LIX1 regulates YAP1 activity and controls the proliferation and differentiation of stomach mesenchymal progenitors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) plasticity maintains the balance between differentiated SMCs and proliferative mesenchymal progenitors, crucial for muscular tissue homeostasis. Studies on the development of mesenchymal progenitors into SMCs have proven useful in identifying molecular mechanisms involved in digestive musculature plasticity in physiological and pathological conditions.

Results

Here, we show that Limb Expression 1 (LIX1) molecularly defines the population of mesenchymal progenitors in the developing stomach. Using in vivo functional approaches in the chick embryo, we demonstrate that LIX1 is a key regulator of stomach SMC development. We show that LIX1 is required for stomach SMC determination to regulate the expression of the pro-proliferative gene YAP1 an

SUBMITTER: McKey J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4848777 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature