Physical and functional interaction of Rnf2 with Af9 regulates basal and aldosterone-stimulated transcription of the α-ENaC gene in a renal collecting duct cell line

Keeping RNA polymerase II on the run: Functions of MLL fusion partners in transcriptional regulation

Since the identification of key MLL fusion partners as transcription elongation factors regulating expression of HOX cluster genes during hematopoiesis, extensive work from the last decade has resulted in significant progress in our overall mechanistic understanding of role of MLL fusion partner proteins in transcriptional regulation of diverse set of genes beyond just the HOX cluster. In this review, we are going to detail overall understanding of role of MLL fusion partner proteins in transcriptional regulation and thus provide mechanistic insights into possible MLL fusion protein-mediated transcriptional misregulation leading to aberrant hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis.

Changing expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs, mRNAs and circular RNAs in ethylene glycol-induced kidney calculi rats

Background

To explore long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), mRNA and circular RNA (circRNA) expression profiles and their biological functions in the pathogenesis of kidney stones in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis rats.

Results

The expression of 1440 lncRNAs, 2455 mRNAs and 145 circRNAs was altered in the kidneys of urolithiasis rats. GO and KEGG biological pathway analysis were performed to predict the functions of differentially expressed lncRNAs, circRNAs and co-expressed potential targeting genes. Co-expression networks of lncRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA were constructed based on correlation analysis between differentially expressed RNAs. mRNAs coexpressed with lncRNAs were involved in many kidney diseases, e.g., Ephb6 was associated with the reabsorption ability of the kidney. Arl5b was associated with the dynamic changes in the podocyte foot process in podocyte injury. miRNAs co-expressed with circRNAs, such as rno-miR-138-5p and rno-miR-672-5p, have been proven to be functional in hypercalciuria urolithiasis.

Conclusion

The expression profile provided a systematic perspective on the potential functions of lncRNAs and circRNAs in the pathogenesis of kidney stones. Differentially expressed lncRNAs and circRNAs might serve as treatment targets for kidney stones.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5052-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

RNA sequencing of kidney distal tubule cells reveals multiple mediators of chronic aldosterone action

The renal aldosterone-sensitive distal tubule (ASDT) is crucial for sodium reabsorption and blood pressure regulation. The ASDT consists of the late distal convoluted tubule (DCT2), connecting tubule (CNT), and collecting duct. Due to difficulties in isolating epithelial cells from the ASDT in large quantities, few transcriptome studies have been performed on this segment. Moreover, no studies exist on isolated DCT2 and CNT cells (excluding intercalated cells), and the role of aldosterone for regulating the transcriptome of these specific cell types is largely unknown. A mouse model expressing eGFP in DCT2/CNT/initial cortical collecting duct (iCCD) principal cells was exploited to facilitate the isolation of these cells in high number and purity. Combined with deep RNA sequencing technology, a comprehensive catalog of chronic aldosterone-regulated transcripts from enriched DCT2/CNT/iCCD principal cells was generated. There were 257 significantly downregulated and 290 upregulated transcripts in response to aldosterone ( P < 0.05). The RNA sequencing confirmed aldosterone regulation of well-described aldosterone targets including Sgk1 and Tsc22d3. Changes in selected transcripts such as S100a1 and Cldn4 were confirmed by RT-qPCR. The RNA sequencing showed downregulation of Nr3c2 encoding the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and cell line experiments showed a parallel decrease in MR protein. Furthermore, a large number of transcripts encoding transcription factors were downregulated. An extensive mRNA transcriptome reconstruction of an enriched CNT/iCCD principal cell population was also generated. The results provided a comprehensive database of aldosterone-regulated transcripts in the ASDT, allowing development of novel hypotheses for the action of aldosterone.