/PDX1 in early pancreatic progenitor cells.

Results

Microarray analyses identified a total of 111 genes that were differentially expressed in e10.5 pancreatic buds of Ipf1/Pdx1-/- embryos. The expression of one of these, Spondin 1, which encodes an extracellular matrix protein, has not previously been described in the pancreas. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analyses and immunohistochemical analyses also revealed that the expression of FgfR2IIIb, that encodes the receptor for FGF10, was down-regulated in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- pancreatic progenitor cells.

Conclusion

This microarray analysis has identified a number of candidate genes that are differentially expressed in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- pancreatic buds. Several of the differentially expressed genes were known to be important for pancreatic progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation whereas others have not previously been associated with pancreatic development.

Background

The pancreas is an endodermally derived organ that forms from a ventral and a dorsal evagination of the foregut epithelium. These two evaginations, the dorsal and ventral pancreatic buds, subsequently grow, branch and differentiate into distinct pancreatic cell types [1]. The homeodomain transcription factor Insulin Promoter Factor 1/Pancreatic and Duodenal homeobox 1 (IPF1/PDX1) is one of the earliest markers of the developing pancreas. IPF1/PDX1 is expressed already at ~10 somites stage at the regions of the dorsal and ventral gut endoderm from which the pancreatic buds evaginate [2]. IPF1/PDX1 expression remains high in pancreatic epithelial cells until ~e10.5 after which it is down-regulated [3] and remains low in proliferating pancreatic epithelial cells. Strong IPF1/PDX1 expression reappears in the differentiating β-cells as they emerge at ~e13 [3] and high level of IPF1/PDX1 expression is maintained in adult β-cells where IPF1/PDX1 controls the expression of several key β-cell genes, including the insulin gene, thereby ensuring normal β-cell function and glucose homeostasis [4,5].

Loss of Ipf1/Pdx1 gene function in mice and humans results in pancreatic agenesis demonstrating a key role for the Ipf1/Pdx1 gene in pancreatic development [6-8]. Ipf1/Pdx1 is, however, not required for the initiation of the pancreatic program and the initial stages of pancreas development, i.e. the formation of the pancreatic buds, still occurs in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice [7,9]. Although the pancreatic program is initiated in Ipf1/Pdx1 deficient embryos, the subsequent growth of the embryonic pancreas is arrested, resulting in pancreas agenesis [6,7,9]. Recombination experiments between pancreatic epithelium and pancreatic mesenchyme have demonstrated that the pancreatic developmental defect observed in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- embryos is confined to the epithelial cells [9]. Thus, pancreatic mesenchyme isolated from Ipf1/Pdx1-/- e10.5 dorsal pancreatic buds could support the growth of wt e10.5 dorsal pancreatic epithelium whereas the reverse combination failed to grow [9]. These data provide evidence for a cell-autonomous role for Ipf1/Pdx1 in early pancreatic progenitor cells. To date, no direct or indirect Ipf1/Pdx1 downstream genes have, however, been identified that can explain the pancreatic phenotype observed in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- embryos.

To identify Ipf1/Pdx1 target genes in early pancreatic progenitor cells and to begin to unravel the molecular mechanisms that lead to the attenuation of pancreatic growth in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice we performed microarray analyses on cDNA prepared from Ipf1/Pdx1-/- e10.5 buds and stage matched littermate wildtype controls. We have identified genes that are differentially expressed in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- pancreatic buds and a subset of these was chosen for further expression analysis by quantitative real-time (qRT) RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. In agreement with the pancreatic developmental defect observed in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- embryos, several of the differentially expressed genes identified in this study encode factors linked to pancreatic progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation.

Results

Gene expression changes in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- pancreatic buds

In order to identify candidate Ipf1/Pdx1 downstream genes in early pancreatic progenitor cells, dorsal pancreatic buds were isolated from e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1-/- and Ipf1/Pdx1+/+ littermate embryos. cDNA was prepared from pancreatic buds derived from 4 independent Ipf1/Pdx1-/- and 4 independent Ipf1/Pdx1+/+ littermates respectively, labeled and hybridized to two different sets of microarrays. The first contain approximately 15,000 clones obtained through large-scale, in-house EST sequencing of three cDNA libraries originating from a neural tissue stem cell compartment (lateral ventricular wall), neurospheres (neural stem cells cultured in vitro), and a hematopoietic stem cell line expressing the Lhx2 gene [10]. The second cDNA array used in this study contains 20,600 clones derived from two different clone sets: a 15,000 mouse cDNA set from National Institute of Aging (NIH) and a 5,400 cDNA clone set obtained from Research Genetics. Genes that showed a change in expression that was two-fold or more and had sufficiently high test-statistics were considered to be differentially expressed (see Methods for details). The microarray analyses revealed a total number of 111 genes that were differently expressed. Of these 73 were down-regulated (Table 1) and 38 were up-regulated (Table 2) in e10.5 dorsal pancreatic buds of Ipf1/Pdx1 deficient mice as compared to that of stage matched wildtype littermates.

Table 1.

