The mouse Pdgfc gene: Dynamic expression in embryonic tissues during organogenesis

The signaling activity of Platelet-derived growth factors A and B (PDGF-A and PDGF-B) that is mediated through the two receptor kinases, PDGFR-α and PDGFR-β has been shown to be critical for the development of the cardiovascular organs, the kidney, the lung and the central nervous system. During the cloning of genes for VEGF related proteins, we isolated a mouse cDNA that can encode for a protein of 345 amino acids. A comparison of the amino acid sequence reveals that this predicted gene product displays 95% identity to human PDGF-C. The mouse Pdgfc gene maps to a region of chromosome 17 that is syntenic to human chromosome 6p21.3 In E9.5-E15.5 mouse embryo, Pdgfc is widely expressed in the surface ectoderm and later in the germinal layer of the skin, the olfactory and otic placode and their derivatives and the lining of the oral cavity. In the gut and visceral organs, such as the lung and the kidney, Pdgfc mRNA is first expressed in the endodermal epithelium and later in mesenchymal tissues associated with the endodermal structures. Similar to other PDGFs, Pdgfc is widely expressed in mesenchymal precursors and the myoblast of the smooth and skeletal muscles. Contrary to PDGF-A, Pdgfc is not expressed in the central nervous system, except in the cerebellum, and neurogenic derivatives of the neural crest cells. Pdgfc is also absent from the heart and the vascular endothelium