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Expression of Pannexin 1 in the Human Kidney during Embryonal, Early Fetal and Postnatal Development and Its Prognostic Significance in Diabetic Nephropathy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10050944. [PMID: 35625681 PMCID: PMC9139113 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10050944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pannexins are transmembrane glycoproteins that constitute channels involved in purinergic signaling through ATP release from cells in various physiological and pathological processes. In this study, the distribution of Panx1 expression in different cell populations of healthy postnatal human kidneys and during human embryonic and early fetal development was investigated by double immunohistochemistry. In addition, the glomerular and tubular expression of Panx1 was examined in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and the control group, and renal Panx1 expression was correlated with serum creatinine. In the 6th week of embryonic development (DW), Panx1 expression was found in mesonephric glomeruli and mesonephric tubules. At the transition from 6th to 7th DW, Panx1 immunoreactivity was found in the mesonephric tubules and mesonephric duct, as well as in the metanephric ureteric bud and ampullae. In the 7th DW, strong Panx1 immunoreactivity was observed in the developing ureteric bud in the metanephros, whereas no Panx1 immunoreactivity was found in the metanephric cup. In the 8th DW, Panx1 expression was also found in the ureteric bud of the metanephros, the renal vesicle and comma-shaped nephron, and the epithelial cells of Bowman’s capsule. Expression of Panx1 was found at an early stage in both the paramesonephric duct and the mesonephric duct and diminished toward the 8th DW. During the 6th–10th DW, colocalization of Panx1 with alpha smooth actin (aSMA) was found in developing blood vessels. In the postnatal kidney, strong Panx1 immunoreactivity was present in medullary and cortical collecting duct cells, renin-producing cells, and proximal tubules. Very weak Panx1 immunoreactivity was found in certain distal tubule cells and the thin descending limbs of the loop of Henle. Panx1 immunoreactivity was also found in nephrin-immunoreactive podocytes. Panx1 was not colocalized with aSMA immunoreactivity in the vessels of the postnatal human kidney, but it was present in the endothelium. A significant positive correlation was found between Panx1 expression in glomeruli and serum creatinine only in diabetic patients and was not found in the nondiabetic group. The spatiotemporal expression of Panx1 during the early stages of human kidney development supports its possible role in cellular differentiation, migration, and positioning in the developing human kidney. In addition, our data suggest that glomerular Panx1 expression is a potential indicator of worsening renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes.
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Luetić M, Kretzschmar G, Grobe M, Jerčić L, Bota I, Ivić V, Balog M, Zjalić M, Vitlov Uljević M, Heffer M, Gaspar R, Tabi T, Vukojević K, Vari SG, Filipović N. Sex-specific effects of metformin and liraglutide on renal pathology and expression of connexin 45 and pannexin 1 following long-term high-fat high-sugar diet. Acta Histochem 2021; 123:151817. [PMID: 34808525 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2021.151817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The comparative effects of the two commonly used antidiabetic drugs metformin and liraglutide on renal pathology and expression of connexin 45 (Cx45) and pannexin 1 (Panx1) in adult obese rats fed high-fat high-sugar diet (HFHSD) were studied. Considering recent data on the profound influence of sex on metformin and liraglutide effects, we compared the effects of both drugs between male and female animals. 44-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into 4 groups that were fed: standard diet, HFHSD, HFHSD treated with metformin (s.c., 50 mg/kg/day) and HFHSD treated with liraglutide (s.c., 0.3 mg/kg/day). Treatment with metformin or liraglutide lasted for 14 weeks. Histology and immunohistochemistry were performed to quantify renal pathological changes and Cx45 and Panx1 expression. HFHSD caused thickening of the Bowman's capsule (BC). Both metformin and liraglutide failed to ameliorate the BC thickening; metformin even worsened it. Effects on the tubulointerstitial fibrosis score, BC thickness and Cx45 and Panx1 expression were sex-dependent. We found a 50% increase in mitochondria in proximal tubules of metformin- and liraglutide-treated HFHSD-fed rats, but these effects were not dependent on the sex. This is a first study showing that the effects of metformin and liraglutide on kidney pathology in rats fed HFHSD are mostly sex-dependent and that these effects are not necessarily beneficial. Both drugs changed the Cx45 and Panx 1 expression; hence their effects could be related to amelioration of disruptions in intercellular communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Luetić
- Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology, University Hospital Centre Split, Spinčićeva 1, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Genia Kretzschmar
- University of Split School of Medicine, Laboratory for Neurocardiology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Maximilian Grobe
- University of Split School of Medicine, Laboratory for Neurocardiology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Leo Jerčić
- University of Split School of Medicine, Laboratory for Neurocardiology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Ivana Bota
- University of Split School of Medicine, Laboratory for Neurocardiology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Vedrana Ivić
- Faculty of Medicine Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadrijana 10/E, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Marta Balog
- Faculty of Medicine Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadrijana 10/E, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Milorad Zjalić
- Faculty of Medicine Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadrijana 10/E, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Marija Vitlov Uljević
