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Tanaka K, Hayasaka H, Matsusaka T. Dach1 is essential for maintaining normal mature podocytes. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303910. [PMID: 38805434 PMCID: PMC11132487 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Dach1 is highly expressed in normal podocytes, but this expression rapidly disappears after podocyte injury. To investigate the role of Dach1 in podocytes in vivo, we analyzed global, podocyte-specific, and inducible Dach1 knockout mice. Global Dach1 knockout (Dach1-/-) mice were assessed immediately after birth because they die within a day. The kidneys of Dach1-/- mice were slightly smaller than those of control mice but maintained a normal structure and normal podocyte phenotypes, including ultrastructure. To study the role of Dach1 in mature podocytes, we generated Dach1 knockout mice by mating Dach1fl/fl mice with Nphs1-Cre or ROSA-CreERT2 mice. Due to inefficient Cre recombination, only a small number of podocytes lacked Dach1 staining in these mice. However, all eleven Nphs1-Cre/Dach1fl/fl mice displayed abnormal albuminuria, and seven (63%) of them developed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Among 13 ROSA-CreERT2/Dach1fl/fl mice, eight (61%) exhibited abnormal albuminuria after treatment with tamoxifen, and five (38%) developed early sclerotic lesions. These results indicate that while Dach1 does not determine the fate of differentiation into podocytes, it is indispensable for maintaining the normal integrity of mature podocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Tanaka
- Departments of Physiology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Haruko Hayasaka
- Department of Science, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Taiji Matsusaka
- Departments of Physiology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
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2
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Schindler M, Endlich N. Zebrafish as a model for podocyte research. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2024; 326:F369-F381. [PMID: 38205541 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00335.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Podocytes, specialized postmitotic cells, are central players in various kidney-related diseases. Zebrafish have become a valuable model system for studying podocyte biology because they are genetically easy to manipulate, transparent, and their glomerular structure is similar to that of mammals. This review provides an overview of the knowledge of podocyte biology in zebrafish larvae, with particular focus on their essential contribution to understanding the mechanisms that underlie kidney diseases as well as supporting drug development. In addition, special attention is given to advances in live-imaging techniques allowing the observation of dynamic processes, including podocyte motility, podocyte process behavior, and glomerulus maturation. The review further addresses the functional aspects of podocytes in zebrafish larvae. This includes topics such as glomerular filtration, ultrastructural analyses, and evaluation of podocyte response to nephrotoxic insults. Studies presented in this context have provided important insights into the maintenance and resistance of the glomerular filtration barrier in zebrafish larvae and explored the potential transferability of these findings to mammals such as mice, rats, and most importantly, humans. The recent ability to identify potential therapeutic targets represents a promising new way to identify drugs that could effectively treat podocyte-associated glomerulopathies in humans. In summary, this review gives an overview about the importance of zebrafish as a model for podocyte-related disease and targeted drug development. It also highlights the key role of advanced imaging techniques in transparent zebrafish larvae, improving our understanding of glomerular diseases and the significant potential for translation of these findings to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Schindler
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nicole Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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Elshani M, Um IH, Leung S, Reynolds PA, Chapman A, Kudsy M, Harrison DJ. Transcription Factor NFE2L1 Decreases in Glomerulonephropathies after Podocyte Damage. Cells 2023; 12:2165. [PMID: 37681897 PMCID: PMC10487238 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Podocyte cellular injury and detachment from glomerular capillaries constitute a critical factor contributing to kidney disease. Notably, transcription factors are instrumental in maintaining podocyte differentiation and homeostasis. This study explores the hitherto uninvestigated expression of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 1 (NFE2L1) in podocytes. We evaluated the podocyte expression of NFE2L1, Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2 (NFE2L2), and NAD(P)H:quinone Oxidoreductase (NQO1) in 127 human glomerular disease biopsies using multiplexed immunofluorescence and image analysis. We found that both NFE2L1 and NQO1 expressions were significantly diminished across all observed renal diseases. Furthermore, we exposed human immortalized podocytes and ex vivo kidney slices to Puromycin Aminonucleoside (PAN) and characterized the NFE2L1 protein isoform expression. PAN treatment led to a reduction in the nuclear expression of NFE2L1 in ex vivo kidney slices and podocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Elshani
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TF, UK (D.J.H.)
- Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, Edinburgh EH16 6NA, UK
- NuCana plc, 3 Lochside Way, Edinburgh EH12 9DT, UK
| | - In Hwa Um
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TF, UK (D.J.H.)
| | - Steve Leung
- Urology Department, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Paul A. Reynolds
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TF, UK (D.J.H.)
| | - Alex Chapman
- Urology Department, Victoria Hospital, Hayfield Road, Kirkcaldy KY2 5AH, UK
| | - Mary Kudsy
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TF, UK (D.J.H.)
| | - David J. Harrison
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TF, UK (D.J.H.)
- Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, Edinburgh EH16 6NA, UK
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Drummond BE, Ercanbrack WS, Wingert RA. Modeling Podocyte Ontogeny and Podocytopathies with the Zebrafish. J Dev Biol 2023; 11:9. [PMID: 36810461 PMCID: PMC9944608 DOI: 10.3390/jdb11010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Podocytes are exquisitely fashioned kidney cells that serve an essential role in the process of blood filtration. Congenital malformation or damage to podocytes has dire consequences and initiates a cascade of pathological changes leading to renal disease states known as podocytopathies. In addition, animal models have been integral to discovering the molecular pathways that direct the development of podocytes. In this review, we explore how researchers have used the zebrafish to illuminate new insights about the processes of podocyte ontogeny, model podocytopathies, and create opportunities to discover future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rebecca A. Wingert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Zebrafish Research, Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases, Warren Center for Drug Discovery, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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5
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Ahmed I, Ziab M, Da’as S, Hasan W, Jeya SP, Aliyev E, Nisar S, Bhat AA, Fakhro KA, Alshabeeb Akil AS. Network-based identification and prioritization of key transcriptional factors of diabetic kidney disease. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:716-730. [PMID: 36659918 PMCID: PMC9827363 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.12.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most established microvascular complications of diabetes and a key cause of end-stage renal disease. It is well established that gene susceptibility to DN plays a critical role in disease pathophysiology. Therefore, many genetic studies have been performed to categorize candidate genes in prominent diabetic cohorts, aiming to investigate DN pathogenesis and etiology. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis on the expression profiles of GSE1009, GSE30122, GSE96804, GSE99340, GSE104948, GSE104954, and GSE111154 to identify critical transcriptional factors associated with DN progression. The analysis was conducted for all individual datasets for each kidney tissue (glomerulus, tubules, and kidney cortex). We identified distinct clusters of susceptibility genes that were dysregulated in a renal compartment-specific pattern. Further, we recognized a small but a closely connected set of these susceptibility genes enriched for podocyte differentiation, several of which were characterized as genes encoding critical transcriptional factors (TFs) involved in DN development and podocyte function. To validate the role of identified TFs in DN progression, we functionally validated the three main TFs (DACH1, LMX1B, and WT1) identified through differential gene expression and network analysis using the hyperglycemic zebrafish model. We report that hyperglycemia-induced altered gene expression of the key TF genes leads to morphological abnormalities in zebrafish glomeruli, pronephric tubules, proximal and distal ducts. This study demonstrated that altered expression of these TF genes could be associated with hyperglycemia-induced nephropathy and, thus, aids in understanding the molecular drivers, essential genes, and pathways that trigger DN initiation and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikhlak Ahmed
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes Prevention, Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mubarak Ziab
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes Prevention, Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sahar Da’as
- Zebrafish Functional Genomics, Integrated Genomic Services Core Facility, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, P.O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Waseem Hasan
- Zebrafish Functional Genomics, Integrated Genomic Services Core Facility, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sujitha P. Jeya
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes Prevention, Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Elbay Aliyev
- Human Genetics Department, Laboratory of Genomic Medicine-Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes Prevention, Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A. Bhat
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes Prevention, Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Khalid Adnan Fakhro
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes Prevention, Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, P.O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
- Human Genetics Department, Laboratory of Genomic Medicine-Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ammira S. Alshabeeb Akil
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes Prevention, Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Human Genetics Department, Laboratory of Genomic Medicine-Precision Medicine Program, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
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Huang Y, Zhao X, Zhang Q, Yang X, Hou G, Peng C, Jia M, Zhou L, Yamamoto T, Zheng J. Novel therapeutic perspectives for crescentic glomerulonephritis through targeting parietal epithelial cell activation and proliferation. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:55-69. [PMID: 36738160 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2177534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Kidney injury is clinically classified as crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN) when ≥50% of the glomeruli in a biopsy sample contain crescentic lesions. However, current strategies, such as systemic immunosuppressive therapy and plasmapheresis for CrGN, are partially effective, and these drugs have considerable systemic side effects. Hence, targeted therapy to prevent glomerular crescent formation and expansion remains an unmet clinical need. AREAS COVERED Hyperproliferative parietal epithelial cells (PECs) are the main constituent cells of the glomerular crescent with cell-tracing evidence. Crescents obstruct the flow of primary urine, pressure the capillaries, and degenerate the affected nephrons. We reviewed the markers of PEC activation and proliferation, potential therapeutic effects of thrombin and thrombin receptor inhibitors, and how podocytes cross-talk with PECs. These experiments may help identify potential early specific targets for the prevention and treatment of glomerular crescentic injury. EXPERT OPINION Inhibiting PEC activation and proliferation in CrGN can alleviate glomerular crescent progression, which has been supported by preclinical studies with evidence of genetic deletion. Clarifying the outcome of PEC transformation to the podocyte phenotype and suppressing thrombin, thrombin receptors, and PEC hyperproliferation in early therapeutic strategies will be the research goals in the next ten years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Huang
- School of Pediatric Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xueru Zhao
- School of Pediatric Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qiushuang Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoqing Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Gailing Hou
- School of Pediatric Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chaoqun Peng
- School of Pediatric Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Mengzhen Jia
- School of Pediatric Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Li Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tatsuo Yamamoto
- Department of Nephrology, Fujieda Municipal General Hospital, 4-1-11 Surugadai, Fujieda, Japan
| | - Jian Zheng
- Institute of Pediatrics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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Sakshi, Ragini, Saini A, Verma C, Mani I. Epigenetics in renal diseases. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 198:61-71. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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Zebrafish: A Model to Study and Understand the Diabetic Nephropathy and Other Microvascular Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9070312. [PMID: 35878329 PMCID: PMC9323928 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9070312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications are a worldwide public health problem, affecting people from all developed and developing countries. Hyperglycemia can cause damage to the vascular system and dysfunction of organs, such as the kidneys, heart, retina of the eyes, and nerves. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most severe micro-vascular complications, which can lead to ESRD (end-stage renal disease). Zebrafish are ideal for wide-scale analysis or screening, due to their small size, quick growth, transparent embryos, vast number of offspring, and gene similarity with humans, which combine to make zebrafish an ideal model for diabetes. The readily available tools for gene editing using morpholinos or CRISPR/Cas9, as well as chemical/drug therapy by microinjection or skin absorption, enable zebrafish diabetes mellitus models to be established in a number of ways. In this review, we emphasize the physiological and pathological processes relating to micro-vascular problems in zebrafish, as well as the many experimental zebrafish models used to research DN, and the DN-related outcomes and mechanisms observed in zebrafish. This study specifies the benefits and drawbacks and future perspective of using zebrafish as a disease model. Abstract Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complicated metabolic illness that has had a worldwide impact and placed an unsustainable load on both developed and developing countries’ health care systems. According to the International Diabetes Federation, roughly 537 million individuals had diabetes in 2021, with type 2 diabetes mellitus accounting for the majority of cases (T2DM). T2DM is a chronic illness defined by insufficient insulin production from pancreatic islet cells. T2DM generates various micro and macrovascular problems, with diabetic nephropathy (DN) being one of the most serious microvascular consequences, and which can lead to end-stage renal disease. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has set the way for its future as a disease model organism. As numerous essential developmental processes, such as glucose metabolism and reactive metabolite production pathways, have been identified in zebrafish that are comparable to those seen in humans, it is a good model for studying diabetes and its consequences. It also has many benefits over other vertebrate models, including the permeability of its embryos to small compounds, disease-driven therapeutic target selection, in vivo validation, and deconstruction of biological networks. The organism can also be utilized to investigate and understand the genetic abnormalities linked to the onset of diabetes problems. Zebrafish may be used to examine and visualize the growth, morphology, and function of organs under normal physiological and diabetic settings. The zebrafish has become one of the most useful models for studying DN, especially when combined with genetic alterations and/or mutant or transgenic fish lines. The significant advancements of CRISPR and next-generation sequencing technology for disease modelling in zebrafish, as well as developments in molecular and nano technologies, have advanced the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of several human diseases, including DN. In this review, we emphasize the physiological and pathological processes relating to microvascular problems in zebrafish, as well as the many experimental zebrafish models used to research DN, and the DN-related outcomes and mechanisms observed in zebrafish.
