The absence of SOX2 in the anterior foregut alters the esophagus into trachea and bronchi in both epithelial and mesenchymal components.

ABSTRACT: In the anterior foregut (AFG) of mouse embryos, the transcription factor SOX2 is expressed in the epithelia of the esophagus and proximal branches of respiratory organs comprising the trachea and bronchi, whereas NKX2.1 is expressed only in the epithelia of respiratory organs. Previous studies using hypomorphic Sox2 alleles have indicated that reduced SOX2 expression causes the esophageal epithelium to display some respiratory organ characteristics. In the present study, we produced mouse embryos with AFG-specific SOX2 deficiency. In the absence of SOX2 expression, a single NKX2.1-expressing epithelial tube connected the pharynx and the stomach, and a pair of bronchi developed in the middle of the tube. Expression patterns of NKX2.1 and SOX9 revealed that the anterior and posterior halves

SUBMITTER: Teramoto M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7044460 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature