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Laudon A, Wang Z, Zou A, Sharma R, Ji J, Kim C, Qian Y, Ye Q, Chen H, Henderson JM, Zhang C, Kolachalama VB, Lu W. Digital pathology assessment of kidney glomerular filtration barrier ultrastructure in an animal model of podocytopathy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.14.599097. [PMID: 38948787 PMCID: PMC11212870 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.14.599097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Background Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images can visualize kidney glomerular filtration barrier ultrastructure, including the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and podocyte foot processes (PFP). Podocytopathy is associated with glomerular filtration barrier morphological changes observed experimentally and clinically by measuring GBM or PFP width. However, these measurements are currently performed manually. This limits research on podocytopathy disease mechanisms and therapeutics due to labor intensiveness and inter-operator variability. Methods We developed a deep learning-based digital pathology computational method to measure GBM and PFP width in TEM images from the kidneys of Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) podocyte-specific conditional knockout (cKO) mouse, an animal model of podocytopathy, compared to wild-type (WT) control mouse. We obtained TEM images from WT and ILK cKO littermate mice at 4 weeks old. Our automated method was composed of two stages: a U-Net model for GBM segmentation, followed by an image processing algorithm for GBM and PFP width measurement. We evaluated its performance with a 4-fold cross-validation study on WT and ILK cKO mouse kidney pairs. Results Mean (95% confidence interval) GBM segmentation accuracy, calculated as Jaccard index, was 0.73 (0.70-0.76) for WT and 0.85 (0.83-0.87) for ILK cKO TEM images. Automated and manual GBM width measurements were similar for both WT (p=0.49) and ILK cKO (p=0.06) specimens. While automated and manual PFP width measurements were similar for WT (p=0.89), they differed for ILK cKO (p<0.05) specimens. WT and ILK cKO specimens were morphologically distinguishable by manual GBM (p<0.05) and PFP (p<0.05) width measurements. This phenotypic difference was reflected in the automated GBM (p<0.05) more than PFP (p=0.06) widths. Conclusions These results suggest that certain automated measurements enabled via deep learning-based digital pathology tools could distinguish healthy kidneys from those with podocytopathy. Our proposed method provides high-throughput, objective morphological analysis and could facilitate podocytopathy research and translate into clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aksel Laudon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhaoze Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anqi Zou
- Computational Biomedicine Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richa Sharma
- Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiayi Ji
- Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Connor Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yingzhe Qian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Qin Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joel M Henderson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chao Zhang
- Computational Biomedicine Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vijaya B Kolachalama
- Computational Biomedicine Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Weining Lu
- Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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Mou X, Shah J, Roye Y, Du C, Musah S. An ultrathin membrane mediates tissue-specific morphogenesis and barrier function in a human kidney chip. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn2689. [PMID: 38838141 PMCID: PMC11152122 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn2689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Organ-on-chip (OOC) systems are revolutionizing tissue engineering by providing dynamic models of tissue structure, organ-level function, and disease phenotypes using human cells. However, nonbiological components of OOC devices often limit the recapitulation of in vivo-like tissue-tissue cross-talk and morphogenesis. Here, we engineered a kidney glomerulus-on-a-chip that recapitulates glomerular morphogenesis and barrier function using a biomimetic ultrathin membrane and human-induced pluripotent stem cells. The resulting chip comprised a proximate epithelial-endothelial tissue interface, which reconstituted the selective molecular filtration function of healthy and diseased kidneys. In addition, fenestrated endothelium was successfully induced from human pluripotent stem cells in an OOC device, through in vivo-like paracrine signaling across the ultrathin membrane. Thus, this device provides a dynamic tissue engineering platform for modeling human kidney-specific morphogenesis and function, enabling mechanistic studies of stem cell differentiation, organ physiology, and pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingrui Mou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jessica Shah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yasmin Roye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Carolyn Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Samira Musah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Affiliate Faculty of the Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke Regeneration Center, Duke MEDx Initiative, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Liu PJ, Sayeeda K, Zhuang C, Krendel M. Roles of myosin 1e and the actin cytoskeleton in kidney functions and familial kidney disease. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024. [PMID: 38708443 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian kidneys are responsible for removing metabolic waste and maintaining fluid and electrolyte homeostasis via selective filtration. One of the proteins closely linked to selective renal filtration is myosin 1e (Myo1e), an actin-dependent molecular motor found in the specialized kidney epithelial cells involved in the assembly and maintenance of the renal filter. Point mutations in the gene encoding Myo1e, MYO1E, have been linked to familial kidney disease, and Myo1e knockout in mice leads to the disruption of selective filtration. In this review, we discuss the role of the actin cytoskeleton in renal filtration, the known and hypothesized functions of Myo1e, and the possible explanations for the impact of MYO1E mutations on renal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Ju Liu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Kazi Sayeeda
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Cindy Zhuang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Mira Krendel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
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Gregorio VD, Caparali B, Shojaei A, Ricardo S, Barua M. Alport Syndrome: Clinical Spectrum and Therapeutic Advances. Kidney Med 2023; 5:100631. [PMID: 37122389 PMCID: PMC10131117 DOI: 10.1016/j.xkme.2023.100631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alport syndrome is a hereditary disorder characterized by kidney disease, ocular abnormalities, and sensorineural hearing loss. Work in understanding the cause of Alport syndrome and the molecular composition of the glomerular basement membrane ultimately led to the identification of COL4A3, COL4A4 (both on chromosome 2q36), and COL4A5 (chromosome Xq22), encoding the α3, α4, and α5 chains of type IV collagen, as the responsible genes. Subsequent studies suggested that autosomal recessive Alport syndrome and males with X-linked Alport syndrome have more severe disease, whereas autosomal dominant Alport syndrome and females with X-linked Alport syndrome have more variability. Variant type is also influential-protein-truncating variants in autosomal recessive Alport syndrome or males with X-linked Alport syndrome often present with severe symptoms, characterized by kidney failure, extrarenal manifestations, and lack of the α3-α4-α5(IV) network. By contrast, mild-moderate forms from missense variants display α3-α4-α5(IV) in the glomerular basement membrane and are associated with protracted kidney involvement without extrarenal manifestations. Regardless of type, therapeutic intervention for kidney involvement is focused on early initiation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. There are several therapies under investigation including sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, aminoglycoside analogs, endothelin type A antagonists, lipid-modifying drugs, and hydroxychloroquine, although targeting the underlying defect through gene therapy remains in preclinical stages.