Top ranked 73 down-regulated genes in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- vs. Ipf1/Pdx1 +/+ e10.5 dorsal pancreatic buds

Genbank acc. No. Gene Symbol Gene Name Fold-change
Extracellular matrix proteins
NM_009263 Spp1 secreted phosphoprotein 1 -9.8 U *
NM_033525 Npnt Nephronectin -6.1 U
NM_145584 Spon1 spondin 1, (f-spondin) extracellular matrix protein -3.8 K **
Transport
NM_172479 Slc38a5 solute carrier family 38, member 5 -8.8 U
NM_011401 Slc2a3 solute carrier family 2 (facilitated glucose transporter), member 3 -2.6 K
NM_009593 Abcg1 ATP-binding cassette, sub-family G (WHITE), member 1 -2.3 U
Signaling
NM_018763 Chst2 carbohydrate sulfotransferase 2 -4.5 U
XM_618828 Erbb3 v-erb-b2 erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 3 (avian) -3.2 U *
NM_019946 Mgst1 microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1 -3.2 K *
NM_152815 Lins2 Lines homolog 2 (Drosophila) -2.4 U
NM_025505 Blzf1 basic leucine zipper nuclear factor -2.0 K
Transcription factors
NM_013627 Pax6 paired box gene 6 -5.8 K *
NM_144955 Nkx6-1 Nkx transcription factor related, locus 1 (Drosophila) -4.2 U ***
NM_008686 Nfe2l1 nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2,-like 1 -2.6 U
NM_010938 Nrf1 nuclear respiratory factor 1 -2.2 U
Cell adhesion
NM_008532 Tacstd1 tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 1 -3.2 U
NM_009864 Cdh1 cadherin 1 -2.6 U
Cell cycle
NM_013928 Schip1 schwannomin interacting protein 1 -3.1 K+U
NM_007631 Ccnd1 cyclin D1 -2.6 U
DNA binding
NM_198169 Gmeb2 glucocorticoid modulatory element binding protein 2 -2.9 U
NM_175074 Hmgn3 high mobility group nucleosomal binding domain 3 -2.4 K
Kinases/Phosphatases
NM_152804 Plk2 polo-like kinase 2 (Drosophila) -2.9 K
NM_011950 Mapk13 mitogen activated protein kinase 13 -2.5 U
NM_008981 Ptprg protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type, G -2.4 U
Apoptosis
NM_008410 Itm2b integral membrane protein 2B -2.3 U
Other
NM_026433 1810057C19Rik RIKEN cDNA 1810057C19 gene -6.3 U
NM_153457 Rtn1 reticulon 1 -6.1 U *
NM_018737 Ctps2 cytidine 5'-triphosphate synthase 2 -5.9 U
NM_007694 Chgb chromogranin B -5.9 K
NM_026238 Narfl nuclear prelamin A recognition factor-like -4.9 U
NM_145562 9130213B05Rik RIKEN cDNA 9130213B05 gene -4.8 U
NM_011255 Rbp4 retinol binding protein 4, plasma -4.2 U
NM_178747 Gulo gulonolactone (L-) oxidase -4.2 U
NM_025429 Serpinb1a serine (or cysteine) proteinase inhibitor, clade B, member 1a -4.2 U
AI451390 ESTs, transcribed locus -4.0 U
NM_133977 Trf Transferring -4.0 K
NM_009412 Tpd52 tumor protein D52 -3.8 U
NM_016962 Spast Spastin -3.5 U
NM_015784 Postn periostin, osteoblast specific factor -3.3 U
NM_133697 1110003E01Rik RIKEN cDNA 1110003E01 gene -3.2 U
NM_145599 Tmem34 transmembrane protein 34 -3.1 U
NM_025633 Metapl1 methionine aminopeptidase-like 1 -3.0 U
XM_125538 Sesn1 Sestrin 1 -3.0 K
NM_013471 Anxa4 annexin A4 -3.0 K
NM_008188 Thumpd3 THUMP domain containing 3 -2.8 U
NM_026323 Wfdc2 WAP four-disulfide core domain 2 -2.7 U
NM_033073 Krt2-7 keratin complex 2, basic, gene 7 -2.7 U
BB529246 ESTs -2.7 K
NM_178600 Vkorc1 vitamin K epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1 -2.6 U
NM_026524 Mid1ip1 Mid1 interacting protein 1 (gastrulation specific G12-like (zebrafish)) -2.6 K+U
NM_008792 Pcsk2 proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 2 -2.6 K
NM_013778 Akr1c13 aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C13 -2.6 K
NM_011464 Spint2 serine protease inhibitor, Kunitz type 2 -2.5 U
NM_197996 Tspan15 tetraspanin 15 -2.5 U
NM_022316 Smoc1 SPARC related modular calcium binding 1 -2.5 U
NM_019972 Sort1 sortilin 1 -2.4 U
NM_176860 2810457I06Rik RIKEN cDNA 2810457I06 gene -2.4 U
XM_133714 4921517J23Rik RIKEN cDNA 4921517J23 gene -2.4 K
NM_146057 Dap death-associated protein -2.4 K
NM_013492 Clu clusterin -2.3 U
NM_198654 4833432M17Rik RIKEN cDNA 4833432M17 gene -2.3 U
NM_138651 Cds2 CDP-diacylglycerol synthase (phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase) 2 -2.2 U
NM_145991 Hrpt2 hyperparathyroidism 2 homolog (human) -2.2 U
NM_010485 Elavl1 ELAV (embryonic lethal, abnormal vision, Drosophila)-like 1 -2.2 U
AI451897 ESTs, transcribed locus -2.2 U
NM_029341 Capsl calyphosine-like -2.2 K
NR_001592 H19 H19 fetal liver mRNA -2.1 U
XM_110660 AI427122 expressed sequence AI427122 -2.1 U
NM_025853 1700022L09Rik RIKEN cDNA 1700022L09 gene -2.1 U
NM_138606 Pim2 proviral integration site 2 -2.1 K
NM_031170 Krt2-8 Keratin complex 2, basic, gene 8 -2.0 U
NM_025975 Tcte1l t-complex-associated-testis-expressed 1-like -2.0 K
NM_007657 Cd9 CD9 antigen -2.0 K
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K = changes obtained from the 15 K microarray. U = changes obtained from the 21 K microarray. * = validated by qRT RT-PCR. ** = validated by qRT RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. *** = validated by qRT RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

Table 2.

