Alx4 relays sequential FGF signaling to induce lacrimal gland morphogenesis

Ankur Garg, Mukesh Bansal, Noriko Gotoh, Gen Sheng Feng, Jian Zhong, Fen Wang, Ariana Kariminejad, Steven Brooks, Xin Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The sequential use of signaling pathways is essential for the guidance of pluripotent progenitors into diverse cell fates. Here, we show that Shp2 exclusively mediates FGF but not PDGF signaling in the neural crest to control lacrimal gland development. In addition to preventing p53-independent apoptosis and promoting the migration of Sox10-expressing neural crests, Shp2 is also required for expression of the homeodomain transcription factor Alx4, which directly controls Fgf10 expression in the periocular mesenchyme that is necessary for lacrimal gland induction. We show that Alx4 binds an Fgf10 intronic element conserved in terrestrial but not aquatic animals, underlying the evolutionary emergence of the lacrimal gland system in response to an airy environment. Inactivation of ALX4/Alx4 causes lacrimal gland aplasia in both human and mouse. These results reveal a key role of Alx4 in mediating FGF-Shp2-FGF signaling in the neural crest for lacrimal gland development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere1007047
JournalPLoS Genetics
Volume13
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Cancer Research

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