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Viana DL, Alladagbin DJ, Dos-Santos WLC, Figueira CP. A comparative study of human glomerular basement membrane thickness using direct measurement and orthogonal intercept methods. BMC Nephrol 2022; 23:23. [PMID: 35012461 PMCID: PMC8750857 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-021-02634-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Here we report estimates of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickness in the Brazilian population performed using direct (DM) and orthogonal interception methods (OIM), and comment on potential sources of variation among estimates made by different laboratories. METHODOLOGY A total of 38 patients, ranging from 3 to 78 years of age, 26 (68%) males and 12 (32%) females, were submitted to kidney biopsy procedures for renal disease diagnosis. Glomeruli were diagnosed with minor histological changes by conventional, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. GBM thickness was estimated using both DM and OIM methods. RESULTS Estimates of GBM thickness obtained using DM were higher than those obtained by OIM. However, the application of a correction for non-perpendicular membrane sectioning to DM estimates yielded similar results to those obtained under OIM. The estimated GMB thickness using DM after correction was 289 + 44 nm, versus 287 + 48 nm by OIM. No statistically significant differences were detected in GMB thickness, nor with respect to patient age or sex. CONCLUSIONS GBM thickness in the studied Brazilian population measured approximately 290 nm. The application of criteria for estimating the shortest distance between the endothelial and podocyte cell membranes with correction for non-perpendicular membrane sectioning can increase the accuracy of GBM thickness estimates using DM and OIM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora Leal Viana
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Rua Waldemar Falcão 121, Candeal, Salvador, BA, CEP 40.295-710, Brazil
| | - Dona Jeanne Alladagbin
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Rua Waldemar Falcão 121, Candeal, Salvador, BA, CEP 40.295-710, Brazil
| | - Washington L C Dos-Santos
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Rua Waldemar Falcão 121, Candeal, Salvador, BA, CEP 40.295-710, Brazil. .,Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
| | - Claudio Pereira Figueira
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Rua Waldemar Falcão 121, Candeal, Salvador, BA, CEP 40.295-710, Brazil
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CACTUS: A Digital Tool for Quality Assurance, Education and Evaluation in Surgical Pathology. J Med Biol Eng 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40846-021-00643-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Automatic Segmentation of Pathological Glomerular Basement Membrane in Transmission Electron Microscopy Images with Random Forest Stacks. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2019; 2019:1684218. [PMID: 31019546 PMCID: PMC6452552 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1684218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Pathological classification through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is essential for the diagnosis of certain nephropathy, and the changes of thickness in glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and presence of immune complex deposits in GBM are often used as diagnostic criteria. The automatic segmentation of the GBM on TEM images by computerized technology can provide clinicians with clear information about glomerular ultrastructural lesions. The GBM region on the TEM image is not only complicated and changeable in shape but also has a low contrast and wide distribution of grayscale. Consequently, extracting image features and obtaining excellent segmentation results are difficult. To address this problem, we introduce a random forest- (RF-) based machine learning method, namely, RF stacks (RFS), to realize automatic segmentation. Specifically, this work proposes a two-level integrated RFS that is more complicated than a one-level integrated RF to improve accuracy and generalization performance. The integrated strategies include training integration and testing integration. Training integration can derive a full-view RFS1 by simultaneously sampling several images of different grayscale ranges in the train phase. Testing integration can derive a zoom-view RFS2 by separately sampling the images of different grayscale ranges and integrating the results in the test phase. Experimental results illustrate that the proposed RFS can be used to automatically segment different morphologies and gray-level basement membranes. Future study on GBM thickness measurement and deposit identification will be based on this work.
