Disrupted dorsal neural tube BMP signaling in the cilia mutant Arl13bhnn stems from abnormal Shh signaling

In the embryonic neural tube, multiple signaling pathways work in concert to create functional neuronal circuits in the adult spinal cord. In the ventral neural tube, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) acts as a graded morphogen to specify neurons necessary for movement. In the dorsal neural tube, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt signals cooperate to specify neurons involved in sensation. Several signaling pathways, including Shh, rely on primary cilia in vertebrates. In this study, we used a mouse mutant with abnormal cilia, Arl13bhnn, to study the relationship between cilia, cell signaling, and neural tube patterning. Arl13bhnn mutants have abnormal ventral neural tube patterning due to disrupted Shh signaling; in addition, dorsal patterning defects occur, but the cause of these is unknown. Here we show that the Arl13bhnn dorsal patterning defects result from abnormal BMP signaling. In addition, we find that Wnt ligands are abnormally expressed in Arl13bhnn mutants; surprisingly, however, downstream Wnt signaling is normal. We demonstrate that Arl13b is required non-autonomously for BMP signaling and Wnt ligand expression, indicating that the abnormal Shh signaling environment in Arl13bhnn embryos indirectly causes dorsal defects.

Research highlights
► Arl13bhnn dorsal patterning defects result from abnormal BMP signaling
► Wnt ligand expression is abnormal, but Wnt signaling is normal in Arl13bhnn mutants
► Arl13b is required non-autonomously for BMP signaling and Wnt ligand expression
► Gli activator/Gli repressor ratio shifts may underlie Arl13bhnn dorsal patterning defects