Top ranked 38 up-regulated genes in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- vs. Ipf1/Pdx1+/+ e10.5 dorsal pancreatic buds

Genbank acc. No Gene Symbol Gene Name Fold-change
Signaling
NM_009144 Sfrp2 secreted frizzled-related sequence protein 2 2.3 U
NM_175186 Lin9 lin-9 homolog (C. elegans) 3.6 U
NM_013834 Sfrp1 secreted frizzled-related sequence protein 1 3.7 K
Cell cycle
NM_026410 Cdca5 cell division cycle associated 5 2.2 U
Other
NM_011808 Ets1 E26 avian leukemia oncogene 1, 5' domain 2.0 K
NM_026421 2310057D15Rik RIKEN cDNA 2310057D15 gene 2.0 U
NM_145397 BC002059 cDNA sequence BC002059 2.1 U
NM_007896 Mapre1 microtubule-associated protein, RP/EB family, member 1 2.1 U
NM_010942 Nsg1 neuron specific gene family member 1 2.1 K
NM_134022 6330403K07Rik RIKEN cDNA 6330403K07 gene 2.1 K
BG075563 Dio3as deiodinase, iodothyronine type III, antisense 2.2 U
NM_010923 Nnat neuronatin 2.2 K
AI449753 AI449753 expressed sequence AI449753 2.2 U
NM_053197 Sfxn3 sideroflexin 3 2.2U
XM_620539 Trim6 tripartite motif protein 6 2.3 U
NM_177916 C230004F18Rik RIKEN cDNA C230004F18 gene 2.4U
NM_173750 2700007P21Rik RIKEN cDNA 2700007P21 gene 2.4 U
NM_024217 Cklfsf3 chemokine-like factor super family 3 2.4 U
NM_145629 Pls3 plastin 3 (T-isoform) 2.4 U
NM_007837 Ddit3 DNA-damage inducible transcript 3 2.4 U
NM_054082 Mta3 metastasis associated 3 2.5 U
NM_016797 Stx7 syntaxin 7 2.6 U
NM_008590 Mest mesoderm specific transcript 2.6 K
NM_011058 Pdgfra platelet derived growth factor receptor, alpha polypeptide 2.7 K
NM_012005 Crsp2 cofactor required for Sp1 transcriptional activation, subunit 2 2.7 U
AK037782 D130019J16Rik RIKEN cDNA D130019J16 gene 2.7 U
NM_025783 Vps24 vacuolar protein sorting 24 (yeast) 2.9 U
NM_001004155 9930012K11Rik RIKEN cDNA 9930012K11 gene 3.0 U
NM_146153 Thrap3 Thyroid hormone receptor associated protein 3 3.1 U
NM_175439 Mars2 methionine-tRNA synthetase 2 (mitochondrial) 3.2 U
NM_008865 Csh2 chorionic somatomammotropin hormone 2 3.2 U
NM_178631 0710005M24Rik RIKEN cDNA 0710005M24 gene 3.3 U
NM_019721 Mettl3 methyltransferase-like 3 3.3 U
NM_030704 Hspb8 heat shock 27 kDa protein 8 4.0 U
NM_177648 Tmem15 transmembrane protein 15 4.1 U
NM_178608 D6Ertd253e DNA segment, Chr 6, ERATO Doi 253, expressed 4.1 U
NM_024251 2010301N04Rik RIKEN cDNA 2010301N04 gene 4.1 U
NM_010910 Nefl neurofilament, light polypeptide 7.3 U
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K = changes obtained from the 15 K microarray. U = changes obtained from the 21 K microarray.

Altered expression of genes associated with cell proliferation and differentiation

Given the pancreatic growth arrest phenotype of Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice we selected a total of 10 differentially expressed genes identified by the microarray (9 down-regulated and 1 up-regulated) that encode factors linked to growth and differentiation for further expression analyses and validation by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The selected genes include genes previously associated with pancreatic progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation, including NK6 transcription factor related, locus 1 (Nkx6.1), v-erb-b2 erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 3 (ErbB3), Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (Spp1) and Paired box gene 6 (Pax6), as well as genes encoding factors that previously have not been linked to pancreas development, such as Spondin 1 (Spon1), Microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1 (Mgst1), Reticulon 1 (Rtn1), Basic leucine zipper nuclear factor 1 (Blzf1), Schwannomin interacting protein 1 (Schip1), and Secreted frizzled related protein1 (Sfrp1).

