PUBLICATION
Klf5a in Endoderm Promotes Pharyngeal Cartilage Morphogenesis
- Authors
- Li, W., Zhu, Z., Sha, O., Wang, X.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-251127-29
- Date
- 2025
- Source
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26: (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- cell differentiation, cell signaling, craniofacial anomalies, craniofacial biology, developmental biology, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Neural Crest/cytology
- Neural Crest/metabolism
- Animals
- Pharynx*/embryology
- Pharynx*/metabolism
- Morphogenesis*/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins*/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins*/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Cartilage*/embryology
- Cartilage*/metabolism
- Endoderm*/embryology
- Endoderm*/metabolism
- Zebrafish*/embryology
- Zebrafish*/genetics
- Zebrafish*/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Proliferation
- Signal Transduction
- PubMed
- 41303527 Full text @ Int. J. Mol. Sci.
Citation
Li, W., Zhu, Z., Sha, O., Wang, X. (2025) Klf5a in Endoderm Promotes Pharyngeal Cartilage Morphogenesis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 26:.
Abstract
Pharyngeal cartilage, derived from neural crest cells (NCCs), undergoes complex morphogenesis driven by signals from the pharyngeal endoderm. However, the molecular mechanisms governing NCC proliferation and differentiation in response to endoderm-derived signals remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the role of klf5a, a zinc-finger transcription factor expressed in pharyngeal endodermal pouches, in zebrafish pharyngeal cartilage development. Knockdown of klf5a using morpholinos minimally affected cranial NCC specification and migration but significantly impaired their proliferation and differentiation in the pharyngeal region. Notably, klf5a deficiency reduced expression of fgfbp2b, a modulator of FGF signaling, in the pharyngeal endoderm. Co-injection of klf5a mRNA rescued the cartilage defects, but injection of fgfbp2b mRNA alone failed to restore normal cartilage morphogenesis, suggesting that fgfbp2b is not the sole mediator of klf5a's effects. These findings indicate that klf5a regulates endodermal signaling to direct NCC-derived pharyngeal cartilage formation, likely through multiple downstream targets including fgfbp2b. This study provides insights into the complex molecular network underlying craniofacial development and highlights potential therapeutic targets for craniofacial disorders.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping