Skip to main content
Log in

Epithelial lineages of the small intestine have unique patterns of GATA expression

  • Published:
Journal of Molecular Histology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The ability of the GATA family of factors to interact with numerous other factors, co-factors, and repressors suggests that they may play key roles in tissues and cells where they are expressed. Adult mouse small intestine has been shown to express GATA-4, GATA-5, and GATA-6, where they have been implicated in the activation of a number of intestinal genes. Determination of which GATA factor(s) are involved in a specific function in tissues expressing multiple family members has proven difficult. The immunohistochemical analysis presented here demonstrate that within the mouse small intestine GATA-4/-5/-6 are found to be uniquely distributed among the various differentiated lineages of the intestinal epithelium. Among differentiated cells GATA-4 is found only in the villous enterocytes. GATA-5 is absent from enterocytes, but was found in the remaining lineages: goblet, Paneth and enteroendocrine. Additionally, high levels of GATA-6 are found in only one of these differentiated cell types, the enteroendocrine lineage. The observed distribution suggests that the GATA factors may have distinct roles in lineage allocation, lineage maintenance, and/or terminal differentiation events in small intestine.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • MK Anderson G Hernandez-Hoyos CG Dionne AM Arias D Chen EV Rothenberg (2002) ArticleTitleDefinition of regulatory network elements for T cell development by perturbation analysis with PU.1 and GATA-3 Dev Biol 246 103–121 Occurrence Handle12027437 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XjvVersLc%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RJ Arceci AA King MC Simon SH Orkin DB Wilson (1993) ArticleTitleMouse GATA-4: A retinoic acid-inducible GATA-binding transcription factor expressed in endodermally derived tissues and heart Mol Cell Biol 13 2235–2246 Occurrence Handle8455608 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXkt1Wmurc%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PG Bertram JH Choi J Carvalho W Ai C Zeng TF Chan XF Zheng (2000) ArticleTitleTripartite regulation of Gln3p by TOR, Ure2p, and phosphatases J Biol Chem 275 35727–35733 Occurrence Handle10940301 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXosVSksbg%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • F Boudreau EH Rings HM Wering Particlevan RK Kim GP Swain SD Moffett RJ Grand ER Suh PG Traber (2002) ArticleTitleHepatocyte nuclear factor-1 alpha, GATA-4, and caudal related homeodomain protein Cdx2 interact functionally to modulate intestinal gene transcription Implication for the developmental regulation of the sucrase-isomaltase gene. J Biol Chem 277 31909–31917 Occurrence Handle12060663 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XmslOqurw%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L Bry P Falk K Huttner A Ouellette T Midtvedt JI Gordon (1994) ArticleTitlePaneth cell differentiation in the developing intestine of normal and transgenic mice Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91 10335–10339 Occurrence Handle7937951 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXmslOgtrY%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Calvert P Pothier (1990) ArticleTitleMigration of fetal intestinal intervillous cells in neonatal mice Anat Rec 227 199–206 Occurrence Handle2350008 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By%2BB2svhsVU%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CD Capo-chichi IH Roland L Vanderveer R Bao T Yamagata H Hirai C Cohen TC Hamilton AK Godwin XX Xu (2003) ArticleTitleAnomalous expression of epithelial differentiation-determining GATA factors in ovarian tumorigenesis Cancer Res 63 4967–4977 Occurrence Handle12941822 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXms12nsLw%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G Caramori PJ Bertram SR Wente XF Zheng (2001) ArticleTitlePhosphorylation regulates the interaction between Gln3p and the nuclear import factor Srp1p J Biol Chem 276 25359–25365

    Google Scholar 

  • J Carvalho PJ Bertram SR Wente XF Zheng (2001) ArticleTitlePhosphorylation regulates the interaction between Gln3p and the nuclear import factor Srp1p J Biol Chem 276 25359–25365 Occurrence Handle11331291 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlt1ansL8%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H Cheng (1974) ArticleTitleOrigin, differentiation and renewal of the four main epithelial cell types in the mouse small intestine II. Mucous cells. Am J Anat 141 481–501 Occurrence Handle4440633 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSqD2s%2FosVY%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JP Clatworthy V Subramanian (2001) ArticleTitleStem cells and the regulation of proliferation, differentiation and patterning in the intestinal epithelium: Emerging insights from gene expression patterns, transgenic and gene ablation studies Mech Dev 101 3–9 Occurrence Handle11231054 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXhsFSht7o%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • TG Cooper (2002) ArticleTitleTransmitting the signal of excess nitrogen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the Tor proteins to the GATA factors: Connecting the dots FEMS Microbiol Rev 26 223–238 Occurrence Handle12165425 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XmtVamsr8%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JL Couto S Ferreira Had DB Roche Particleda ME Duarte ML Assuncao M Coutinho Ede (2002) ArticleTitleStructural changes in the jejunal mucosa of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni, fed low or high protein diets Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 35 601–607 Occurrence Handle12612742