In agreement with the microarray data and previous findings [11], the expression of the Nkx6.1, which encode a homeodomain transcription factor that alike Ipf1/Pdx1 is expressed in pancreatic progenitors and later in pancreatic β-cells [12-15], was virtually undetectable in e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1-/- dorsal pancreatic buds (Fig. 1). Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the loss of Nkx6.1 expression in e10.5Ipf1/Pdx1-/- dorsal pancreatic buds (Fig. 2a, b). In contrast, the expression of the pan-endodermal marker Foxa2 was normal in e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1-/-dorsal pancreatic buds (Fig. 1) and Sox9 in situ hybridization clearly depicted strong expression of Sox9 in both the dorsal and ventral pancreatic buds in the mutant embryos (See Additional file 1). These data demonstrate that the difference in gene expression observed in wildtype and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- dorsal pancreatic buds do not reflect a general decrease in endodermally expressed genes. The expression of Pax6, which encode a transcription factor expressed, and involved, in pancreatic endocrine cell differentiation [16,17] was reduced by ~69% in e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1-/-dorsal pancreatic buds (Fig. 1). Nevertheless, glucagon-expressing cells still appear in the Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mutant pancreas ([9] and Fig. 2) and glucagon expression was largely unaffected in e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1-/- dorsal pancreatic buds (See Additional file 2), providing evidence that the remaining Pax6 expression is sufficient to ensure glucagon expression. The expression of ErbB3, a receptor of the EGF-family that previously has been implicated in pancreatic growth [18,19], was reduced by ~74% in e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1-/- dorsal pancreatic buds (Fig. 1). The expression of two genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins, Spp1 and Spon1, was reduced by ~91% and ~93%, respectively in e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1-/- dorsal pancreatic buds (Fig. 1). Spp1, also known as osteopontin, is known to be expressed in the fetal pancreatic epithelium and although Spp1 has been implicated in cell adhesion and migration in several tissues the pancreas develops normally in Spp1 deficient mice [20-22]. Spon1 encodes the protein F-spondin that is involved in proliferation of vascular SMC, neurite outgrowth and differentiation of neuronal precursor cells [23-29]. The reduced expression of Spon1 in e10.5 pancreatic progenitor cells was confirmed by in situ hybridization (Fig. 2c, d). The expression of Mgst1, which encode an integral membrane protein involved in cellular response to chemical or oxidative stress [30] and Rtn1, which encodes a neuroendocrine-specific protein [31], was reduced by 64% and 60%, respectively in e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1-/- dorsal pancreatic buds (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Quantitative real-time RT-PCR validation of selected genes. Expression analyses of the indicated genes using cDNA prepared from Ipf1/Pdx1+/+ (n = 4–9) and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- (n = 4–8) dorsal e10.5 pancreatic buds. Data represent mean values ± SEM. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001 for Ipf1/Pdx1+/+ versus Ipf1/Pdx1-/-.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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In situ and immunohistochemical analyses of differentially expressed genes. Immunohistochemical analysis of wildtype (A and E) and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice (B and F) using antibodies against Nkx6.1 (red in A and B), FGFR2b (red in E and F) and glucagon (green in A, B, E and F). In situ hybridization of wildtype (C and G) and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice (D and H) using DIG-labeled Spon1 (red pseudocolor in C and D) and Ptf1a/p48 (red pseudocolor in G and H) probes counterstained with antibodies against glucagon (green in C, D, G and H). Scale bar 100 μm.

In contrast, three genes, Blzf1, a gene up-regulated by retinoids [32,33], Schip1, which is involved in cell cycle regulation [34,35], and Sfrp1, which encode a secreted antagonist to Wnt signaling [36], which all were identified as differentially expressed in the microarray analysis could not be validated when analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and were excluded from further analyses (data not shown). Taken together, these data show that the expression of several genes implicated in growth, differentiation and adhesion, some of which have previously been associated with pancreatic development, is impaired in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- pancreatic progenitor cells.

Ptf1a/p48 and FgfR2IIIb expression is perturbed in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- pancreatic buds

The expression of two genes, pancreas specific transcription factor 1a/p48 (Ptf1a/p48) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2IIIb (FgfR2IIIb), that previously have been implicated to have a role in pancreatic development [37-39] but which were not spotted on the microarray chips were also analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. FgfR2IIIb is expressed in the developing pancreas and in FgfR2IIIb null mutant mice pancreatic growth is reduced and the branching and morphogenesis of the pancreatic ductal epithelium is impaired [39]. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that FgfR2IIIb expression was reduced by ~75% in e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1-/- dorsal pancreatic buds compared to that of stage matched Ipf1/Pdx1+/+ dorsal pancreatic buds (Fig. 1). Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the reduced expression of FGFR2IIIb in e10.5 pancreatic progenitor cells of Ipf1/Pdx1-/- deficient mice (Fig. 2e, f).

PTF1a/p48 has been implicated in commitment and proliferation of pancreatic progenitor cells and Ptf1a/p48-/- null mutant mice fail to develop a pancreas [37,38]. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analyses showed that Ptf1a/p48 expression was reduced by ~91% in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- e10.5 dorsal pancreatic buds as compared to wild-type littermates (Fig. 1). In situ hybridization analyses confirmed the reduced expression of Ptf1a/p48 in dorsal pancreatic buds of Ipf1/Pdx1-/- embryos compared to wildtype littermates (Fig. 2g, h). These results suggest that in early pancreatic progenitor cells both FgfR2IIIb and Ptf1a/p48 are direct or indirect Ipf1/Pdx1 downstream target genes.

Spon1 expression in pancreatic progenitor cells overlaps temporally with the phase of proliferation

Spon1 encodes the extracellular matrix protein F-spondin, also known as vascular smooth muscle cell growth-promoting factor. F-spondin stimulates the proliferation and growth of vascular SMC during ovarian growth and development [28]. In addition, F-spondin has been reported to promote neurite outgrowth from spinal chord, hippocampal and sensory neurons [23,25,27] as well as the differentiation of neural progenitor cells [29]. Spon1 has not previously been described to be expressed in the developing pancreas. Thus, we next determined the temporal and spatial expression of Spon1 in the developing pancreas by in situ hybridization.

