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Miyaki T, Kawasaki Y, Matsumoto A, Kakuta S, Sakai T, Ichimura K. Nephrocytes are part of the spectrum of filtration epithelial diversity. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 382:609-625. [PMID: 33191456 PMCID: PMC7683493 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03313-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The excretory system produces urine by ultrafiltration via a filtration epithelium. Podocytes are widely found as filtration epithelial cells in eucoelomates. In some animal taxa, including insects and crustaceans, nephrocytes serve to separate toxic substances from the body fluid, in addition to podocytes. Drosophila nephrocytes have been recently utilized as a model system to study podocyte function and disease. However, functionality and cellular architecture are strikingly different between Drosophila nephrocytes and eucoelomate podocytes, and the phylogenetic relationship between these cells remains enigmatic. In this study, using focused-ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) tomography, we revealed three-dimensional architecture of decapod nephrocytes with unprecedented accuracy—they filled an enormous gap, which can be called “missing link,” in the evolutionary diversity of podocytes and nephrocytes. Thus, we concluded that nephrocytes are part of the spectrum of filtration epithelial diversity in animal phylogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Miyaki
- Department of Anatomy and Life Structure, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuto Kawasaki
- Department of Anatomy and Life Structure, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Matsumoto
- Department of Biology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Inzai, Chiba, Japan
| | - Soichiro Kakuta
- Laboratory of Morphology and Image Analysis, Center for Biomedical Research Resources, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Sakai
- Department of Anatomy and Life Structure, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichiro Ichimura
- Department of Anatomy and Life Structure, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. .,Laboratory of Morphology and Image Analysis, Center for Biomedical Research Resources, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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Zhu X, Chen Z, Zeng C, Wang L, Xu F, Hou Q, Liu Z. Ultrastructural characterization of the pronephric glomerulus development in zebrafish. J Morphol 2016; 277:1104-12. [PMID: 27185367 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Zhu
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease; Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine; Nanjing China
| | - Zhaohong Chen
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease; Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine; Nanjing China
| | - Caihong Zeng
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease; Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine; Nanjing China
| | - Ling Wang
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease; Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine; Nanjing China
| | - Feng Xu
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease; Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine; Nanjing China
| | - Qing Hou
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease; Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine; Nanjing China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease; Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine; Nanjing China
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Chen YH, Chang CF, Lai YY, Sun CY, Ding YJ, Tsai JN. von Hippel-Lindau gene plays a role during zebrafish pronephros development. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2015. [PMID: 26194803 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-015-9938-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
von Hippel-Lindau (pVHL)-mediated ubiquitination of HIF-1α plays a central role in the cellular responses to changes in oxygen availability. In the present study, using zebrafish as a model, we showed that specific knockdown of endogenous vhl leads to pronephros malformation and renal failure. Knockdown of vhl resulted in abnormal kidney development, including curved and cystic pronephric tubule or/and cystic and atrophic glomerulus. Co-injecting capped vhl messenger RNA (mRNA) partially rescued pronephros morphant phenotype, confirming the specificity of the morpholino oligonucleotide (MO)-induced pronephric defects. In keeping with the pronephros phenotype, renal function was affected as well in vhl morphants. Dextran clearance abilities of vhl morphants were significantly reduced as compared with those of control embryos. Further analysis indicated that glomerular integrity is impaired in vhl morphants, while the organization of pronephric duct was minimally affected. Vhl morphants display global increased vegf signaling and angiogenesis. In addition, we found that vhl morphants displayed elevated expression of vegfa in podocytes and increased angiogenesis at pronephric glomerulus and the nearby vessels. Treatment of vegf inducer to embryos also caused pronephros phenotype resembling vhl morphants, further supporting that increased vegfa signaling contribute to the pronephros morphant phenotype. Our study establishes the zebrafish as an alternative vertebrate model system for studying Vhl function during kidney development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yau-Hung Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, No. 151, Ying-Chuan Road, Tamsui, New Taipei, Taiwan. .,Bachelor's Program in Advanced Material Sciences, Tamkang University, Tamsui, New Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Chiung-Fang Chang
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Yu Lai
- Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, No. 151, Ying-Chuan Road, Tamsui, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Yin Sun
- Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ju Ding
- Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, No. 151, Ying-Chuan Road, Tamsui, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Ning Tsai
- School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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Slavotinek A, Kaylor J, Pierce H, Cahr M, DeWard S, Schneidman-Duhovny D, Alsadah A, Salem F, Schmajuk G, Mehta L. CRB2 mutations produce a phenotype resembling congenital nephrosis, Finnish type, with cerebral ventriculomegaly and raised alpha-fetoprotein. Am J Hum Genet 2015; 96:162-9. [PMID: 25557780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We report five fetuses and a child from three families who shared a phenotype comprising cerebral ventriculomegaly and echogenic kidneys with histopathological findings of congenital nephrosis. The presenting features were greatly elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) or amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AFAFP) levels or abnormalities visualized on ultrasound scan during the second trimester of pregnancy. Exome sequencing revealed deleterious sequence variants in Crumbs, Drosophila, Homolog of, 2 (CRB2) consistent with autosomal-recessive inheritance. Two fetuses with cerebral ventriculomegaly and renal microcysts were compound heterozygotes for p.Asn800Lys and p.Trp759Ter, one fetus with renal microcysts was a compound heterozygote for p.Glu643Ala and p.Asn800Lys, and one child with cerebral ventriculomegaly, periventricular heterotopias, echogenic kidneys, and renal failure was homozygous for p.Arg633Trp in CRB2. Examination of the kidneys in one fetus showed tubular cysts at the corticomedullary junction and diffuse effacement of the epithelial foot processes and microvillous transformation of the renal podocytes, findings that were similar to those reported in congenital nephrotic syndrome, Finnish type, that is caused by mutations in nephrin (NPHS1). Loss of function for crb2b and nphs1 in Danio rerio were previously shown to result in loss of the slit diaphragms of the podocytes, leading to the hypothesis that nephrosis develops from an inability to develop a functional glomerular barrier. We conclude that the phenotype associated with CRB2 mutations is pleiotropic and that the condition is an important consideration in the evaluation of high MSAFP/AFAFP where a renal cause is suspected.