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Santa Barbara Particlede GR Brink Particlevan den DJ Roberts (2003) ArticleTitleDevelopment and differentiation of the intestinal epithelium Cell Mol Life Sci 60 1322–1332 Occurrence Handle12943221

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Dimaline BJ Campbell F Watson AK Sandvik J Strutheres PJ Noble (1997) ArticleTitleRegulated expression of GATA-6 transcription factor in gastric endocrine cells Gastroenterology 112 1559–1567 Occurrence Handle9136834 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjt1GksLg%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Divine JK, McCaul SP, Simon TC (2003) HNF-1alpha and endodermal transcription factors cooperatively activate Fabpl: MODY3 mutations abrogate cooperativity Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 285: G62–G72.

    Google Scholar 

  • JK Divine LJ Staloch H Haveri CM Jacobsen DB Wilson M Heikinheimo TC Simon (2004) ArticleTitleGATA-4,GATA-5 and GATA-6 activate the rat liver fatty acid binding protein gene in concert with HNF-1{alpha}. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 287 G1086–G1099 Occurrence Handle14715527 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXhtVaqsL%2FJ

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MR Dusing EA Florence DA Wiginton (2003) ArticleTitleHigh-level activation by a duodenum-specific enhancer requires functional GATA binding sites Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 284 G1053–G1065 Occurrence Handle12571085 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXltVegurs%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • AM Dvorak GR Dickersin (1980) ArticleTitleCrohn’s disease: Transmission electron microscopic studiesI. Barrier function. Possible changes related to alterations of cell coat, mucous coat, epithelial cells, and Paneth cells. Hum Pathol 11 561–571 Occurrence Handle7429506 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi6D2crmsVE%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J Ehrmann SuffixJr I Gregar J Malinsky (1990) ArticleTitlePaneth cells and adult coeliac disease Acta Univ Palacki Olomuc Fac Med 125 147–153 Occurrence Handle2150270

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ME Elmes (1976) ArticleTitleThe Paneth cell population of the small intestine of the rat-effects of fasting and zinc deficiency on total count and on dithizone-reactive count J Pathol 118 183–191 Occurrence Handle57232 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSmC2s7ivVw%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K Fitzgerald L Bazar MI Avigan (1998) ArticleTitleGATA-6 stimulates a cell line-specific activation element in the human lactase promoter Am J Physiol 274 G314–G324 Occurrence Handle9486185 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXis1yqtrw%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C Gillio-Meina YY Hui LaVoie (2003) ArticleTitleGATA-4 and GATA-6 transcription factors: Expression, immunohistochemical localization, and possible function in the porcine ovary Biol Reprod 68 412–422 Occurrence Handle12533404 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXntVCjtg%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JI Gordon (1989) ArticleTitleIntestinal epithelial differentiation: New insights from chimeric and transgenic mice Journal of Cell Biology 108 1187–1194 Occurrence Handle2647764 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaC2svpsFE%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JA Grass ME Boyer S Pal J Wu MJ Weiss EH Bresnick (2003) ArticleTitleGATA-1-dependent transcriptional repression of GATA-2 via disruption of positive autoregulation and domain-wide chromatin remodeling Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100 8811–8816 Occurrence Handle12857954 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXlvVyit7k%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Hirasawa R Shimizu S Takahashi M Osawa S Takayanagi Y Kato M Onodera N Minegishi M Yamamoto K Fukao H Taniguchi H Nakauchi A Iwama (2002) ArticleTitleEssential and instructive roles of GATA factors in eosinophil development J Exp Med 195 1379–1386 Occurrence Handle12045236 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XktlGhs7c%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Jenny C Uhl C Roche I Duluc V Guillermin F Guillemot J Jensen M Kedinger G Gradwohl (2002) ArticleTitleNeurogenin3 is differentially required for endocrine cell fate specification in the intestinal and gastric epithelium Embo J 21 6338–6347 Occurrence Handle12456641 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XpsFChtbs%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J Jensen EE Pedersen P Galante J Hald RS Heller M Ishibashi R Kageyama F Guillemot P Serup OD Madsen (2000) ArticleTitleControl of endodermal endocrine development by Hes-1 Nat Genet 24 36–44 Occurrence Handle10615124 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXks1emsA%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Kamal D Wakelin A Ouellette A Smith DK Podolsky YR Mahida (2001) ArticleTitleMucosal T cells regulate Paneth and intermediate cell numbers in the small intestine of T spiralis-infected mice. Clin Exp Immunol 126 117–125 Occurrence Handle11678907 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mrntlahtw%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PR Kiela J LeSueur JF Collins FK Ghishan (2003) ArticleTitleTranscriptional regulation of the rat NHE3 gene Functional interactions between GATA-5 and Sp family transcription factors. J Biol Chem 278 5659–5668 Occurrence Handle12464626 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXht1aqsL0%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • V Korinek N Barker P Moerer E Donselaar Particlevan G Huls PJ Peters (1998) ArticleTitleDepletion of epithelial stem-cell compartments in the small intestine of mice lacking Tcf-4 Nat Genet 19 379–383 Occurrence Handle9697701 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXlt1Cisrg%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Koutsourakis A Langeveld R Patient R Beddington F Grosveld (1999) ArticleTitleThe transcription factor GATA6 is essential for early extraembryonic development Development 126 723–732 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXhvFamsLc%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H Kulessa J Frampton T Graf (1995) ArticleTitleGATA-1 reprograms avian myelomonocytic cell lines into eosinophils, thromboblasts and erythroblasts Genes Dev 9 1250–1262 Occurrence Handle7758949 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXlvFShsLg%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K Kumano S Chiba K Shimizu T Yamagata N Hosoya T Saito T Takahashi Y Hamada H Hirai (2001) ArticleTitleNotch1 inhibits differentiation of hematopoietic cells by sustaining GATA-2 expression Blood 98 3283–3289 Occurrence Handle11719365 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXovVSgs7Y%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Q Liang RJ Wiese OF Bueno YS Dai BE Markham JD Molkentin (2001) ArticleTitleThe transcription factor GATA4 is activated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1- and 2-mediated phosphorylation of serine 105 in cardiomyocytes Mol Cell Biol 21 7460–7469 Occurrence Handle11585926 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXns1Wjtb8%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JL Madara JS Trier (1987) Functional morphology of the mucosa of the small intestine LR Johnson (Eds) Physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract Raven Press New York 1209–1249