At e9.5 Spon1 expression was observed in epithelium of the dorsal and ventral pancreatic bud (Fig. 3a and data not shown). Spon1 expression was maintained within the pancreatic epithelium of the developing pancreas until e15.5, although the expression appeared reduced at this stage (Fig. 3b–e). By e17.5 Spon1 expression was no longer detectable within the pancreas (Fig. 3f). Throughout pancreatic development Spon1 expression was restricted to the developing pancreatic epithelium and the forming acini whereas no expression was observed in differentiated endocrine cells (Fig. 3c, d). In contrast to IPF1/PDX1, Spon1 was not expressed in the developing duodenal epithelium (Fig. 3b and data not shown). These data imply that additional transcription factors act to restrict Spon1 expression in the developing gastrointestinal tract and also suggest that Spon1 may be used as a marker to distinguish between early pancreatic and duodenal cells.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Spon1 is expressed in the developing pancreatic epithelium. A-F: In situ hybridization of e9.5 (A), e10.5 (B), e12.5 (C), e13.5 (D), e15.5 (E) and e17.5 (F) using a DIG-labeled Spon1 probe (green pseudo-color in A-B, red pseudo-color in C-D and black staining in E) counterstained with antibodies against IPF1/PDX1 (red in A-B) and glucagon (green in C-D). Scale bar 100 μm.

Discussion

In Ipf1/Pdx1 deficient embryos, pancreatic development becomes arrested around e10 [6,7,9] but the molecular mechanism(s) underlying this early developmental arrest has remained largely unknown. To begin to identify genes regulated by Ipf1/Pdx1 in early pancreatic progenitor cells that could help to explain the developmental arrest observed in Ipf1/Pdx1 -/- embryos we embarked on a gene array profiling and quantitative real-time RT-PCR approach. Given the early developmental arrest and hence limiting amount of tissue, i.e. dorsal buds from e10.5 Ipf1/Pdx1 +/+ and Ipf1/Pdx1 -/- litter pairs, that could be retrieved for further cDNA synthesis we first performed a pilot study using the 15 K cDNA chip that was hybridized twice with cDNA prepared from dorsal buds of a matched Ipf1/Pdx1 +/+ and Ipf1/Pdx1 -/- e10.5 litter pair.

This pilot study was followed by two hybridizations of the 15 K cDNA chip with cDNA prepared from another pair of matched Ipf1/Pdx1 +/+ and Ipf1/Pdx1 -/- e10.5 dorsal buds. The 21 K cDNA chip was originally hybridized with cDNA from 4 pairs of Ipf1/Pdx1 +/+ and Ipf1/Pdx1 -/- e10.5 dorsal buds in a standard manner. However due to technical problems in the hybridization step one of the arrays had to be excluded from the experiment resulting in a 3 arrays from the 21 K experiment. In summary a total of 4 independent pairs of Ipf1/Pdx1 +/+ and Ipf1/Pdx1 -/- e10.5 dorsal buds were analyzed on four 15 K arrays and three 21 K arrays.

Hence, there were some limitations in our microarray study. We had a total of four biological replicates per condition: the 15 K experiment used only 2 biological replicates per condition and the 21 K experiment used 3 biological replicates per condition. This limitation was due to challenges in retrieving sufficient tissue material for subsequent cDNA synthesis. We analyzed separately the data from the two arrays, so the results of these analyses are based on a small number of biological replicates. Furthermore, the experimental design was unbalanced in various ways (different types of technical replication in the assays using the 15 K arrays, unbalanced dye assignments, etc.). Thus, the list of differentially expressed genes identified solely by our microarray experiments might be sub-optimal in terms of a bona fide candidate list. However, it provided us with sufficient information for selecting potentially interesting Ipf1/Pdx1 regulated genes that we followed-up with quantitative real-time RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

Here we show that the expression of FgfR2IIIb is reduced in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- e10.5 pancreatic buds, thus linking IPF1/PDX1 to FGF signaling in pancreatic progenitor cells. FGF signaling has been shown to be important both for normal pancreas development and maintenance of pancreatic function in adults [5,40,41]. Mice with a targeted disruption of Fgf10 show an early block in pancreas development that is reminiscent of that observed in Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutant mice. Alike the Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice the pancreatic program is initiated in Fgf10-/- mice, i.e. the evagination of the pancreatic buds occur, but the subsequent proliferation and branching of the pancreatic epithelium is perturbed [42]. Moreover, mice lacking the FGF10 receptor, FgfR2IIIb, display a pancreatic growth defect with impaired branching and morphogenesis of the ductal epithelium. [39]. Moreover, forced expression of Fgf10 in the developing pancreatic epithelium results in pancreatic hyperplasia, adding further evidence for a role for FGF10-FGFR2IIIb signaling in pancreatic progenitor cell proliferation [40,41].

Taken together, the almost identical pancreatic phenotype observed in mice lacking either Ipf1/Pdx1, the receptor FgfR2IIIb, or Fgf10, and the reduced pancreatic expression of FgfR2IIIb in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- embryos provide evidence for a role for IPF1/PDX1 in regulating FGF signaling in the developing pancreatic epithelium. Thus, Ipf1/Pdx1 appears to regulate pancreatic growth by ensuring high level expression of FGFR2IIIb in pancreatic progenitor cells. Interestingly, Ipf1/Pdx1 has also been shown to regulate the expression of another FGF-receptor, FGFR1c, in adult β-cells thereby ensuring normal β-cell function and glucose homeostasis [5].