- University of Split School of Medicine, Laboratory for Neurocardiology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Marija Heffer
- Faculty of Medicine Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadrijana 10/E, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Robert Gaspar
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Dóm tér. 12., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tamas Tabi
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katarina Vukojević
- University of Split School of Medicine, Laboratory for Neurocardiology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia; University of Split School of Medicine, Laboratory for Early Human Development, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Sandor G Vari
- International Research and Innovation in Medicine Program, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Natalija Filipović
- University of Split School of Medicine, Laboratory for Neurocardiology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia.
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Chronic Stress and Gonadectomy Affect the Expression of Cx37, Cx40 and Cx43 in the Spinal Cord. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121330. [PMID: 34947861 PMCID: PMC8706389 DOI: 10.3390/life11121330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to determine whether the exposure to chronic stress and/or performance of gonadectomy might lead to disturbance in the expression of connexin (Cx) 37, 40 and 43 in the spinal cord (SC), as a potential explanation for sex differences in stress-related chronic pain conditions. After the rats were sham-operated or gonadectomized, three 10-day sessions of sham or chronic stress were applied. Immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to examine Cx localization and expression in the SC. The gonadectomy resulted in an increase of Cx37 expression in the dorsal horn (DH) of the female rats, but chronic stress suppressed the effects of castration. In male rats, only the combined effects of castration and chronic stress increased Cx37 expression. The influence of chronic stress on the DH Cx40 expression was inversely evident after the castration: increased in the ovariectomized female rats, while decreased in the orchidectomized male rats. We did not find any effect of chronic stress and castration, alone or together, on Cx43 expression in the DH, but the percentage of Cx43 overlapping the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (gfap) increased in the male stressed group after the castration. In conclusion, the association of the chronic stress with sex hormone depletion results in disturbances of the SC Cx expression and might be a possible mechanism of disturbed pain perception after chronic stress exposure.
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Jindal S, Chockalingam S, Ghosh SS, Packirisamy G. Connexin and gap junctions: perspectives from biology to nanotechnology based therapeutics. Transl Res 2021; 235:144-167. [PMID: 33582245 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2021.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The concept of gap junctions and their role in intercellular communication has been known for around 50 years. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the fundamental biology of connexins in mediating gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) and their role in various cellular processes including pathological conditions. However, this understanding has not led to development of advanced therapeutics utilizing GJIC. Inadequacies in strategies that target specific connexin protein in the affected tissue, with minimal or no collateral damage, are the primary reason for the lack of development of efficient therapeutic models. Herein, nanotechnology has a role to play, giving plenty of scope to circumvent these problems and develop more efficient connexin based therapeutics. AsODN, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides; BMPs, bone morphogenetic proteins; BMSCs, bone marrow stem cells; BG, bioglass; Cx, Connexin; CxRE, connexin-responsive elements; CoCr NPs, cobalt-chromium nanoparticles; cGAMP, cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate; cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; ERK1/2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2; EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acids; FGFR1, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1; FRAP, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching; 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil; GJ, gap junction; GJIC, gap junctional intercellular communication; HGPRTase, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase; HSV-TK, herpes virus thymidine kinase; HSA, human serum albumin; HA, hyaluronic acid; HDAC, histone deacetylase; IRI, ischemia reperfusion injury; IL-6, interleukin-6; IL-8, interleukin-8; IONPs, iron-oxide nanoparticles; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; LAMP, local activation of molecular fluorescent probe; MSCs, mesenchymal stem cells; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; MI, myocardial infarction; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa B; NO, nitric oxide; PKC, protein kinase C; QDs, quantum dots; ROI, region of interest; RGO, reduced graphene oxide; siRNA, small interfering RNA; TGF-β1, transforming growth factor-β1; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; UCN, upconversion nanoparticles; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor. In this review, we discuss briefly the role of connexins and gap junctions in various physiological and pathological processes, with special emphasis on cancer. We further discuss the application of nanotechnology and tissue engineering in developing treatments for various connexin based disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shlok Jindal
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - S Chockalingam
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal, Telangana, India
| | - Siddhartha Sankar Ghosh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Gopinath Packirisamy
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India; Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India.