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Zhu X, Tang L, Mao J, Hameed Y, Zhang J, Li N, Wu D, Huang Y, Li C. Decoding the Mechanism behind the Pathogenesis of the Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:1941038. [PMID: 35693262 PMCID: PMC9175094 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1941038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a chronic glomerular disease associated with podocyte injury which is named after the pathologic features of the kidney. The aim of this study is to decode the key changes in gene expression and regulatory network involved in the formation of FSGS. Integrated network analysis included Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between FSGS patients and healthy donors. Bioinformatics analysis was used to identify the roles of the DEGs and included the development of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, Gene Ontology (GO), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses, and the key modules were assured. The expression levels of DEGs were validated using the additional dataset. Eventually, transcription factors and ceRNA networks were established to illuminate the regulatory relationships in the formation of FSGS. 1130 DEGs including 475 upregulated genes and 655 downregulated genes with functional enrichment analysis were determined. Further analysis uncovered that the validated hub genes were defined as candidate genes, including Complement C3a Receptor 1 (C3AR1), C-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 1(CCR1), C-X3-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 1 (CX3CL1), Melatonin Receptor 1A (MTNR1A), and Purinergic Receptor P2Y13 (P2RY13). More importantly, we identified transcription factors and mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA regulatory networks associated with the candidate genes. The candidate genes and regulatory networks discovered in this study can help to comprehend the molecular mechanism of FSGS and supply potential targets for the diagnosis and therapy of FSGS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhu
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Liping Tang
- The Eighth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Jingxin Mao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yasir Hameed
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Jingyu Zhang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524024, China
| | - Ning Li
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524024, China
| | - Danny Wu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524024, China
| | - Yongmei Huang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524024, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Free University of Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany
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In Silico Analysis of the Gene Expression Patterns between Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma and Nonfunctional Adrenocortical Adenoma. Genet Res (Camb) 2021; 2021:9553637. [PMID: 34690553 PMCID: PMC8505127 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9553637] [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: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary aldosteronism is the most common form of secondary hypertension, and aldosteronoma makes up a significant proportion of primary aldosteronism cases. Aldosteronoma is also called aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). Although there have been many studies about APA, the pathogenesis of this disease is not yet fully understood. In this study, we aimed to find out the difference of gene expression patterns between APA and nonfunctional adrenocortical adenoma (NFAA) using a weighted gene coexpression network (WGCNA) and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis; only the genes that meet the corresponding standards of both methods were defined as real hub genes and then used for further analysis. Twenty-nine real hub genes were found out, most of which were enriched in the phospholipid metabolic process. WISP2, S100A10, SSTR5-AS1, SLC29A1, APOC1, and SLITRK4 are six real hub genes with the same gene expression pattern between the combined and validation datasets, three of which indirectly or directly participate in lipid metabolism including WISP2, S100A10, and APOC1. According to the gene expression pattern of DEGs, we speculated five candidate drugs with potential therapeutic value for APA, one of which is cycloheximide, an inhibitor for phospholipid biosynthesis. All the evidence suggests that phospholipid metabolism may be an important pathophysiological mechanism for APA. Our study provides a new perspective regarding the pathophysiological mechanism of APA and offers some small molecules that may possibly be effective drugs against APA.
