Project description:Lower urinary tract malformations are among the most common congenital anomalies in humans. The urethral plate epithelium is an endodermal signaling region that plays an essential role in external genital development; however, little is known about the molecular identity of this cell population or the genes that regulate its activity. We aim to characterize differences in gene expression between the urethral plate epithelium and surrounding mouse genital tubercles during a crucial developmental period.
Project description:Penis, the organ that bears reproductive and psychological importance, is susceptible to birth defects such as hypospadias, or incomplete closure of urethra along the penis shaft. We discover that proper urethral closure in mouse embryos requires a unique mesenchymal cell population originated from outside of the penis. These “extra-genital” cells, marked by a lineage marker Nr5a1, migrate from the inguinal region into the embryonic penis, and facilitate urethra closure by interacting with adjacent peri-urethral cells via the epidermal growth factor pathway. Ablation of Nr5a1+ cells leads to severe hypospadias, and alters cell differentiation in the penis. This discovery highlights the indispensable role of Nr5a1+ extra-genital cells in urethra closure, shedding light on the biology of penis formation and potential implications for human hypospadias.
Project description:Comparing gene expression in Oral and genital lichen planus with normal oral and genital epithelium trying to idenitfy differently expressed genes in lichen planus compared to normal epithelium Total RNA obtained from oral and genital lichen planus epithelium compared with normal oral and genital epithelium