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling has also been linked to pancreatic growth and development [1,19,43]. Several EGF receptors, including ErbB3, have been shown to be expressed in the developing pancreatic epithelium [19]. In addition, ErbB3 has been described to be expressed in the pancreatic mesenchyme [18,19]. Mice lacking a functional ErbB1/Egfr gene have mildly perturbed pancreatic growth [44] and mice lacking a functional ErbB3 gene present with pancreatic hypoplasia [18,44]. Additional support for a role of the EGF family in pancreas development originates from in vitro studies in which EGF was shown to stimulate the growth of e13.5 rat pancreatic epithelium that had been depleted of mesenchyme [45]. Thus, in addition to the reduced expression of FgfR2IIIb in progenitor cells of Ipf1/Pdx1 deficient mice the reduced expression of ErbB3 is likely to contribute to the perturbed pancreatic development that these mice present with.

Ptf1a/p48 expression is severely reduced in Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutant mice, providing evidence that Ptf1a/p48, directly or indirectly, is a downstream target gene of Ipf1/Pdx1. In support of a role for Ipf1/Pdx1 in regulating Ptf1a/p48 expression, inactivation of the Ipf1/Pdx1 gene in the pancreatic epithelium at progressively later stages also results in reduced expression of Ptf1a/p48 [46]. In contrast, Kawaguchi et al. have shown that transgenic expression of Ipf1/Pdx1 under the control of the Ptf1a/p48 promoter in an Ipf1/Pdx1-/- null background partially rescued the pancreatic developmental arrest [37], suggesting that Ptf1a/p48 expression is independent of Ipf1/Pdx1. However, the Ptf1a-Ipf1/Pdx1 transgenic rescue approach leaves open the possibility that the partially rescued phenotype is the result of leaky transgene expression due to positional integration effects and/or transgene copy number. Moreover, since the hsp68 minimal promoter was coupled to the Ptf1a/p48 promoter in the transgenic rescue approach, the transgene expression may differ from that of the endogenous Ptf1a/p48 promoter.

Alike Ipf1/Pdx1, Nkx6.1 is expressed in pancreatic progenitors from embryonic day 9.5 and thereafter the expression of Nkx6.1 also becomes restricted to mature β-cells. Nkx6.1 has previously been identified as a downstream target gene of IPF1/PDX1; β-cell specific inactivation of the Ipf1/Pdx1 gene resulted in a loss of Nkx6.1 expression in β-cells [4,11] and in agreement with previous findings [4,11] we show that Nkx6.1 expression is abolished also in pancreatic progenitor cells of Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutant mice. These data provide strong evidence that Ipf1/Pdx1 act upstream of Nkx6.1 in both pancreatic progenitor cells and adult β-cells.

F-spondin, encoded by Spon1, is a 90 kDa extracellular matrix protein that has been reported to play an important role in proliferation and growth of vascular SMC during ovarian growth and development [28]. F-spondin has also been showed to promote neurite outgrowth from spinal chord, hippocampal, and sensory neurons [23,25,27]. Other reports describe a role for F-spondin in the development of the nervous system where it is predominately expressed during early stages of development but down-regulated during neural differentiation [23]. F-spondin has also been suggested to promote differentiation of neural precursor cells to nerve cell-like cells [29]. Interestingly, a F-spondin related protein, R-spondin, has been shown to function as a growth factor; injection of R-spondin in mice resulted in an increased proliferation of intestinal crypt epithelial cells in both the small intestine and colon [47]. Similar to the transient expression of Spon1 in the developing nervous system, Spon1 is transiently expressed, from e9.5 to e15.5 in progenitor cells of the developing pancreas. Thus, Spon1 expression in the developing pancreas overlaps with the phase of pancreatic progenitor cell proliferation. Whether F-spondin is involved in regulation of proliferation and/or differentiation of pancreatic progenitor cells will have to be determined by functional analyses in vitro and/or in vivo.

Conclusion

Taken together, our data show that Ipf1/Pdx1, directly or indirectly, regulates the expression of genes, such as Ptf1a/p48, FGFR2IIIb, and ErbB3, implicated in pancreatic growth and differentiation, providing evidence that the perturbed expressions of these factors provide a mechanistic explanation for the pancreatic developmental arrest that Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice present with. In addition we show that Spon1, which encodes an extracellular matrix protein, is expressed in the developing pancreas and that Spon1 expression is down-regulated in Ipf1/Pdx1-/- embryos.

Methods

Mice

The animal studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Umeå University and conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for the care and use of Laboratory Animals. The generation of Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice has been previously described [6]. Ipf1/Pdx1 wildtype and null mutant embryos were obtained from our local breeding stock.

Isolation of embryos and tissue

Ipf1/Pdx1+/- mice were mated and embryonic day 0.5 (e0.5) was determined by the presence of morning vaginal plug. Pregnant females were sacrificed at e10.5 and embryos were transferred to ice-cold Lebovitz L-15 medium (Gibco). Dorsal pancreatic buds were dissected out in L-15 medium and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen for later RNA isolation. Embryos sacrificed for immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were fixated in 4% paraformaldehyde (SIGMA) in 0.1 M PBS for 2 hours and overnight respectively at +4°C followed by dehydration in 20% sucrose overnight at 4°C and mounted in Tissue-Tek (Sakura) and stored at -80°C.

Genotyping

Genomic DNA was extracted from embryonic tails by proteinase K (Boehringer) digestion followed by 2-propanol precipitation. Genotyping was performed by PCR using two internal Ipf1/Pdx1 primers; 5'-AGAAGCTGGCCACTAGCCTCT-3' and 5'-CTGTGGGCAACAAGGGAGTT-3', and two internal Neo primers; 5'-AGAAGCTATTCGGCTATGA-3' and 5'-TTTCCACCATGATATTCG-3'. The PCR reactions result in a 150 bp and a 548 bp product respectively if target sequence is present.

