TY  - JOUR
A1  - ,  
T1  - Caspase-2 immunohistochemistry in differentiating cells during mouse cephalic development
JO  - Eur. J. Anat.
SN  - 1136-4890
Y1  - 2015
VL  - 19
SP  - 189
EP  - 195
UR  - http://www.eurjanat.com/web/paper.php?id=140239sl
KW  - Caspase-2
KW  - Embryo
KW  - Development
KW  - Head
KW  - Cell differentiation
N2  - Caspases are proteases primarily involved in the process of apoptosis; however, caspases can exert non-apoptotic functions. The purpose of this work was to use immunohistochemistry to analyse the expression sites of caspase-2 during normal mouse cephalic development and in embryos exposed to irradiation. Control embryos from embryonic day 9 (E9) to E17 were analysed, and E9 and 10 irradiated embryos were removed and observed after administration of 2 Gy irradiation at embryonic day 9. Surprisingly, not only apoptotic cells expressed caspase-2. In addition, numerous cell populations in normal and experimental embryos displayed transient but intense caspase-2 immunoreactivity, with nuclear and cytoplasmic localisation. This immunoreactivity was not observed with caspase-3 and -9 antibodies.Cranial neural crest cells, premuscular blastemata, cartilage, teeth, the heart, the eye and some other structures displayed caspase-2 expression, with progressive changes during embryonic development. These changing patterns evoke progressive waves of cell differentiation in specific cell populations. Little is known regarding the non-apoptotic functions of caspase-2. Despite the difficulty in understanding the role of this protease during cell differentiation, the fact that caspase-2 is known to prevent DNA damage and to protect the cell cycle could be closely associated with our observations, which point to the need for further research, particularly in caspase-2 knockout mice.
ER  -