    Google Scholar 

  • MA McDevitt RA Shivdasani Y Fujiwara H Yang SH Orkin (1997) ArticleTitleA “knockdown” mutation created by cis-element gene targeting reveals the dependence of erythroid cell maturation on the level of transcription factor GATA-1 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94 6781–6785 Occurrence Handle9192642 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXktF2rtbY%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H Moe (1955) ArticleTitleOn goblet cells, especially of the intestine of some mammalian species Int. Rev Cytol 4 299–334 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0074-7696(08)60462-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • JD Molkentin (2000) ArticleTitleThe zinc finger-containing transcription factors GATA-4, -5, and -6 Ubiquitously expressed regulators of tissue-specific gene expression. J Biol Chem 275 38949–38952 Occurrence Handle11042222 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXptFSktbg%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JD Molkentin Q Lin SA Duncan EN Olson (1997) ArticleTitleRequirement of the transcription factor GATA4 for heart tube formation and ventral morphogenesis Genes Dev 11 1061–1072 Occurrence Handle9136933 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXivFWlsbk%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JD Molkentin KM Tymitz JA Richardson EN Olson (2000) ArticleTitleAbnormalities of the genitourinary tract in female mice lacking GATA5 Mol Cell Biol 20 5256–5260 Occurrence Handle10866681 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXks1OjsLo%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • F Moog (1981) Perinatal development of the enzymes of the brush border membrane Textbook of Gastroenterology and Nutrition in Infancy Raven Press New York 39–147

