Complementary patterns of expression of c-ets 1, c-myb and c-myc in the blood-forming system of the chick embryo.

We have used in situ hybridization to study the spatial and temporal distribution of the transcription of three cellular oncogenes encoding DNA-binding proteins, c-ets 1, c-myb and c-myc during the development of the chick embryo. c-ets 1 mRNA expression appears linked to the mesodermal lineage and is strongly expressed in early endothelia; it subsequently becomes restricted to small vessel endothelia. Hemopoietic cells in extraembryonic blood islands at E2 express c-ets 1, while intraembryonic hemopoietic cells in aortic clusters (E3) and paraaortic foci (E6) express c-myb. c-myc transcripts are detected in cells undergoing hemopoiesis in both these extraembryonic and intraembryonic sites. Outside the blood-forming system, c-myc is transcribed in a large variety of cells; c-ets 1 displays tissue-specific expression in groups of mesodermal cells engaged in morphogenetic processes and appears excluded from all epithelia; finally the expression of c-myb is the most tightly linked to hemopoietic cells. In any case, it is clear that these three oncogenes display complementary expression in endothelial and hemopoietic cells where their patterns are modulated in relationship to multiplication and differentiation.