Molecular regulation of kidney development

Abstract

Genetically engineered mice have provided much information about gene function in the field of developmental biology. Recently, conditional gene targeting using the Cre/loxP system has been developed to control the cell type and timing of the target gene expression. The increase in number of kidney-specific Cre mice allows for the analysis of phenotypes that cannot be addressed by conventional gene targeting. The mammalian kidney is a vital organ that plays a critical homeostatic role in the regulation of body fluid composition and excretion of waste products. The interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells are very critical events in the field of developmental biology, especially renal development. Kidney development is a complex process, requiring inductive interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells that eventually lead to the growth and differentiation of multiple highly specialized stromal, vascular, and epithelial cell types. Through the use of genetically engineered mouse models, the molecular bases for many of the events in the developing kidney have been identified. Defective morphogenesis may result in clinical phenotypes that range from complete renal agenesis to diseases such as hypertension that exist in the setting of grossly normal kidneys. In this review, we focus on the growth and transcription factors that define kidney progenitor cell populations, initiate ureteric bud branching, induce nephron formation within the metanephric mesenchyme, and differentiate stromal and vascular progenitors in the metanephric mesenchyme.

First series of 18 pregnancies after ulipristal acetate treatment for uterine fibroids

“…Renal agenesis and ectopic kidneys are considered as congenital malformations, isolated or associated with other malformations or chromosomal or nonchromosomal syndromes (20). Hormone intake by the mother has not been described to have an influence on renal morphogenesis, which seems to be a self-regulating process involving complex molecular mechanisms and gene regulation during fetal life (21,22). In addition, a review of pregnancies after exposure to mifepristone (given to induce abortion) or UPA (given for emergency contraception), respectively, shows no additional risk of congenital anomalies (23,24).…”

Kidney Regeneration: Lessons from Development

“…Using the deposited gene profile datasets from these TRAP studies (from the NCBI GEO database 65 ), we searched for expression of intrinsic and paracrine factors involved in kidney development. The list of developmental genes that we used to interrogate the TRAP datasets is based on information contained in a series of recent, comprehensive reviews 27, 28, 31, 66–74 . We only included those genes and pathways that have been shown either genetically or pharmacologically to play a functional role in regulating renal development.…”

Separating and connecting properties of the interface within the renal stem/progenitor cell niche

“…During the process of nephron induction epithelial cells within the tip of a CD ampulla and surrounding mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells are exactly posted opposite to each other. At this special site morphogenetic molecules such as glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor ligands (EGF, HBEGF, TGFα), WNT family members, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), TGFβ, fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) are reciprocally transmitted to form the nephron anlage [30][31][32][33]. It is generally believed that the exchange of these morphogenetic signals occurs via diffusion.…”