Transcription factor GATA‐3 is essential for lens development

Abstract

During vertebrate lens development, the anterior, ectoderm-derived lens vesicle cells differentiate into a monolayer of epithelial cells that retain proliferative potential. Subsequently, they exit the cell cycle and give rise to posterior lens fiber cells that form the lens body. In the present study, we demonstrate that the transcription factor GATA-3 is expressed in the posterior lens fiber cells during embryogenesis, and that GATA-3-deficiency impairs lens development. Interestingly, expression of E-cadherin, a premature lens vesicle marker, is abnormally prolonged in the posterior region of Gata3 homozygous mutant lenses. Furthermore, expression of γ-crystallin, a differentiation marker for fiber cells, is reduced. This suppressed differentiation is accompanied by an abnormal cellular proliferation, as well as with diminished levels of the cell-cycle inhibitors Cdkn1b/p27 and Cdkn1c/p57 and increased Ccnd2/cyclin D2 abundance. Thus, these observations suggest that GATA-3 is essential for lens cells differentiation and proper cell cycle control.

Chromatin remodeling enzyme Snf2h regulates embryonic lens differentiation and denucleation

“…BMP, FGF and Notch signaling pathways regulate lens fiber cell differentiation in conjunction with DNA-binding transcription factors, including FoxE3 (Blixt et al, 2007;Brownell et al, 2000;Medina-Martinez et al, 2005), Gata3 (Maeda et al, 2009), Pax6 (Shaham et al, 2009), Pitx3 (Ho et al, 2009;Medina-Martinez et al, 2009), Prox1 (Duncan et al, 2002;Wigle et al, 1999), Hey1 (Herp2) and Rbpj (Jia et al, 2007;Rowan et al, 2008). Although little is known about links between BMP and FGF signaling and these factors, disruption of Prox1 blocks expression of p27 Kip1 and p57 Kip2 in the posterior part of the lens vesicle, followed by arrested lens fiber cell elongation (Wigle et al, 1999).…”

Gata3 Hypomorphic Mutant Mice Rescued with a Yeast Artificial Chromosome Transgene Suffer a Glomerular Mesangial Cell Defect

“…Immunohistochemical analysis was performed as previously described (22). The antibodies used were ␣CD73 (abcam ab91086) and ␣Synaptopodin (abcam ab50859).…”

In vitro generation of HSC-like cells from murine ESCs/iPSCs by enforced expression of LIM-homeobox transcription factor Lhx2

“…36 Thus, one could speculate that Lhx2 might inhibit the function of Gata-3, a master regulator of T cell differentiation. 37 Interestingly, both Lhx2 and Gata-3 have been implicated in stem cell maintenance in hair follicles 16,38 and in eye development, 14,39,40 suggesting a functional interaction between Lhx2 and Gata-3.…”