The IGF Pathway Regulates Head Formation by Inhibiting Wnt Signaling in Xenopus

• Published in: Developmental biology 2002-04, Vol.244 (2), p.407-417
• Main Authors: Richard-Parpaillon, Laurent, Héligon, Christophe, Chesnel, Franck, Boujard, Daniel, Philpott, Anna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Body Patterning; ectopic eyes; Embryo, Nonmammalian - physiology; Eye - embryology; Female; Freshwater; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Head - embryology; head induction; IGF; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - genetics; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - physiology; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II - genetics; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II - physiology; Mitogens - genetics; Morphogenesis; Oocytes - cytology; Oocytes - physiology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Signal Transduction - physiology; Wnt; Wnt Proteins; Xenopus; Xenopus - embryology; Xenopus - genetics; Zebrafish Proteins
• ISSN: 0012-1606; 1095-564X
• DOI: 10.1006/dbio.2002.0605

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are well known mitogens, both in vivo and in vitro, while functions in cellular differentiation have also been indicated. Here, we demonstrate a new role for the IGF pathway in regulating head formation in Xenopus embryos. Both IGF-1 and IGF-2, along with their receptor IGF-1R, are expressed early during embryogenesis, and the IGF-1R is present particularly in anterior and dorsal structures. Overexpression of IGF-1 leads to anterior expansion of head neural tissue as well as formation of ectopic eyes and cement gland, while IGF-1 receptor depletion using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides drastically reduces head structures. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IGF signaling exerts this effect by antagonizing the activity of the Wnt signal transduction pathway in the early embryo, at the level of β-catenin. Thus, the IGF pathway is required for head formation during embryogenesis.