    Google Scholar 

  • T Morimoto K Hasegawa S Kaburagi T Kakita H Wada T Yanazume S Sasayama (2000) ArticleTitlePhosphorylation of GATA-4 is involved in alpha 1-adrenergic agonist-responsive transcription of the endothelin-1 gene in cardiac myocytes J Biol Chem 275 13721–13726 Occurrence Handle10788492 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjtFykur0%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C Morisco K Seta SE Hardt Y Lee SF Vatner J Sadoshima (2001) ArticleTitleGlycogen synthase kinase 3beta regulates GATA4 in cardiac myocytes J Biol Chem 276 28586–28597 Occurrence Handle11382772 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXls1Srur4%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EE Morrisey HS Ip MM Lu MS Parmacek (1996) ArticleTitleGATA-6: A zinc finger transcription factor that is expressed in multiple cell lineages derived from lateral mesoderm Dev Biol 177 309–322 Occurrence Handle8660897 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XksVGjsbc%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EE Morrisey HS Ip Z Tang MM Lu MS Parmacek (1997) ArticleTitleGATA-5: A transcriptional activator expressed in a novel temporally and spatially-restricted pattern during embryonic development Dev Biol 183 21–36 Occurrence Handle9119112 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXhvVyqt70%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G Nemer M Nemer (2003) ArticleTitleTranscriptional activation of BMP-4 and regulation of mammalian organogenesis by GATA-4 and -6 Dev Biol 254 131–148 Occurrence Handle12606287 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhsVCgsbg%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SH Orkin (1995) ArticleTitleHematopoiesis: how does it happen Curr Opin Cell Biol 7 870–877 Occurrence Handle8608018 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXpslymtrc%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • GA Partington RK Patient (1999) ArticleTitlePhosphorylation of GATA-1 increases its DNA-binding affinity and is correlated with induction of human K562 erythroleukaemia cells Nucleic Acids Res 27 1168–1175 Occurrence Handle9927752 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXhvVyitL8%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DA Pinto A Gregorieff H Begthel H Clevers (2003) ArticleTitleCanonical Wnt signals are essential for homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium Genes Dev 17 1709–1713 Occurrence Handle12865297 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXlslWqur8%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EM Porter CL Bevins D Ghosh T Ganz (2002) ArticleTitleThe multifaceted Paneth cell Cell Mol Life Sci 59 156–170 Occurrence Handle11846026 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XhtVSnsbk%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CS Potten C Booth DM Pritchard (1997) ArticleTitleThe intestinal epithelial stem cell: The mucosal governor Int J Exp Pathol 78 219–243 Occurrence Handle9505935 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c7ms1ygtg%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Ramalho-Santos DA Melton AP McMahon (2000) ArticleTitleHedgehog signals regulate multiple aspects of gastrointestinal development Development 127 2763–2772 Occurrence Handle10821773 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXkslOrs70%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C Ratineau I Duluc C Pourreyron M Kediger JN Freund C Roche (2003) ArticleTitleEndoderm- and mesenchyme-dependent commitment of the differentiated epithelial cell types in the developing intestine of rat Differentiation 71 163–169 Occurrence Handle12641570

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • N Schroder A Gossler (2002) ArticleTitleExpression of Notch pathway components in fetal and adult mouse small intestine Gene Expr Patterns 2 247–250 Occurrence Handle12617809 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXpvFSrsw%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S Siltanen P Heikkila M Bielinska DB Wilson M Heikinheimo (2003) ArticleTitleTranscription factor GATA-6 is expressed in malignant endoderm of pediatric yolk sac tumors and in teratomas Pediatr Res 54 542–546 Occurrence Handle12867597 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXntlejsrk%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FJ Staal F Weerkamp AW Langerak RW Hendriks HC Clevers (2001) ArticleTitleTranscriptional control of t lymphocyte differentiation Stem Cells 19 165–179 Occurrence Handle11359942 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXkslGqtr4%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JJ Tremblay RS Viger (2003) ArticleTitleTranscription factor GATA-4 is activated by phosphorylation of serine 261 via the cAMP/protein kinase a signaling pathway in gonadal cells J Biol Chem 278 22128–22135 Occurrence Handle12670947 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXksVemur4%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • N Wasserberg SK Salgar D Yang P Ruiz SB Ho Faria WL De SF Santiago CE Gandia J Miller Y Niv AG Tzakis (2003) ArticleTitleExpression of MUC2 and MUC4 proteins and cytokines: Early markers of intestinal graft rejection Transplantation 75 1249–1255 Occurrence Handle12717211 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXjt1alsbY%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • GT Wong D Manfra FM Poulet Q Zhang H Josien T Bara L Engstom MC Pinzon-Ortiz JS Fine HJ Lee L Zhang GA Higgins EM Parker (2004) ArticleTitleChronic treatment with the gamma -secretase inhibitor LY-411,575 inhibits Abeta production and alters lymphopoiesis and intestinal cell differentiation J Biol Chem 279 12876–12882 Occurrence Handle14709552 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXitl2gtb0%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Q Yang NA Bermingham MJ Finegold HY Zoghbi (2001) ArticleTitleRequirement of Math1 for secretory cell lineage commitment in the mouse intestine Science 294 2155–2158 Occurrence Handle11739954 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXptVOmsLk%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dan A. Wiginton.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dusing, M.R., Wiginton, D.A. Epithelial lineages of the small intestine have unique patterns of GATA expression. J Mol Hist 36, 15–24 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-004-2908-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-004-2908-9

Keywords

Navigation