Cdc42-dependent structural development of auditory supporting cells is required for wound healing at adulthood

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Tommi Anttonen
  • Anna Kirjavainen
  • Ilya Belevich
  • Maarja Laos
  • William D Richardson
  • Eija Jokitalo
  • Brakebusch, Cord Herbert
  • Ulla Pirvola
Cdc42 regulates the initial establishment of cytoskeletal and junctional structures, but only little is known about its role at later stages of cellular differentiation. We studied Cdc42's role in vivo in auditory supporting cells, epithelial cells with high structural complexity. Cdc42 inactivation was induced early postnatally using the Cdc42(loxP/loxP);Fgfr3-iCre-ER(T2) mice. Cdc42 depletion impaired elongation of adherens junctions and F-actin belts, leading to constriction of the sensory epithelial surface. Fragmented F-actin belts, junctions containing ectopic lumens and misexpression of a basolateral membrane protein in the apical domain were observed. These defects and changes in aPKCλ/ι expression suggested that apical polarization is impaired. Following a lesion at adulthood, supporting cells with Cdc42 loss-induced maturational defects collapsed and failed to remodel F-actin belts, a process that is critical to scar formation. Thus, Cdc42 is required for structural differentiation of auditory supporting cells and this proper maturation is necessary for wound healing in adults.
Original languageEnglish
JournalScientific Reports
Volume2
Pages (from-to)978
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

    Research areas

  • Aging, Animals, Cells, Cultured, Hair Cells, Auditory, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Organ of Corti, Wound Healing, cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein

ID: 108162644