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Kotyk T, Dey N, Ashour AS, Balas-Timar D, Chakraborty S, Ashour AS, Tavares JMRS. Measurement of glomerulus diameter and Bowman's space width of renal albino rats. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2016; 126:143-53. [PMID: 26796351 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2015.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Glomerulus diameter and Bowman's space width in renal microscopic images indicate various diseases. Therefore, the detection of the renal corpuscle and related objects is a key step in histopathological evaluation of renal microscopic images. However, the task of automatic glomeruli detection is challenging due to their wide intensity variation, besides the inconsistency in terms of shape and size of the glomeruli in the renal corpuscle. Here, a novel solution is proposed which includes the Particles Analyzer technique based on median filter for morphological image processing to detect the renal corpuscle objects. Afterwards, the glomerulus diameter and Bowman's space width are measured. The solution was tested with a dataset of 21 rats' renal corpuscle images acquired using light microscope. The experimental results proved that the proposed solution can detect the renal corpuscle and its objects efficiently. As well as, the proposed solution has the ability to manage any input images assuring its robustness to the deformations of the glomeruli even with the glomerular hypertrophy cases. Also, the results reported significant difference between the control and affected (due to ingested additional daily dose (14.6mg) of fructose) groups in terms of glomerulus diameter (97.40±19.02μm and 177.03±54.48μm, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Taras Kotyk
- Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine.
| | - Nilanjan Dey
- Department of Information Technology, Techno India College of Technology, Kolkata, India.
| | - Amira S Ashour
- Department of Electronics and Electrical Communications Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt; CIT College, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
| | | | - Sayan Chakraborty
- Department of CSE, Bengal College of Engineering and Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India.
| | - Ahmed S Ashour
- Department of Human Anatomy & Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.
| | - João Manuel R S Tavares
- Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial, Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
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Rennie MY, Gahan CG, López CS, Thornburg KL, Rugonyi S. 3D imaging of the early embryonic chicken heart with focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2014; 20:1111-1119. [PMID: 24742339 PMCID: PMC4349375 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927614000828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Early embryonic heart development is a period of dynamic growth and remodeling, with rapid changes occurring at the tissue, cell, and subcellular levels. A detailed understanding of the events that establish the components of the heart wall has been hampered by a lack of methodologies for three-dimensional (3D), high-resolution imaging. Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) is a novel technology for imaging 3D tissue volumes at the subcellular level. FIB-SEM alternates between imaging the block face with a scanning electron beam and milling away thin sections of tissue with a FIB, allowing for collection and analysis of 3D data. FIB-SEM was used to image the three layers of the day 4 chicken embryo heart: myocardium, cardiac jelly, and endocardium. Individual images obtained with FIB-SEM were comparable in quality and resolution to those obtained with transmission electron microscopy. Up to 1,100 serial images were obtained in 4 nm increments at 4.88 nm resolution, and image stacks were aligned to create volumes 800-1,500 μm3 in size. Segmentation of organelles revealed their organization and distinct volume fractions between cardiac wall layers. We conclude that FIB-SEM is a powerful modality for 3D subcellular imaging of the embryonic heart wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Y. Rennie
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Center for Developmental Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | | | - Claudia S. López
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Department of Multiscale-Microscopy Core, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Kent L. Thornburg
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Center for Developmental Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Sandra Rugonyi
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Center for Developmental Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
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Zallocchi M, Johnson BM, Meehan DT, Delimont D, Cosgrove D. α1β1 integrin/Rac1-dependent mesangial invasion of glomerular capillaries in Alport syndrome. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2013; 183:1269-1280. [PMID: 23911822 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Alport syndrome, hereditary glomerulonephritis with hearing loss, results from mutations in type IV collagen COL4A3, COL4A4, or COL4A5 genes. The mechanism for delayed glomerular disease onset is unknown. Comparative analysis of Alport mice and CD151 knockout mice revealed progressive accumulation of laminin 211 in the glomerular basement membrane. We show mesangial processes invading the capillary loops of both models as well as in human Alport glomeruli, as the likely source of this laminin. L-NAME salt-induced hypertension accelerated mesangial cell process invasion. Cultured mesangial cells showed reduced migratory potential when treated with either integrin-linked kinase inhibitor or Rac1 inhibitor, or by deletion of integrin α1. Treatment of Alport mice with Rac1 inhibitor or deletion of integrin α1 reduced mesangial cell process invasion of the glomerular capillary tuft. Laminin α2-deficient Alport mice show reduced mesangial process invasion, and cultured laminin α2-null cells showed reduced migratory potential, indicating a functional role for mesangial laminins in progression of Alport glomerular pathogenesis. Collectively, these findings predict a role for biomechanical insult in the induction of integrin α1β1-dependent Rac1-mediated mesangial cell process invasion of the glomerular capillary tuft as an initiation mechanism of Alport glomerular pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Zallocchi
- Department of Genetics, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Brianna M Johnson
- Department of Genetics, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Daniel T Meehan
- Department of Genetics, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Duane Delimont
- Department of Genetics, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Dominic Cosgrove
- Department of Genetics, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
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