Abstract
Embryonic neural crest cells travel in discrete streams to precise locations throughout the head and body. We previously showed that cranial neural crest cells respond chemotactically to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and that cells within the migratory front have distinct behaviors and gene expression. We proposed a cell-induced gradient model in which lead neural crest cells read out directional information from a chemoattractant profile and instruct trailers to follow. In this study, we show that migrating chick neural crest cells do not display distinct lead and trailer gene expression profiles in culture. However, exposure to VEGF in vitro results in the upregulation of a small subset of genes associated with an in vivo lead cell signature. Timed addition and removal of VEGF in culture reveals the changes in neural crest cell gene expression are rapid. A computational model incorporating an integrate-and-switch mechanism between cellular phenotypes predicts migration efficiency is influenced by the timescale of cell behavior switching. To test the model hypothesis that neural crest cellular phenotypes respond to changes in the VEGF chemoattractant profile, we presented ectopic sources of VEGF to the trailer neural crest cell subpopulation and show diverted cell trajectories and stream alterations consistent with model predictions. Gene profiling of trailer cells that diverted and encountered VEGF revealed upregulation of a subset of 'lead' genes. Injection of neuropilin1 (Np1)-Fc into the trailer subpopulation or electroporation of VEGF morpholino to reduce VEGF signaling failed to alter trailer neural crest cell trajectories, suggesting trailers do not require VEGF to maintain coordinated migration. These results indicate that VEGF is one of the signals that establishes lead cell identity and its chemoattractant profile is critical to neural crest cell migration.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 12-25 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Developmental Biology |
| Volume | 407 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Cell migration
- Chick
- Computational modeling
- Embryonic microenvironment
- Gene expression
- Molecular profile
- Neural crest
- Trailblazers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
VEGF signals induce trailblazer cell identity that drives neural crest migration. / McLennan, Rebecca; Schumacher, Linus J.; Morrison, Jason A.; Teddy, Jessica M.; Ridenour, Dennis A.; Box, Andrew C.; Semerad, Craig L; Li, Hua; McDowell, William; Kay, David; Maini, Philip K.; Baker, Ruth E.; Kulesa, Paul M.
In: Developmental Biology, Vol. 407, No. 1, 01.11.2015, p. 12-25.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - VEGF signals induce trailblazer cell identity that drives neural crest migration
AU - McLennan, Rebecca
AU - Schumacher, Linus J.
AU - Morrison, Jason A.
AU - Teddy, Jessica M.
AU - Ridenour, Dennis A.
AU - Box, Andrew C.
AU - Semerad, Craig L
AU - Li, Hua
AU - McDowell, William
AU - Kay, David
AU - Maini, Philip K.
AU - Baker, Ruth E.
AU - Kulesa, Paul M.
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - Embryonic neural crest cells travel in discrete streams to precise locations throughout the head and body. We previously showed that cranial neural crest cells respond chemotactically to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and that cells within the migratory front have distinct behaviors and gene expression. We proposed a cell-induced gradient model in which lead neural crest cells read out directional information from a chemoattractant profile and instruct trailers to follow. In this study, we show that migrating chick neural crest cells do not display distinct lead and trailer gene expression profiles in culture. However, exposure to VEGF in vitro results in the upregulation of a small subset of genes associated with an in vivo lead cell signature. Timed addition and removal of VEGF in culture reveals the changes in neural crest cell gene expression are rapid. A computational model incorporating an integrate-and-switch mechanism between cellular phenotypes predicts migration efficiency is influenced by the timescale of cell behavior switching. To test the model hypothesis that neural crest cellular phenotypes respond to changes in the VEGF chemoattractant profile, we presented ectopic sources of VEGF to the trailer neural crest cell subpopulation and show diverted cell trajectories and stream alterations consistent with model predictions. Gene profiling of trailer cells that diverted and encountered VEGF revealed upregulation of a subset of 'lead' genes. Injection of neuropilin1 (Np1)-Fc into the trailer subpopulation or electroporation of VEGF morpholino to reduce VEGF signaling failed to alter trailer neural crest cell trajectories, suggesting trailers do not require VEGF to maintain coordinated migration. These results indicate that VEGF is one of the signals that establishes lead cell identity and its chemoattractant profile is critical to neural crest cell migration.
AB - Embryonic neural crest cells travel in discrete streams to precise locations throughout the head and body. We previously showed that cranial neural crest cells respond chemotactically to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and that cells within the migratory front have distinct behaviors and gene expression. We proposed a cell-induced gradient model in which lead neural crest cells read out directional information from a chemoattractant profile and instruct trailers to follow. In this study, we show that migrating chick neural crest cells do not display distinct lead and trailer gene expression profiles in culture. However, exposure to VEGF in vitro results in the upregulation of a small subset of genes associated with an in vivo lead cell signature. Timed addition and removal of VEGF in culture reveals the changes in neural crest cell gene expression are rapid. A computational model incorporating an integrate-and-switch mechanism between cellular phenotypes predicts migration efficiency is influenced by the timescale of cell behavior switching. To test the model hypothesis that neural crest cellular phenotypes respond to changes in the VEGF chemoattractant profile, we presented ectopic sources of VEGF to the trailer neural crest cell subpopulation and show diverted cell trajectories and stream alterations consistent with model predictions. Gene profiling of trailer cells that diverted and encountered VEGF revealed upregulation of a subset of 'lead' genes. Injection of neuropilin1 (Np1)-Fc into the trailer subpopulation or electroporation of VEGF morpholino to reduce VEGF signaling failed to alter trailer neural crest cell trajectories, suggesting trailers do not require VEGF to maintain coordinated migration. These results indicate that VEGF is one of the signals that establishes lead cell identity and its chemoattractant profile is critical to neural crest cell migration.
KW - Cell migration
KW - Chick
KW - Computational modeling
KW - Embryonic microenvironment
KW - Gene expression
KW - Molecular profile
KW - Neural crest
KW - Trailblazers
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84947867795&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.08.011
DO - 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.08.011
M3 - Article
VL - 407
SP - 12
EP - 25
JO - Developmental Biology
JF - Developmental Biology
SN - 0012-1606
IS - 1
ER -