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Research Article
Hyaluronan is required for cranial neural crest cells migration and craniofacial development
Article first published online: 19 DEC 2011
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.23715
Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Casini, P., Nardi, I. and Ori, M. (2012), Hyaluronan is required for cranial neural crest cells migration and craniofacial development. Developmental Dynamics, 241: 294–302. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.23715
Publication History
- Issue published online: 24 JAN 2012
- Article first published online: 19 DEC 2011
- Accepted manuscript online: 6 DEC 2011 02:26PM EST
- Manuscript Accepted: 23 NOV 2011
Keywords:
- hyaluronan;
- neural crest cell;
- craniofacial development;
- Has1;
- Has2;
- CD44;
- extracellular matrix;
- Xenopus
Key findings:
Cranial NCC migrate throughout a hyaluronan rich extracellular matrix
Hyaluronan synthases 1 and 2 activity is necessary to maintain the migratory behaviour of cranial NCC
After NCC migration, the presence of Hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix is necessary for the survival of pre-chondrogenic cranial NCC.
CD44, a Hyaluronan receptor, is required for cranial NCC migration but not for their survival.
In Xenopus, the craniofacial skeleton formation is deeply influenced by the composition of the extracellular matrix during cranial NCC migration and differentiation.
Abstract
Background: Hyaluronan is a crucial glycosaminoglycan of the vertebrate embryonic extracellular matrix able to influence cell behaviour, both by assembling the pericellular matrices and by activating signal transducing receptors such as CD44. Results: We showed that the hyaluronan synthases, Has1 and Has2, and CD44 display a dynamic expression pattern during cranial neural crest cells (NCC) development. By knocking down Has1 and Has2 gene functions, we revealed that hyaluronan synthesized by Has1 and Has2 is necessary for the proper development of the visceral skeleton. Conclusions: The data suggest that hyaluronan helps to maintain the active migratory behaviour of cranial NCC, and that its presence around pre-chondrogenic NCC is crucial for their survival. CD44 knock down also suggests that the role of hyaluronan in cranial NCC migration could be mediated, at least in part, by the activation of CD44. These findings contribute to the unveiling of the functional relation between NCC and their extracellular environment during craniofacial development. Developmental Dynamics 241:294–302, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.