Microarray, hybridization and scanning

The cDNA microarrays used in this study were of two types. The first contain approximately 15,000 clones printed in duplicate, in two identical fields, yielding 30,000 probes. The set of probes represents approximately 12,000 unique genes obtained through large-scale, in-house EST sequencing of three cDNA libraries. The first library originates from a neural tissue stem cell compartment (lateral ventricular wall), the second from neurospheres (neural stem cells cultured in vitro) and the third from a hematopoietic stem cell line expressing the Lhx2 gene [10]. The second cDNA array used in this study contains 20,600 clones derived from two different clone sets: a 15,000 mouse cDNA set from National Institute of Aging (NIH) and a 5,400 cDNA clone set obtained from Research Genetics. Microarray slides were hybridized at 42°C in a water bath for 16–20 hours (15 K array) or at 37°C in a Genetac hybridization station (Genomic Solutions) for 15 hours (21 K array). The 15 K arrays were scanned using the G2565BA DNA microarray scanner (Agilent Technologies) and images analyzed in the GenePix5.0 software (Axon Instruments, CA, USA). The 21 K arrays were scanned using the Scanarray 4000 XL microarray scanner (Perkin Elmer) at three settings (laser power/PMT): 80/80, 90/90 and 100/100 (in that order), where the numbers were percentages of maximum values. Images were analyzed using the ScanarrayExpress software (Perkin Elmer).

RNA isolation, amplification and labeling

Total RNA was isolated from individual pancreatic buds using Nucleospin RNA II kit (Clontech) according to manufacturer's guidelines. cDNA was generated and amplified using SuperSMART™ PCR cDNA synthesis kit (Clontech). 2 μg of each cDNA preparation was labeled with the fluorescent dyes Cy3 or Cy5 using BD Atlas™ SMART™ Fluorescent Probe Amplification kit (BD Biosciences Clontech) according to manufacturer's recommendations. Samples hybridized to the 15 K cDNA microarrays were labeled and analyzed as follows: In the first set, the labeled samples (one wildtype bud cDNA labeled with Cy3, one Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutant pancreatic bud cDNA labeled with Cy5) were split in two, and analyzed as duplicates on two separate microarrays. In the second set, the samples (one wildtype bud cDNA and one Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutant pancreatic bud cDNA) were split before labeling, and analyzed as a dye-swapped replicate on two separate microarrays.

Samples hybridized to the 21 K cDNA microarrays were labeled and analyzed as follows: two wildtype and one Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutant pancreatic bud were individually labeled with Cy3 and two Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutants and one wildtype pancreatic bud were individually labeled with Cy5. Samples were pooled pair wise and hybridized to three 21 K cDNA microarrays.

One wt cDNA sample and one Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutant cDNA sample hybridized to the 21 K array were identical to second set of samples hybridized to the 15 K array. Due to the limited amount of material, the rest of the samples were hybridized to one array each (15 K or 21 K array).

In total, cDNA generated from pancreatic buds from 4 individual Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutant and 4 wildtype littermates respectively were individually labeled, pooled pair wise and hybridized to four 15 K cDNA microarrays and to three 21 K cDNA microarrays.

Microarray data processing and statistical analysis

The 15 K and 21 K experiments were analyzed separately as described below. Given some selection criteria, discussed below, 111 genes were considered differentially expressed. 73 of these genes were down-regulated (Table 1) and 38 up-regulated (Table 2) in Ipf1/Pdx1 null mutants. Additional information and all array data are reported to ArrayExpress [48] with the following accession numbers. [ArrayExpress: E-TABM-280] and [ArrayExpress: E-MEXP-1047].

The 21 K microarray analyses were carried out using ScanArrayExpress 2.1 (PerkinElmer) and the in-house S-Plus library UmeaSAMED 1.39. The data analysis included: combined image analysis extracting median intensity values, complete filtration, local background correction, RLS 100, removed C-spots, MA-print-tip normalization with span = 0.5, censoring with minimum value 8, and the B-test, see [49] for detailed descriptions of the procedures. Genes with top-ranked B-statistics (top 100) and at least two-fold regulated (i.e. the absolute value of the average log-ratio 1), were selected for further studies.

The 15 K microarray analyses were carried out using R (1.7), Bioconductor, LIMMA (1.3), and the aroma package [50-52]. Several filtering steps, normalization and statistical analyses were done, as detailed in ArrayExpress. The foreground intensities without background subtraction were extracted using the median intensity values. A feature was filtered if it was flagged as "Not Found" in GenePix, if both channels were saturated, the percentage of foreground pixels above the local background plus two of its standard deviations were below 70 for both channels, or the signal-to-noise ratio for both channels were below 3. Data was normalized using MA-print-tip normalization [53]. The intensities for duplicated features were averaged after normalization. The empirical Bayes moderated t-test implemented in the LIMMA package (i.e. the B-test) was used [54] to identify differentially expressed genes [51]. The four 15 K assays were analyzed in two separate sub-experiments, each including the two assays derived from the same biological replicates. Genes that were at least two-fold up-regulated (or down-regulated) in both sub-experiments and had B-values larger than 10 in sub-experiment 1 and 2 in sub-experiment 2 were selected for further studies.

