Jm. Lincecum et al., MSH HOMEOBOX GENES REGULATE CADHERIN-MEDIATED CELL-ADHESION AND CELL-CELL SORTING, Journal of cellular biochemistry, 70(1), 1998, pp. 22-28
Msx-1 and Msx-2 are two closely related homeobox genes expressed in ce
phalic neural crest tooth buds, the optic cup endocardial cushions, an
d the developing limb [Hill and Davidson, 1991; Monaghan et al., 1991;
Robert et al., 1991]. These sites correspond to regions of active cel
l segregation and proliferation under the influence of epithelial-mese
nchymal cell interactions [Brown et al., 1993; Davidson et al., 1991],
suggesting that Msx-1 and Msx-2 regulate cell-cell interactions. We h
ave investigated the potential relationship between expression of the
Msh homeobox genes (Msx-1 and Msx-2) and cadherin-mediated cell adhesi
on and cell sorting. We report that cell lines stably expressing Msx-1
or Msx-2 differentially sort on the basis of Msh gene expression. We
demonstrate in vitro that initial cell aggregation involves calcium-de
pendent adhesion molecules (cadherins) and that Msh genes regulate cad
herin-mediated adhesion. These results support the hypothesis that Msh
genes play a role in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion and provide
a link between the genetic phenomena of homeobox gene expression and
cellular events involved in morphogenesis, including cell sorting and
proliferation. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.