The expression and crucial roles of BMP signaling in development of smooth muscle progenitor cells in the mouse embryonic gut

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is essential for normal development of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. BMPs also play multiple roles in vascular smooth muscle cells; however, the BMP signaling in the development of the GI musculature remains to be clarified. We investigated the expression of BMPs and their receptors in mouse embryonic GI tracts by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. We demonstrated that BMP2, BMP receptor Ib and BMP receptor II were expressed in the smooth muscle progenitors from E12 to E13 for the first time. BMP signaling on smooth muscle differentiation was examined by implantation of agarose beads soaked with BMPs in the in vitro developmental model that is gut-like structures from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. BMP2 rather than BMP4 beads enhanced smooth muscle differentiation, and increased gut-like structures showing spontaneous contractions and expressing intensive α-smooth muscle actin immunoreactivity. This increase was confirmed by up-regulation of SM22 mRNA shown by real-time PCR. By addition of noggin beads or noggin to the medium at BMP2 bead implantation, the ratio of contractive gut-like structures decreased. Implantation of BMP2 beads at EB7 (EB—embryoid bodies) (corresponding to E12 or E13 of mouse embryo) showed the highest effects and up-regulation of transcription factors msx-1 after 24 h. This increase was blocked by noggin, and msx-1 decreased to almost the control level after 60 h. BMP2 beads at EB7 increased platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A) in the differentiating smooth muscle cells. We have recently reported that PDGF-A is expressed in the developing inner circular smooth muscle and is crucial for the longitudinal smooth muscle differentiation. Taken together, BMP signaling was expressed for a short window in the smooth muscle progenitors and the signal, especially BMP2, plays an essential role in smooth muscle differentiation in cooperation with PDGF signaling.