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Jurić M, Balog M, Ivić V, Bošković M, Benzon B, Racetin A, Vukojević K, Bočina I, Kević N, Restović I, Szűcs KF, Gáspár R, Heffer M, Vari SG, Filipović N. Increased expression of dendrin in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord during stress is regulated by sex hormones. Neuropeptides 2021; 86:102126. [PMID: 33524899 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2021.102126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress has various effects on organisms and is sex-specific. The aim of the study was to describe the expression of synapse strengthening protein, dendrin, in the spinal cord (SC) and the dependence of its expression on chronic stress and sex hormones. Thirteen-month-old female and male rats were castrated (ovariectomy [F-OVX] or orchidectomy [M-ORX]) or sham-operated (F-SH or M-SH), respectively. At age 15 months, three 10-day-sessions of sham stress (control, C) or chronic stress (S) were conducted. Dendrin expression was present in the thoracic SC segments and the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). In the SC, dendrin expression was prominent in superficial laminae of the dorsal horn and lamina X (central canal). The M-ORX-S group had the highest dendrin expression in the dorsal horn, being significantly higher than the M-ORX-C or M-SH-S groups (P < 0.05). Dendrin expression was significantly higher in the F-SH-S group than the F-SH-C group (P < 0.05), as well as in the F-SH-S than the M-SH-S (P < 0.05). Co-localization with the α-d-galactosyl-specific isolectin B4 (IB4) in central projections of the DRG neurons in the dorsal horn of the SC was 7.43 ± 3.36%, while with the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was 8.47 ± 4.45%. Localization of dendrin was observed in soma and nuclei of neurons in the dorsal horn. Dendrin expression in pain-processing areas of the SC, the DRG neurons and their peripheral projections suggest possible roles in pain perception and modulation. Stress-induced increase in dendrin expression and its dependence on sex hormones may partially explain sex-specific pain hypersensitivity induced by stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Jurić
- University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Marta Balog
- Faculty of Medicine, Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Huttlerova 4, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Vedrana Ivić
- Faculty of Medicine, Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Huttlerova 4, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Maria Bošković
- University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Benjamin Benzon
- University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Anita Racetin
- University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Katarina Vukojević
- University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Ivana Bočina
- Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Nives Kević
- Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Ivana Restović
- Department of Teacher Education, University of Split Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Poljička cesta 35, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Kálmán F Szűcs
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Dóm tér. 12., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Róbert Gáspár
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Dóm tér. 12., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Marija Heffer
- Faculty of Medicine, Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Huttlerova 4, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Sandor G Vari
- International Research and Innovation in Medicine Program, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Natalija Filipović
- University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, Split 21000, Croatia.
