First Author | Frieser M | Year | 1997 |
Journal | Eur J Biochem | Volume | 246 |
Issue | 3 | Pages | 727-35 |
PubMed ID | 9219532 | Mgi Jnum | J:41572 |
Mgi Id | MGI:894059 | Doi | 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1997.t01-1-00727.x |
Citation | Frieser M, et al. (1997) Cloning of the mouse laminin alpha 4 cDNA. Expression in a subset of endothelium. Eur J Biochem 246(3):727-35 |
abstractText | Endothelial cells express a 400-kDa or 240-kDa laminin alpha chain, depending on their tissue of origin or physiological state [1, 2]. Using differential display and subsequent screening of a mouse endothelial cell cDNA library we here identify the gene coding for the 240-kDa laminin chain as the laminin alpha 4 gene. The complete mouse laminin alpha 4 cDNA sequence is reported and compared with other laminin alpha chains. In situ hybridization of embryonic and new born mouse tissues revealed expression of laminin alpha 4 mRNA in a subset of endothelium, in particular aortic endothelium, endocardium and endothelium of blood vessels in the skin and in the brain. Strong laminin alpha 4 expression by aortic endothelia was confirmed by data obtained from cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). Isolation of laminin from BAEC conditioned medium revealed a Y-shaped molecule in rotary shadowing. Subsequent sequencing of BAEC laminin resulted in laminin alpha 4, beta 1 and gamma 1 amino acid sequences, confirming that laminin alpha 4 is one of the major laminin alpha chains expressed by aortic endothelium not only in the mouse. In addition, strong laminin alpha 4 mRNA expression occurred in peripheral nerves, cardiac muscle, fat, the dermis of the skin and lung stroma of mouse tissues. The data demonstrate a cytokine and progesterone-regulated differential expression of laminin alpha 4 mRNA in mouse endothelium, suggesting a distinct functional role for this laminin chain in endothelium. |