Gene Targeting Reveals a Widespread Role for the High-Mobility-Group Transcription Factor Sox11 in Tissue Remodeling

TLDR

Sox11 is a high‑mobility‑group transcription factor transiently expressed during embryonic development in tissues that undergo inductive remodeling. The authors investigated Sox11 function by generating Sox11‑knockout mice. Loss of Sox11 causes neonatal death from cyanosis due to heart defects, widespread developmental abnormalities in multiple organs, and indicates Sox11’s essential role in tissue remodeling and its potential involvement in human malformation syndromes.

Abstract

The high-mobility-group domain-containing transcription factor Sox11 is expressed transiently during embryonic development in many tissues that undergo inductive remodeling. Here we have analyzed the function of Sox11 by gene deletion in the mouse. Sox11-deficient mice died at birth from congenital cyanosis, likely resulting from heart defects. These included ventricular septation defects and outflow tract malformations that ranged from arterial common trunk to a condition known as double outlet right ventricle. Many other organs that normally express Sox11 also exhibited severe developmental defects. We observed various craniofacial and skeletal malformations, asplenia, and hypoplasia of the lung, stomach, and pancreas. Eyelids and the abdominal wall did not close properly in some Sox11-deficient mice. This phenotype suggests a prime function for Sox11 in tissue remodeling and identifies SOX11 as a potentially mutated gene in corresponding human malformation syndromes.