Int. J. Dev. Biol. 60: 175 - 179 (2016)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.160045mo

Vol 60, Issue 4-5-6

Platelet derived growth factor B gene expression in the Xenopus laevis developing central nervous system

Developmental Expression Pattern | Published: 6 July 2016

Kety Giannetti¹, Debora Corsinovi¹, Cristina Rossino¹, Irene Appolloni^2,3, Paolo Malatesta^2,3 and Michela Ori*^,1

¹Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, ²IRCCS-AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa and ³Department of Experimental Medicine (DiMES), University of Genoa, Italy

Abstract

Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) belongs to the mitogen and growth factor family and like the other members it has many roles in cell differentiation, proliferation and migration during development, adult life and in pathological conditions. Among them it has been observed that aberrant PDGF signalling is frequently linked to glioma development and progression, and Pdgf-b over-expression in mouse neural progenitors leads to the formation of gliomas. Despite this evidence, the mechanisms underlying PDGF-B driven tumorigenesis and its role during brain development are not fully understood. In order to contribute to clarifying possible new roles of pdgf-b signalling, we present here the embryonic gene expression pattern of pdgf-b, so far unknown in early vertebrate development. By using Xenopus laevis as a model system we performed qRT-PCR and whole mount in situ hybridization. Pdgf-b mRNA is expressed in discrete regions of the developing central nervous system, in the cranial nerve placodes and in the notochord. We also compared the gene expression of pdgf-b with that of its receptor pdgfr-α suggesting so far unsuspected roles for this signalling pathway during the development of specific embryonic structures.

Keywords

PDGF-B, PDGF receptor α, central nervous system, neural crest, Xenopus laevis