Top

International Journal of Colorectal Disease

Published in:

01-08-2011 | Original Article

Spatiotemporal expression of Wnt5a during the development of the hindgut and anorectum in human embryos

Authors: Fei Fei Li, Tao Zhang, Yu Zuo Bai, Zheng Wei Yuan, Wei Lin Wang

Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease | Issue 8/2011

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to determine the spatiotemporal expression of Wnt5a during hindgut and anorectum development in human embryos and to explore the possible role of Wnt5a during the morphogenesis of the human hindgut and anorectum.

Materials and methods

The embryos (n = 107) were sectioned serially and sagittally, using Wnt5a immunohistochemical staining on the caudal midline from the 4th–9th weeks of gestation.

Results

From the 4th–7th week of gestation, the Wnt5a-positive cells were mainly located on the epithelium of the apical urorectal septum, hindgut, and cloacal membrane. After the anorectum and the urogenital sinus (UGS) opened to the amniotic cavity during the 7th week, the Wnt5a-positive cells disappeared and remained negative up to the 9th week on the epithelium of the anal canal.

Conclusions

The expression of Wnt5a was constantly active during human hindgut and anorectum development and disappeared after the anus formed, suggesting that Wnt5a plays an important role in human hindgut and anorectal morphogenesis.

Mikels AJ, Nusse R (2006) Purified Wnt5a protein activates or inhibits beta-catenin-TCF signaling depending on receptor context. PLoS Biol 4:e115PubMedCrossRef

He X, Saint-Jeannet JP, Wang Y et al (1997) A member of the Frizzled protein family mediating axis induction by Wnt-5A. Science 275:1652–1654PubMedCrossRef

Willert K, Brown JD, Danenberg E et al (2003) Wnt proteins are lipid-modified and can act as stem cell growth factors. Nature 423:448–452PubMedCrossRef

Kurayoshi M, Oue N, Yamamoto H et al (2006) Expression of Wnt-5a is correlated with aggressiveness of gastric cancer by stimulating cell migration and invasion. Cancer Res 66:10439–10448PubMedCrossRef

Moon RT, Bowerman B, Boutros M et al (2002) The promise and perils of Wnt signaling through beta-catenin. Science 296:1644–1646PubMedCrossRef

Nusse R (2003) Wnts and Hedgehogs: lipid-modified proteins and similarities in signaling mechanisms at the cell surface. Development 130:5297–5305PubMedCrossRef

Yamaguchi TP, Bradley A, McMahon AP et al (1999) A Wnt5a pathway underlies outgrowth of multiple structures in the vertebrate embryo. Development 126:1211–1223PubMed

Yang Y, Topol L, Lee H et al (2003) Wnt5a and Wnt5b exhibit distinct activities in coordinating chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation. Development 130:1003–1015PubMedCrossRef

Nakata M, Takada Y, Hishiki T et al (2009) Induction of Wnt5a-expressing mesenchymal cells adjacent to the cloacal plate is an essential process for its proximodistal elongation and subsequent anorectal development. Pediatr Res 66:149–154PubMedCrossRef

10.

Perriton CL, Powles N, Chiang C et al (2002) Sonic hedgehog signaling from the urethral epithelium controls external genital development. Dev Biol 247:26–46PubMedCrossRef

11.

Haraguchi R, Suzuki K, Murakami R et al (2000) Molecular analysis of external genitalia formation: the role of fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) genes during genital tubercle formation. Development 127:2471–2479PubMed

12.

Haraguchi R, Mo R, Hui C et al (2001) Unique functions of Sonic hedgehog signaling during external genitalia development. Development 128:4241–4250PubMed

13.

Scott V, Morgan EA, Stadler HS (2005) Genitourinary functions of Hoxa13 and Hoxd13. J Biochem 137:671–676PubMedCrossRef

14.

Tai CC, Sala FG, Ford HR et al (2009) Wnt5a knock-out mouse as a new model of anorectal malformation. J Surg Res 156:278–282PubMedCrossRef

15.

Allgeier SH, Lin TM, Vezina CM et al (2008) WNT5A selectively inhibits mouse ventral prostate development. Dev Biol 324:10–17PubMedCrossRef

16.

Zhang T, Zhang HL, Wang DJ et al (2010) Normal development of hindgut and anorectum in human embryo. Int J Colorectal Dis. doi:10.1007/s00384-010-1034-2

17.