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A key gene in Drosophila eye development provides protection for tubules and glomeruli upon injury. Kidney Int 2021; 101:9-12. [PMID: 34655648 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2021.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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12
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The Zebrafish Model to Understand Epigenetics in Renal Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179152. [PMID: 34502062 PMCID: PMC8431166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179152] [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: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are able to alter gene expression and include DNA methylation, different histone variants, and post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs), such as acetylation or phosphorylation, and through short/long RNAs, respectively. In this review, we focus on current knowledge concerning epigenetic modifications in gene regulation. We describe different forms of epigenetic modifications and explain how epigenetic changes can be detected. The relevance of epigenetics in renal diseases is highlighted with multiple examples and the use of the zebrafish model to study glomerular diseases in general and epigenetics in renal diseases in particular is discussed. We end with an outlook on how to use epigenetic modifications as a therapeutic target for different diseases. Here, the zebrafish model can be employed as a high-throughput screening tool not only to discover epigenetic alterations contributing to disease, but also to test novel substances that change epigenetic signatures in vivo. Therefore, the zebrafish model harbors the opportunity to find novel pathogenic pathways allowing a pre-selection of potential targets and compounds to be tested for renal diseases.
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Merscher S, Faul C. DACH1 as a multifaceted and potentially druggable susceptibility factor for kidney disease. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:149043. [PMID: 33998596 PMCID: PMC8121511 DOI: 10.1172/jci149043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Kidney diseases affect more than 15% of adults in the US, yet drug development in the kidney field, when compared with that for other common diseases, has been lagging behind. Modifiers that increase the susceptibility to injury and contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of kidney disease include genetic and environmental factors and epigenetic mechanisms. In this issue of the JCI, Cao et al. and Doke et al. independently report the identification of a susceptibility factor called Dachshund homolog 1 (DACH1). Both groups identify an association of reduced DACH1 expression with kidney disease, using different screening approaches, studying different types of human kidney diseases, and using different experimental models, making the fact that both stumbled over the same protein very compelling. Combined, these studies highlight DACH1 as a key safeguard in the kidney, granting various cell types proper function by modulating several molecular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Merscher
- Katz Family Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Peggy and Harold Katz Family Drug Discovery Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Christian Faul
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Cao A, Li J, Asadi M, Basgen JM, Zhu B, Yi Z, Jiang S, Doke T, El Shamy O, Patel N, Cravedi P, Azeloglu EU, Campbell KN, Menon M, Coca S, Zhang W, Wang H, Zen K, Liu Z, Murphy B, He JC, D’Agati VD, Susztak K, Kaufman L. DACH1 protects podocytes from experimental diabetic injury and modulates PTIP-H3K4Me3 activity. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:141279. [PMID: 33998601 PMCID: PMC8121508 DOI: 10.1172/jci141279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Dachshund homolog 1 (DACH1), a key cell-fate determinant, regulates transcription by DNA sequence-specific binding. We identified diminished Dach1 expression in a large-scale screen for mutations that convert injury-resistant podocytes into injury-susceptible podocytes. In diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients, podocyte DACH1 expression levels are diminished, a condition that strongly correlates with poor clinical outcomes. Global Dach1 KO mice manifest renal hypoplasia and die perinatally. Podocyte-specific Dach1 KO mice, however, maintain normal glomerular architecture at baseline, but rapidly exhibit podocyte injury after diabetes onset. Furthermore, podocyte-specific augmentation of DACH1 expression in mice protects from DKD. Combined RNA sequencing and in silico promoter analysis reveal conversely overlapping glomerular transcriptomic signatures between podocyte-specific Dach1 and Pax transactivation-domain interacting protein (Ptip) KO mice, with upregulated genes possessing higher-than-expected numbers of promoter Dach1-binding sites. PTIP, an essential component of the activating histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4Me3) complex, interacts with DACH1 and is recruited by DACH1 to its promoter-binding sites. DACH1-PTIP recruitment represses transcription and reduces promoter H3K4Me3 levels. DACH1 knockdown in podocytes combined with hyperglycemia triggers target gene upregulation and increases promoter H3K4Me3. These findings reveal that in DKD, diminished DACH1 expression enhances podocyte injury vulnerability via epigenetic derepression of its target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aili Cao
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Nephrology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Morad Asadi
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - John M. Basgen
- Life Science Institute, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Bingbing Zhu
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Nephrology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengzi Yi