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Gerlach GF, Wingert RA. Zebrafish pronephros tubulogenesis and epithelial identity maintenance are reliant on the polarity proteins Prkc iota and zeta. Dev Biol 2014; 396:183-200. [PMID: 25446529 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish pronephros provides an excellent in vivo system to study the mechanisms of vertebrate nephron development. When and how renal progenitors in the zebrafish embryo undergo tubulogenesis to form nephrons is poorly understood, but is known to involve a mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) and the acquisition of polarity. Here, we determined the precise timing of these events in pronephros tubulogenesis. As the ternary polarity complex is an essential regulator of epithelial cell polarity across tissues, we performed gene knockdown studies to assess the roles of the related factors atypical protein kinase C iota and zeta (prkcι, prkcζ). We found that prkcι and prkcζ serve partially redundant functions to establish pronephros tubule epithelium polarity. Further, the loss of prkcι or the combined knockdown of prkcι/ζ disrupted proximal tubule morphogenesis and podocyte migration due to cardiac defects that prevented normal fluid flow to the kidney. Surprisingly, tubule cells in prkcι/ζ morphants displayed ectopic expression of the transcription factor pax2a and the podocyte-associated genes wt1a, wt1b, and podxl, suggesting that prkcι/ζ are needed to maintain renal epithelial identity. Knockdown of genes essential for cardiac contractility and vascular flow to the kidney, such as tnnt2a, or elimination of pronephros fluid output through knockdown of the intraflagellar transport gene ift88, was not associated with ectopic pronephros gene expression, thus suggesting a unique role for prkcι/ζ in maintaining tubule epithelial identity separate from the consequence of disruptions to renal fluid flow. Interestingly, knockdown of pax2a, but not wt1a, was sufficient to rescue ectopic tubule gene expression in prkcι/ζ morphants. These data suggest a model in which the redundant activities of prkcι and prkcζ are essential to establish tubule epithelial polarity and also serve to maintain proper epithelial cell type identity in the tubule by inhibiting pax2a expression. These studies provide a valuable foundation for further analysis of MET during nephrogenesis, and have implications for understanding the pathways that affect nephron epithelial cells during kidney disease and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary F Gerlach
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, 100 Galvin Life Sciences, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Rebecca A Wingert
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, 100 Galvin Life Sciences, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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Kroeger PT, Wingert RA. Using zebrafish to study podocyte genesis during kidney development and regeneration. Genesis 2014; 52:771-92. [PMID: 24920186 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Revised: 06/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
During development, vertebrates form a progression of up to three different kidneys that are comprised of functional units termed nephrons. Nephron composition is highly conserved across species, and an increasing appreciation of the similarities between zebrafish and mammalian nephron cell types has positioned the zebrafish as a relevant genetic system for nephrogenesis studies. A key component of the nephron blood filter is a specialized epithelial cell known as the podocyte. Podocyte research is of the utmost importance as a vast majority of renal diseases initiate with the dysfunction or loss of podocytes, resulting in a condition known as proteinuria that causes nephron degeneration and eventually leads to kidney failure. Understanding how podocytes develop during organogenesis may elucidate new ways to promote nephron health by stimulating podocyte replacement in kidney disease patients. In this review, we discuss how the zebrafish model can be used to study kidney development, and how zebrafish research has provided new insights into podocyte lineage specification and differentiation. Further, we discuss the recent discovery of podocyte regeneration in adult zebrafish, and explore how continued basic research using zebrafish can provide important knowledge about podocyte genesis in embryonic and adult environments. genesis 52:771-792, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul T Kroeger
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556
