BSG.S regulates ionocyte radial intercalation and function in the developing Xenopus mucociliary epithelium.
- 1National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Abstract
Mucociliary epithelia (MCE) line multiple vertebrate organs, including the mammalian airways, and rely on coordinated interactions among specialized cell types to clear pathogens and maintain epithelial homeostasis. Proper MCE function requires the appropriate specification and spatial organization of ionocytes, multiciliated cells, secretory cells, and basal cells. Ionocytes regulate ion transport and pH homeostasis, yet the mechanisms governing their integration and function within the developing epithelium remain incompletely understood. Basigin (BSG), also known as CD147 or EMMPRIN, is a conserved transmembrane glycoprotein implicated in cell migration, adhesion, and signaling. However, its role in mucociliary epithelial development remains unclear. Here, we show that the short isoform of BSG (BSG.S) is expressed in ionocytes of the Xenopus laevis MCE. Our findings demonstrate that BSG.S depletion impairs ionocyte radial intercalation, alters intracellular pH, and disrupts epithelial organization. Furthermore, BSG.S loss alters epithelial cell-type composition, decreasing the number of basal cells and increasing the number of multiciliated cells. These findings suggest BSG.S as a regulator of ionocyte integration, epithelial organization, and cell-type composition during mucociliary epithelial development.
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BibTeX
@misc{garcia2026bsgs,
title = {{BSG.S regulates ionocyte radial intercalation and function in the developing Xenopus mucociliary epithelium.}},
author = {C. A. Garcia and H.-K. Lee and F. Brusco and Y.-S. Hwang and F. Pereira Lobo and I. O. Daar and J. Yoon},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.30.763153},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.30.763153v1},
note = {CC0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - BSG.S regulates ionocyte radial intercalation and function in the developing Xenopus mucociliary epithelium.
AU - C. A. Garcia
AU - H.-K. Lee
AU - F. Brusco
AU - Y.-S. Hwang
AU - F. Pereira Lobo
AU - I. O. Daar
AU - J. Yoon
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.30.763153
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.30.763153v1
AB - Mucociliary epithelia (MCE) line multiple vertebrate organs, including the mammalian airways, and rely on coordinated interactions among specialized cell types to clear pathogens and maintain epithelial homeostasis. Proper MCE function requires the appropriate specification and spatial organization of ionocytes, multiciliated cells, secretory cells, and basal cells. Ionocytes regulate ion transport and pH homeostasis, yet the mechanisms governing their integration and function within the developing epithelium remain incompletely understood. Basigin (BSG), also known as CD147 or EMMPRIN, is a conserved transmembrane glycoprotein implicated in cell migration, adhesion, and signaling. However, its role in mucociliary epithelial development remains unclear. Here, we show that the short isoform of BSG (BSG.S) is expressed in ionocytes of the Xenopus laevis MCE. Our findings demonstrate that BSG.S depletion impairs ionocyte radial intercalation, alters intracellular pH, and disrupts epithelial organization. Furthermore, BSG.S loss alters epithelial cell-type composition, decreasing the number of basal cells and increasing the number of multiciliated cells. These findings suggest BSG.S as a regulator of ionocyte integration, epithelial organization, and cell-type composition during mucociliary epithelial development.
ER -