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Song Jiang
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tomohito Doke
- Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Osama El Shamy
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Niralee Patel
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Paolo Cravedi
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Evren U. Azeloglu
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kirk N. Campbell
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Madhav Menon
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Steve Coca
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Weijia Zhang
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Zen
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Barbara Murphy
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - John C. He
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vivette D. D’Agati
- Department of Pathology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Katalin Susztak
- Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lewis Kaufman
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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15
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Doke T, Huang S, Qiu C, Liu H, Guan Y, Hu H, Ma Z, Wu J, Miao Z, Sheng X, Zhou J, Cao A, Li J, Kaufman L, Hung A, Brown CD, Pestell R, Susztak K. Transcriptome-wide association analysis identifies DACH1 as a kidney disease risk gene that contributes to fibrosis. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:141801. [PMID: 33998598 PMCID: PMC8121513 DOI: 10.1172/jci141801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for kidney function identified hundreds of risk regions; however, the causal variants, target genes, cell types, and disease mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we performed transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS), summary Mendelian randomization, and MetaXcan to identify genes whose expression mediates the genotype effect on the phenotype. Our analyses identified Dachshund homolog 1 (DACH1), a cell-fate determination factor. GWAS risk variant was associated with lower DACH1 expression in human kidney tubules. Human and mouse kidney single-cell open chromatin data (snATAC-Seq) prioritized estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) GWAS variants located on an intronic regulatory region in distal convoluted tubule cells. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing confirmed the role of risk variants in regulating DACH1 expression. Mice with tubule-specific Dach1 deletion developed more severe renal fibrosis both in folic acid and diabetic kidney injury models. Mice with tubule-specific Dach1 overexpression were protected from folic acid nephropathy. Single-cell RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and functional analysis indicated that DACH1 controls the expression of cell cycle and myeloid chemotactic factors, contributing to macrophage infiltration and fibrosis development. In summary, integration of GWAS, TWAS, single-cell epigenome, expression analyses, gene editing, and functional validation in different mouse kidney disease models identified DACH1 as a kidney disease risk gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohito Doke
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shizheng Huang
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chengxiang Qiu
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hongbo Liu
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuting Guan
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hailong Hu
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ziyuan Ma
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Junnan Wu
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zhen Miao
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xin Sheng
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jianfu Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Aili Cao
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jianhua Li
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lewis Kaufman
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Adriana Hung
- Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Christopher D. Brown
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Richard Pestell
- Pennsylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Katalin Susztak
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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16
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Zimmermann M, Klaus M, Wong MN, Thebille AK, Gernhold L, Kuppe C, Halder M, Kranz J, Wanner N, Braun F, Wulf S, Wiech T, Panzer U, Krebs CF, Hoxha E, Kramann R, Huber TB, Bonn S, Puelles VG. Deep learning-based molecular morphometrics for kidney biopsies. JCI Insight 2021; 6:144779. [PMID: 33705360 PMCID: PMC8119189 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.144779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphologic examination of tissue biopsies is essential for histopathological diagnosis. However, accurate and scalable cellular quantification in human samples remains challenging. Here, we present a deep learning-based approach for antigen-specific cellular morphometrics in human kidney biopsies, which combines indirect immunofluorescence imaging with U-Net-based architectures for image-to-image translation and dual segmentation tasks, achieving human-level accuracy. In the kidney, podocyte loss represents a hallmark of glomerular injury and can be estimated in diagnostic biopsies. Thus, we profiled over 27,000 podocytes from 110 human samples, including patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis (ANCA-GN), an immune-mediated disease with aggressive glomerular damage and irreversible loss of kidney function. We identified previously unknown morphometric signatures of podocyte depletion in patients with ANCA-GN, which allowed patient classification and, in combination with routine clinical tools, showed potential for risk stratification. Our approach enables robust and scalable molecular morphometric analysis of human tissues, yielding deeper biological insights into the human kidney pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Zimmermann
