Epithelial BMP signaling is required for proper specification of epithelial cell lineages and gastric endocrine cells

• Published in: American journal of physiology: Gastrointestinal and liver physiology Vol. 300; no. 6; pp. G1065 - G1079
• Main Authors: Maloum, Faïza, Allaire, Joannie M, Gagné-Sansfaçon, Jessica, Roy, Evelyne, Belleville, Karine, Sarret, Philippe, Morisset, Jean, Carrier, Julie C, Mishina, Yuji, Kaestner, Klaus H, Perreault, Nathalie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Physiological Society 01.06.2011
• Subjects: Aging; Animals; Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I - deficiency; Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I - genetics; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - metabolism; Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Cell Proliferation; Cells; Digestive system; Duodenum - embryology; Duodenum - metabolism; Enteroendocrine Cells - metabolism; Enteroendocrine Cells - pathology; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Gastric Mucosa - embryology; Gastric Mucosa - metabolism; Gastric Mucosa - pathology; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-gamma - genetics; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-gamma - metabolism; Homeostasis; Hormones and Signaling; Hyperplasia; Integrases - genetics; Mice; Mice, 129 Strain; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Mice, Transgenic; Morphogenesis; Polypeptides; Proteins; Rodents; Signal Transduction; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors
• ISSN: 0193-1857; 1522-1547
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00176.2010

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling within the gastrointestinal tract is complex. BMP ligands and their receptors are expressed in both epithelial and mesenchymal compartments, suggesting bidirectional signaling between these two entities. Despite an increasing interest in BMP signaling in gut physiology and pathologies, the distinct contribution of BMP signaling in the epithelium vs. the mesenchyme in gastrointestinal homeostasis remains to be established. We aimed to investigate the role of epithelial BMP signaling in gastric organogenesis, gland morphogenesis, and maintenance of epithelial cell functions. Using the Cre/loxP system, we generated a mouse model with an early deletion during development of BMP receptor 1A (Bmpr1a) exclusively in the foregut endoderm. Bmpr1a(ΔGEC) mice showed no severe abnormalities in gastric organogenesis, gland epithelial proliferation, or morphogenesis, suggesting only a minor role for epithelial BMP signaling in these processes. However, early loss of BMP signaling in foregut endoderm did impact on gastric patterning, leading to an anteriorization of the stomach. In addition, numbers of parietal cells were reduced in Bmpr1a(ΔGEC) mice. Epithelial BMP deletion significantly increased the numbers of chromogranin A-, ghrelin-, somatostatin-, gastrin-, and serotonin-expressing gastric endocrine cells. Cancer never developed in young adult (<100 days) Bmpr1a-inactivated mice although a marker of spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia was upregulated. Using this model, we have uncovered that BMP signaling negatively regulates the proliferation and commitment of endocrine precursor cells. Our data also indicate that loss of BMP signaling in epithelial gastric cells alone is not sufficient to induce gastric neoplasia.