Bai YZ, Chen H, Yuan ZW et al (2004) Normal and abnormal embryonic development of the anorectum in rats. J Pediatr Surg 39:587–590PubMedCrossRef

18.

Qi BQ, Beasley SW, Frizelle FA (2002) Clarification of the processes that lead to anorectal malformations in the ETU-induced rat model of imperforate anus. J Pediatr Surg 37:1305–1312PubMedCrossRef

19.

Zhang T, Bai YZ, Wang WL et al (2009) Spatiotemporal pattern analysis of transcription factor 4 in the developing anorectum of the rat embryo with anorectal malformations. Int J Colorectal Dis 24:1039–1047PubMedCrossRef

20.

Theodosiou NA, Tabin CJ (2003) Wnt signaling during development of the gastrointestinal tract. Dev Biol 259:258–271PubMedCrossRef

21.

Kühl M, Sheldahl LC, Malbon CC et al (2000) Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II is stimulated by Wnt and Frizzled homologs and promotes ventral cell fates in Xenopus. J Biol Chem 275:12701–12711PubMedCrossRef

22.

Schambony A, Wedlich D (2007) Wnt-5A/Ror2 regulate expression of XPAPC through an alternative non-canonical signaling pathway. Dev Cell 12:779–792PubMedCrossRef

23.

Slusarski DC, Yang-Snyder J, Busa WB et al (1997) Modulation of embryonic intracellular Ca2+ signaling by Wnt-5A. Dev Biol 182:114–120PubMedCrossRef

24.

Yamanaka H, Moriguchi T, Masuyama N et al (2002) JNK functions in the non-canonical Wnt pathway to regulate convergent extension movements in vertebrates. EMBO Rep 3:69–75PubMedCrossRef

25.

Zhu S, Liu L, Korzh V et al (2006) RhoA acts downstream of Wnt5 and Wnt11 to regulate convergence and extension movements by involving effectors Rho kinase and Diaphanous: use of zebrafish as an in vivo model for GTPase signaling. Cell Signal 18:359–372PubMedCrossRef

26.

Fairbanks TJ, De Langhe S, Sala FG et al (2004) Fibroblast growth factor 10 (Fgf10) invalidation results in anorectal malformation in mice. J Pediatr Surg 39:360–365PubMedCrossRef

27.

Ming JE, Roessler E, Muenke M (1998) Human developmental disorders and the Sonic hedgehog pathway. Mol Med Today 4:343–349PubMedCrossRef

28.

Ingham PW, McMahon AP (2001) Hedgehog signaling in animal development: paradigms and principles. Genes Dev 15:3059–3087PubMedCrossRef

29.

Ramalho-Santos M, Melton DA, McMahon AP (2000) Hedgehog signals regulate multiple aspects of gastrointestinal development. Development 127:2763–2772PubMed

30.

Mo R, Kim JH, Zhang J et al (2001) Anorectal malformations caused by defects in sonic hedgehog signaling. Am J Pathol 159:765–774PubMedCrossRef

31.

Li C, Hu L, Xiao J et al (2005) Wnt5a regulates Shh and Fgf10 signaling during lung development. Dev Biol 287:86–97PubMedCrossRef

32.

Li C, Xiao J, Hormi K et al (2002) Wnt5a participates in distal lung morphogenesis. Dev Biol 248:68–81PubMedCrossRef

Title: Spatiotemporal expression of Wnt5a during the development of the hindgut and anorectum in human embryos
Authors: Fei Fei Li
Tao Zhang
Yu Zuo Bai
Zheng Wei Yuan
Wei Lin Wang
Publication date: 01-08-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease / Issue 8/2011
Print ISSN: 0179-1958
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1262
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-011-1191-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Spatiotemporal expression of Wnt5a during the development of the hindgut and anorectum in human embryos

Abstract

Purpose

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 8/2011

Role of CT colonography in symptomatic assessment, surveillance and screening

Sigmoid carcinoma presenting as epididymo–orchitis

Elevated expression of c-fos in central nervous system correlates with visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a new target for IBS treatment

Identification of heat shock protein 90α as an IMH-2 epitope-associated protein and correlation of its mRNA overexpression with colorectal cancer metastasis and poor prognosis

Reduced hydrophobicity of the colonic mucosal surface in ulcerative colitis as a hint at a physicochemical barrier defect

Predictors of long-term survival in patients with colorectal liver metastases: a single center study and review of the literature