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Center for Biomedical AI (bAIome), Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Klaus
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Center for Biomedical AI (bAIome), Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Milagros N Wong
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ann-Katrin Thebille
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Center for Biomedical AI (bAIome), Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Gernhold
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Kuppe
- Department of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology and.,Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maurice Halder
- Department of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology and.,Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Kranz
- St.-Antonius Hospital Eschweiler, Department of Urology, Eschweiler, Germany.,Department of Urology and Kidney Transplantation, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany
| | - Nicola Wanner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fabian Braun
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sonia Wulf
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wiech
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulf Panzer
- III. Department of Medicine, Division of Translational Immunology, and.,Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian F Krebs
- III. Department of Medicine, Division of Translational Immunology, and.,Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elion Hoxha
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rafael Kramann
- Department of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology and.,Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias B Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Bonn
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Center for Biomedical AI (bAIome), Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Victor G Puelles
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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17
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Molecular Mechanisms of Renal Progenitor Regulation: How Many Pieces in the Puzzle? Cells 2021; 10:cells10010059. [PMID: 33401654 PMCID: PMC7823786 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Kidneys of mice, rats and humans possess progenitors that maintain daily homeostasis and take part in endogenous regenerative processes following injury, owing to their capacity to proliferate and differentiate. In the glomerular and tubular compartments of the nephron, consistent studies demonstrated that well-characterized, distinct populations of progenitor cells, localized in the parietal epithelium of Bowman capsule and scattered in the proximal and distal tubules, could generate segment-specific cells in physiological conditions and following tissue injury. However, defective or abnormal regenerative responses of these progenitors can contribute to pathologic conditions. The molecular characteristics of renal progenitors have been extensively studied, revealing that numerous classical and evolutionarily conserved pathways, such as Notch or Wnt/β-catenin, play a major role in cell regulation. Others, such as retinoic acid, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, TLR2 (Toll-like receptor 2) and leptin, are also important in this process. In this review, we summarize the plethora of molecular mechanisms directing renal progenitor responses during homeostasis and following kidney injury. Finally, we will explore how single-cell RNA sequencing could bring the characterization of renal progenitors to the next level, while knowing their molecular signature is gaining relevance in the clinic.
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18
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Adriamycin does not damage podocytes of zebrafish larvae. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242436. [PMID: 33186381 PMCID: PMC7665694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Podocytes are highly specialized epithelial cells that are essential for an intact glomerular filtration barrier in the kidney. Several glomerular diseases like focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are initially due to podocyte injury and loss. Since causative treatments for FSGS are not available until today, drug screening is of great relevance. In order to test a high number of drugs, FSGS needs to be reliably induced in a suitable animal model. The zebrafish larva is an ideal model for kidney research due to the vast amount of offsprings, the rapid development of a simple kidney and a remarkable homology to the mammalian glomerulus. Zebrafish larvae possess a size-selective glomerular filtration barrier at 4 days post fertilization including podocytes with interdigitating foot processes that are connected by a slit membrane. Adriamycin is an anthracycline which is often used in mice and rats to induce a FSGS-like phenotype. In this study, we aimed to induce a similar phenotype to zebrafish larvae by adding adriamycin to the tank water in different concentrations. Surprisingly, zebrafish larvae did not develop glomerular injury and displayed an intact filtration barrier after treatment with adriamycin. This was shown by (immuno-) histology, our filtration assay, in vivo imaging by 2-photon microcopy, RT-(q)PCR as well as transmission electron microscopy. To summarize, adriamycin is unable to induce a podocyte-related damage in zebrafish larvae and therefore major effort must be made to establish FSGS in zebrafish larvae to identify effective drugs by screenings.
