Neuroepithelial body microenvironment is a niche for a distinct subset of Clara-like precursors in the developing airways.

ABSTRACT: Clara cells of mammalian airways have multiple functions and are morphologically heterogeneous. Although Notch signaling is essential for the development of these cells, it is unclear how Notch influences Clara cell specification and if diversity is established among Clara cell precursors. Here we identify expression of the secretoglobin Scgb3a2 and Notch activation as early events in a program of secretory cell fate determination in developing murine airways. We show that Scgb3a2 expression in vivo is Notch-dependent at early stages and ectopically induced by constitutive Notch1 activation, and also that in vitro Notch signaling together with the pan-airway transcription factor Ttf1 (Nkx2.1) synergistically regulate secretoglobin gene transcription. Furthermore, we identified a subpopulat

SUBMITTER: Guha A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3412014 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature