Endothelium-derived Netrin-4 supports pancreatic epithelial cell adhesion and differentiation through integrins ?2?1 and ?3?1.
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ABSTRACT: Netrins have been extensively studied in the developing central nervous system as pathfinding guidance cues, and more recently in non-neural tissues where they mediate cell adhesion, migration and differentiation. Netrin-4, a distant relative of Netrins 1-3, has been proposed to affect cell fate determination in developing epithelia, though receptors mediating these functions have yet to be identified.Using human embryonic pancreatic cells as a model of developing epithelium, here we report that Netrin-4 is abundantly expressed in vascular endothelial cells and pancreatic ductal cells, and supports epithelial cell adhesion through integrins ?2?1 and ?3?1. Interestingly, we find that Netrin-4 recognition by embryonic pancreatic cells through integrins ?2?1 and ?3?1 promotes insulin and glucagon gene expression. In addition, full genome microarray analysis revealed that fetal pancreatic cell adhesion to Netrin-4 causes a prominent down-regulation of cyclins and up-regulation of negative regulators of the cell cycle. Consistent with these results, a number of other genes whose activities have been linked to developmental decisions and/or cellular differentiation are up-regulated.Given the recognized function of blood vessels in epithelial tissue morphogenesis, our results provide a mechanism by which endothelial-derived Netrin-4 may function as a pro-differentiation cue for adjacent developing pancreatic cell populations expressing adhesion receptors ?2?1 and ?3?1 integrins.
SUBMITTER: Yebra M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3146510 | biostudies-literature | 2011
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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