Quantitative real- time RT-PCR

Gene expression levels were measured using the ABI PRISM 7000 Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems) according to the manufactures recommendations. Expression of the β-2-microglobulin (b2M and TBP) was used to normalize expression levels. Primer sequences were the following: B2M: 5'-GCTATCCAGAAAACCCCTCAAA-3', 5'-CTGTGTTACGTAGCAGTTCAGTATGTTC-3'; Blzf1: 5'-ACAGCCCAGCTTTCTGAACAG-3', 5'-ACTCATCTGCCATTACCCTGCTT'3'; ErbB3: 5'-CTCTCCCCACCAGGGTTAGAG-3', 5'-TGACGAAAGGGTCCCTTCC-3'; Fgfr2IIIb: 5'-CAGTAAATACGGGCCTGATGG-3', 5'-GAACAGAGCCAGCACTTCTGC-3'; Foxa2: 5'-GAGCCATCCGACTGGAGCA-3', 5'-GGAATGAGCCCGTCGCTAG-3'; Glu: 5'-CCGCCGTGCCCAAGA-3', 5'-CATCATGACGTTTGGCAATGTT-3'; Ipf1: 5'-TAGGACTCTTTCCTGGGACCAA-3', 5'-AATAAAAAGGGTACAAACTTGAGCGT-3'; Mgst1: 5'-CGCATTCCAGAGGATAACCAA-3', 5'-CAAAGCCAGCGCAGTCTTCT-3'; Nkx6.1: 5'-TCAGGTCAAGGTCTGGTTCCA-3', 5'GGTCTCCGAGTCCTGCTT-3'; P48: 5'-TCATCTGCCATCGAGGCAC-3', 5'-ACCATAATCCGGGTCACTGG-3'; Pax6: 5'-GCAAACAACCTGCCTATGCAA-3', 5'-GGCAGCATGCACGAGTATGA-3'; Reticulon: 5'-CCTGGTCCAGGACCTGGTG-3', 5'-AGCCACATGAGGACTGCAAAT-3'; Schip1: 5'-AAAAAGTCTCCCGTCGCTGA-3', 5'-TTCGCTTATGTGAGGCATGTGT-3'; Sfrp1: 5'-CCTCCATGCGACAACGAGTT-3', 5'-TTGATTTTCATCCTCAGTGCAAAC-3'; Spondin1: 5'-GAAGCAGCTACCGAGTGACACTT-3', 5'-CTTTGAGGGCAATTAACGTGAAA-3'; Spp1: 5'-TCAAAGTCTAGGAGTTTCCAGGTTTC-3', 5'-TGTGGCATCAGGATACTGTTCATC-3'; TBP: 5'-GAATTGTACCGCAGCTTCAAAA-3', 5'-AGTGCAATGGTCTTTAGGTCAAGTT-3'.

Immunohistochemistry

Immunohistochemistry was performed as described [9]. Primary antibodies used were: rabbit anti-IPF1/PDX1 [3], rabbit Nkx6.1 [40], rabbit anti-FgfR2 (Research Diagnostics, Inc) and glucagon anti-guinea pig (Electra-Box Diagnostika Ab). Secondary antibodies used were: Cy3 anti-rabbit (Jacksson) and Alexa 488 anti-guinea pig (Molecular Probes).

In situ hybridization

In situ hybridization was performed as described [9]. Probes used were: Ptf1a/p48 (provided by O. Hagenbüchle), Sox9 (covering region 1365–2305 bp of image clone 5320371) and Spon1 (covering region 1237–4035 bp of image clone 4221758).

Authors' contributions

PS and IB performed the experiments and drafted the manuscript. CW, JL, and PR, helped with the microarray and bioinformatics. HE helped design and supervise the work and write the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Supplementary Material

Additional File 1

In situ hybridization of wildtype and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice respectively. In situ hybridization of wildtype (A) and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- (B) e10.5 mice using a DIG-labeled Sox9 probe (red pseudo-color in A and B) counterstained with antibodies against glucagon (green in A and B). Scale bar 100 μm.

Click here for file (1.2MB, doc)
Additional File 2

Quantitative real-time RT-PCR of glucagon. Expression analysis of glucagon using cDNA from Ipf1/Pdx1+/+ (n = 6) and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- (n = 6) dorsal e10.5 pancreatic buds. Data represent mean values ± SEM.

Click here for file (26KB, doc)

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgements

We thank members of our laboratory for technical instructions, suggestions and helpful discussions. This work was supported by grants from Wallenberg Consortium North, Kempe foundation, the Swedish Research Council and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (to H.E).

Contributor Information

Per Svensson, Email: per.svensson@ucmm.umu.se.

Cecilia Williams, Email: cecilia.williams@biosci.ki.se.

Joakim Lundeberg, Email: joakim.lundeberg@biotech.kth.se.

Patrik Rydén, Email: patrik.ryden@climi.umu.se.

Ingela Bergqvist, Email: ingela.bergqvist@betagenon.com.

Helena Edlund, Email: helena.edlund@ucmm.umu.se.

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Associated Data

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Supplementary Materials

Additional File 1

In situ hybridization of wildtype and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- mice respectively. In situ hybridization of wildtype (A) and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- (B) e10.5 mice using a DIG-labeled Sox9 probe (red pseudo-color in A and B) counterstained with antibodies against glucagon (green in A and B). Scale bar 100 μm.

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Additional File 2

Quantitative real-time RT-PCR of glucagon. Expression analysis of glucagon using cDNA from Ipf1/Pdx1+/+ (n = 6) and Ipf1/Pdx1-/- (n = 6) dorsal e10.5 pancreatic buds. Data represent mean values ± SEM.

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