Stelnicki E J, Kömüves L G, Kwong A O, Holmes D, Klein P, Rozenfeld S, Lawrence H J, Adzick N S, Harrison M, Largman C
Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
J Invest Dermatol. 1998 Feb;110(2):110-5. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1998.00092.x.
The spatial and temporal deployment of HOX homeobox genes along the spinal axis and in limb buds during fetal development is a key program in embryonic pattern formation. Although we have previously reported that several of the HOX homeobox genes are expressed during murine skin development, there is no information about developmental expression of HOX genes in human skin. We have now used reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, in conjunction with a set of degenerate oligonucleotide primers, to identify a subset of HOX genes that are expressed during human fetal skin development. In situ hybridization analyses demonstrated that there were temporal and spatial shifts in expression of these genes. Strong HOXA4 expression was detected in the basal cell layers of 10 wk fetal epidermis and throughout the epidermis and dermis of 17 wk skin, whereas weak signal was present in the granular layer of newborn and adult skin. The expression patterns of HOXA5 and HOXA7 were similar, but their expression was weaker. In situ hybridization analysis also revealed strong HOXC4 and weaker HOXB7 expression throughout fetal development, whereas HOXB4 was expressed at barely detectable levels. Differential HOX gene expression was also observed in developing hair follicles, and sebaceous and sweat glands. None of the HOX genes examined were detected in the adult dermis.
在胎儿发育过程中，HOX同源框基因沿脊柱轴和肢体芽在空间和时间上的分布是胚胎模式形成的关键程序。虽然我们之前报道过几种HOX同源框基因在小鼠皮肤发育过程中表达，但关于HOX基因在人类皮肤中的发育表达情况尚无相关信息。我们现在使用逆转录聚合酶链反应，并结合一组简并寡核苷酸引物，来鉴定在人类胎儿皮肤发育过程中表达的HOX基因子集。原位杂交分析表明，这些基因的表达存在时间和空间上的变化。在10周胎儿表皮的基底层以及17周皮肤的整个表皮和真皮中检测到强烈的HOXA4表达，而在新生儿和成人皮肤的颗粒层中信号较弱。HOXA5和HOXA7的表达模式相似，但表达较弱。原位杂交分析还显示，在整个胎儿发育过程中HOXC4表达强烈而HOXB7表达较弱，而HOXB4的表达水平几乎检测不到。在发育中的毛囊、皮脂腺和汗腺中也观察到HOX基因的差异表达。在成人真皮中未检测到所研究的任何HOX基因。