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Fukuyo Y, Nakamura T, Bubenshchikova E, Powell R, Tsuji T, Janknecht R, Obara T. Nephrin and Podocin functions are highly conserved between the zebrafish pronephros and mammalian metanephros. Mol Med Rep 2013; 9:457-65. [PMID: 24337247 PMCID: PMC3896505 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The slit diaphragm (SD) is a highly specialized intercellular junction between podocyte foot processes and is crucial in the formation of the filtration barrier in the renal glomeruli. Zebrafish Nephrin and Podocin are important in the formation of the podocyte SD and mutations in NEPHRIN and PODOCIN genes cause human nephrotic syndrome. In the present study, the zebrafish Podocin protein was observed to be predominantly localized in the pronephric glomerular podocytes, as previously reported for Nephrin. To understand the function of Podocin and Nephrin in zebrafish, splice-blocking morpholino antisense oligonucleotides were used. Knockdown of Podocin or Nephrin by this method induced pronephric glomerular hypoplasia with pericardial edema. Human NEPHRIN and PODOCIN mRNA rescued this glomerular phenotype, however, the efficacy of the rescues was greatly reduced when mRNA-encoding human disease-causing NEPHRIN-R1109X and PODOCIN-R138Q were used. Furthermore, an association between zebrafish Nephrin and Podocin proteins was observed. Notably, Podocin-R150Q, corresponding to human PODOCIN-R138Q, markedly interacted with NEPHRIN compared with wild-type PODOCIN, suggesting that this strong binding capacity of mutated PODOCIN impairs the transport of NEPHRIN and PODOCIN out of the endoplasmic reticulum. The results suggest that the functions of Nephrin and Podocin are highly conserved between the zebrafish pronephros and mammalian metanephros. Accordingly, the zebrafish pronephros may provide a useful tool for analyzing disease-causing gene mutations in human kidney disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayoi Fukuyo
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Tomomi Nakamura
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Ekaterina Bubenshchikova
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Rebecca Powell
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Takashi Tsuji
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278‑8510, Japan
| | - Ralf Janknecht
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Tomoko Obara
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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Medaka fish, Oryzias latipes, as a model for human obesity-related glomerulopathy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 431:712-7. [PMID: 23353086 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.01.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Obesity, an ongoing significant public health problem, is a part of complex disease characterized as metabolic syndrome. Medaka and zebrafish are useful aquatic experimental animals widely used in the field of toxicology and environmental health sciences and as a human disease models. In medaka, simple feeding of a high fat diet (HFD) can induce body weight gain, excessive accumulation of visceral adipose tissue, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and steatohepatitis, which mimics human metabolic syndrome. In the present study, to explore the possibility that the adult medaka fed with HFD (HFD-medaka) can be used as an animal model for human metabolic syndrome-associated glomerular disease, including obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG), we analyzed structural alterations and protein expression in the mesonephric kidney of HFD-medaka. We found that the histopathology was consistent with glomerulomegaly accompanied by the dilation of glomerular capillaries and proliferative expansion of the mesangium, a condition partially comparable to human ORG. Moreover, expressions of several kinds of kidney disease-related proteins (such as MYH9, SM22α) were significantly elevated. Thus, the HFD-medaka has a high potential as an animal model useful for exploring the mechanism underling human ORG.
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Ichimura K, Fukuyo Y, Nakamura T, Powell R, Sakai T, Janknecht R, Obara T. Developmental localization of nephrin in zebrafish and medaka pronephric glomerulus. J Histochem Cytochem 2013; 61:313-24. [PMID: 23324868 DOI: 10.1369/0022155413477115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Slit diaphragm (SD) is a highly specialized intercellular junction between podocyte foot processes and plays a crucial role in the formation of the filtration barrier. In this study, we examined the developmental localization of Nephrin, an essential component of SD, in the pronephric glomerulus of zebrafish and medaka. In the mature glomerulus of both fish, Nephrin is localized along the glomerular basement membrane as seen in mammals, indicating that Nephrin is localized at the SD. Interestingly, Nephrin was detected already in immature podocytes before the SD and foot processes started to form in both fish. Nephrin was localized along the cell surface of immature podocytes but as different localization patterns. In zebrafish, Nephrin signal bordered the lateral membrane of podocytes, which were columnar in shape, as in rat immature podocytes. However, in medaka immature podocytes, Nephrin was localized in a punctate pattern among podocyte cell bodies. These findings suggest that Nephrin needs to be integrated to the membrane before the formation of the SD and then moves to the proper site to form the SD. Furthermore, a podocyte-specific marker, such as Nephrin, should be a useful tool for the future analysis of pronephric glomerular development in fish mutants and morphants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Ichimura
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA
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