Epigenetic regulation of kidney progenitor cells

Abstract

The reciprocal interactions among the different embryonic kidney progenitor populations lay the basis for proper kidney organogenesis. During kidney development, three types of progenitor cells, including nephron progenitor cells, ureteric bud progenitor cells, and interstitial progenitor cells, generate the three major kidney structures-the nephrons, the collecting duct network, and the stroma, respectively. Epigenetic mechanisms are well recognized for playing important roles in organism development, in fine-tuned control of physiological activities, and in responses to environment stimuli. Recently, evidence supporting the importance of epigenetic mechanisms underlying kidney organogenesis has emerged. In this perspective, we summarize the research progress and discuss the potential contribution of novel stem cell, organoid, and next-generation sequencing tools in advancing this field in the future.

Effects of Environmental Conditions on Nephron Number: Modeling Maternal Disease and Epigenetic Regulation in Renal Development

“…The results of this work as well as previous works suggest that epigenetic mechanisms play a role in kidney development [ 30 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Therefore, we wanted to systematically evaluate the effect of epigenetic modulators of the different enzyme classes on renal development.…”

Current Epigenetic Insights in Kidney Development

“…The genes are divided into spatial groups, from the mesonephric and early metanephric development period (Osr1, Lhx1 and Pax2/8), the metanephric development period (Wt1, Foxd1, Hox11, Eya1, Six1/2, Sall1, Wnt9b and Gdnf ) and the nephron patterning and formation period (Wnt4, Fgf8, Bmp7, Notch2, Tcf21/Pod, VEGF and Jag1). A recent review of the current progress on epigenetics research in kidney development provides additional insights on the presented information [90].…”

Programmed Adult Kidney Disease: Importance of Fetal Environment

“…This suggests that differentiation programs are silenced in these cells, however, can be activated in response to external factors that can be determined by maternal nutritional features during fetal life. Dnmt1 and H3K27me3 are critical in nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) self-renewal and differentiation (Huang et al, 2020). NPC express H3K4me3/K9me3/K27me3 but nascent nephrons retain H3K4me3 marks and downregulate H3K9me3/ K27me3 (Hilliard and El-Dahr, 2016).…”