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Lozić M, Filipović N, Jurić M, Kosović I, Benzon B, Šolić I, Kelam N, Racetin A, Watanabe K, Katsuyama Y, Ogata M, Saraga-Babić M, Vukojević K. Alteration of Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, Panx1, and Renin Expression Patterns in Postnatal Kidneys of Dab1-/- ( yotari) Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1284. [PMID: 33525532 PMCID: PMC7865779 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous evidence corroborates roles of gap junctions/hemichannels in proper kidney development. We analyzed how Dab1 gene functional silencing influences expression and localization of Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, Panx1 and renin in postnatal kidneys of yotari mice, by using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Dab1 Δ102/221 might lead to the activation of c-Src tyrosine kinase, causing the upregulation of Cx43 in the medulla of yotari mice. The expression of renin was more prominent in yotari mice (p < 0.001). Renin granules were unusually present inside the vascular walls of glomeruli capillaries, in proximal and distal convoluted tubules and in the medulla. Disfunction of Cx40 is likely responsible for increased atypically positioned renin cells which release renin in an uncontrolled fashion, but this doesn't rule out simultaneous involvement of other Cxs, such as Cx45 which was significantly increased in the yotari cortex. The decreased Cx37 expression in yotari medulla might contribute to hypertension reduction provoked by high renin expression. These findings imply the relevance of Cxs/Panx1 as markers of impaired kidney function (high renin) in yotari mice and that they have a role in the preservation of intercellular signaling and implicate connexopathies as the cause of premature death of yotari mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirela Lozić
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
| | - Natalija Filipović
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
| | - Marija Jurić
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
| | - Ivona Kosović
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
| | - Benjamin Benzon
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
| | - Ivana Šolić
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
| | - Nela Kelam
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
| | - Anita Racetin
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Koichiro Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ötsu 520-2192, Japan; (K.W.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yu Katsuyama
- Department of Anatomy, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ötsu 520-2192, Japan; (K.W.); (Y.K.)
| | - Masaki Ogata
- Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, 981-Miyagi 8558, Japan;
| | - Mirna Saraga-Babić
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
| | - Katarina Vukojević
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.L.); (N.F.); (M.J.); (I.K.); (B.B.); (I.Š.); (N.K.); (A.R.); (M.S.-B.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Kosovic I, Filipovic N, Benzon B, Bocina I, Glavina Durdov M, Vukojevic K, Saraga M, Saraga-Babic M. Connexin Signaling in the Juxtaglomerular Apparatus (JGA) of Developing, Postnatal Healthy and Nephrotic Human Kidneys. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8349. [PMID: 33172216 PMCID: PMC7664435 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Our study analyzed the expression pattern of different connexins (Cxs) and renin positive cells in the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) of developing, postnatal healthy human kidneys and in nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF), by using double immunofluorescence, electron microscopy and statistical measuring. The JGA contained several cell types connected by Cxs, and consisting of macula densa, extraglomerular mesangium (EM) and juxtaglomerular cells (JC), which release renin involved in renin-angiotensin- aldosteron system (RAS) of arterial blood pressure control. During JGA development, strong Cx40 expression gradually decreased, while expression of Cx37, Cx43 and Cx45 increased, postnatally showing more equalized expression patterning. In parallel, initially dispersed renin cells localized to JGA, and greatly increased expression in postnatal kidneys. In CNF kidneys, increased levels of Cx43, Cx37 and Cx45 co-localized with accumulations of renin cells in JGA. Additionally, they reappeared in extraglomerular mesangial cells, indicating association between return to embryonic Cxs patterning and pathologically changed kidney tissue. Based on the described Cxs and renin expression patterning, we suggest involvement of Cx40 primarily in the formation of JGA in developing kidneys, while Cx37, Cx43 and Cx45 might participate in JGA signal transfer important for postnatal maintenance of kidney function and blood pressure control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivona Kosovic
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (I.K.); (N.F.); (B.B.); (K.V.)
| | - Natalija Filipovic
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (I.K.); (N.F.); (B.B.); (K.V.)
| | - Benjamin Benzon
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (I.K.); (N.F.); (B.B.); (K.V.)
| | - Ivana Bocina
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia;
| | - Merica Glavina Durdov
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital in Split, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia;
| | - Katarina Vukojevic
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (I.K.); (N.F.); (B.B.); (K.V.)
| | - Marijan Saraga
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital in Split, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia;
| | - Mirna Saraga-Babic
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (I.K.); (N.F.); (B.B.); (K.V.)
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