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19
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Kubik MJ, Wyczanska M, Gasparitsch M, Keller U, Weber S, Schaefer F, Lange-Sperandio B. Renal developmental genes are differentially regulated after unilateral ureteral obstruction in neonatal and adult mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19302. [PMID: 33168884 PMCID: PMC7653944 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76328-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital obstructive nephropathy hinders normal kidney development. The severity and the duration of obstruction determine the compensatory growth of the contralateral, intact opposite kidney. We investigated the regulation of renal developmental genes, that are relevant in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) in obstructed and contralateral (intact opposite) kidneys after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in neonatal and adult mice. Newborn and adult mice were subjected to complete UUO or sham-operation, and were sacrificed 1, 5, 12 and 19 days later. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed in obstructed, intact opposite kidneys and sham controls for Gdnf, Pax2, Six4, Six2, Dach1, Eya1, Bmp4, and Hnf-1β. Neonatal UUO induced an early and strong upregulation of all genes. In contrast, adult UUO kidneys showed a delayed and less pronounced upregulation. Intact opposite kidneys of neonatal mice revealed a strong upregulation of all developmental genes, whereas intact opposite kidneys of adult mice demonstrated only a weak response. Only neonatal mice exhibited an increase in BMP4 protein expression whereas adult kidneys strongly upregulated phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase class III, essential for compensatory hypertrophy. In conclusion, gene regulation differs in neonatal and adult mice with UUO. Repair and compensatory hypertrophy involve different genetic programs in developing and adult obstructed kidneys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie J Kubik
- Department of Pediatrics, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maja Wyczanska
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Lindwurmstr.4, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Mojca Gasparitsch
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Lindwurmstr.4, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Ursula Keller
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Lindwurmstr.4, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Weber
- University Children's Hospital, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Franz Schaefer
- Department of Pediatrics, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bärbel Lange-Sperandio
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Lindwurmstr.4, 80337, Munich, Germany.
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20
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Zhang YL, Wang JM, Yin H, Wang SB, He CL, Liu J. DACH1, a novel target of miR-218, participates in the regulation of cell viability, apoptosis, inflammatory response, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in renal tubule cells treated by high-glucose. Ren Fail 2020; 42:463-473. [PMID: 32408786 PMCID: PMC7269034 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2020.1762647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: This report was designed to assess the functional role of miR-218/dachshund family transcription factor 1 (DACH1) in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and investigate its possible molecular mechanism.Materials and Methods: From the GEO database, we downloaded different datasets for analyzing the expression of miR-218 and DACH1 in DKD. TargetScan was adopted to predict the binding sites between miR-218 and DACH1, which was further verified by dual-luciferase reporter assays. The renal proximal tubule cells (HK-2) treated with high glucose (HG) were used as an in vitro model. QRT-PCR and western blot were used to determine the expression of DACH1 and other relative factors. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometer were applied to detect cell viability and apoptosis. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined by an ELISA assay.Results: A prominent raise of miR-218 was observed in DKD through bioinformatics analysis, which was further confirmed in the HG-induced model. DACH1 is a target of miR-218. miR-218 reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis by negatively regulating DACH1. Moreover, upregulating miR-218 in HG models increased the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, reduced the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and promoted the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, which is possibly achieved by targeting DACH1. While downregulating miR-218 showed the opposite results.Conclusion: These data demonstrated that, under an in vitro HG environment, miR-218 suppressed the HK-2 cells proliferation, promoted apoptosis, caused an inflammatory response, and facilitated the EMT process largely by targeting DACH1, providing an insight into the therapeutic intervention of DKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Li Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Jie-Min Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Hong Yin
- Department of Endocrinology, The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Shou-Bao Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Cai-Ling He
- Department of Endocrinology, The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, The People's Hospital of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
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21
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Wu D, Bai J, Cui S, Fu B, Yin Z, Cai G, Chen X. Renal progenitor cells modulated by angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) medication and differentiation towards podocytes in anti-thy1.1 nephritis. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:355. [PMID: 32355799 PMCID: PMC7186716 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2020.02.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) is an epidemic disease with increasing occurrence. As important as mesangial cells, podocytes are key innate cells for MsPGN prognosis and recovery. Renal progenitor cells, located at the urinary pole (UP) of Bowman’s capsule (BC), could alleviate kidney injury through their capacity to differentiate into podocytes. Methods Seventy-two male rats were categorized randomly into the sham (n=24), untreated Thy-1 (n=24) and losartan-treated (n=24) groups. We administered vehicle or losartan (50 mg/kg by gavage) daily to treat rats with anti-thy1.1 nephritis, an ideal model to simulate human MsPGN. Two weeks after the intravenous injection of antibody, urinary protein and blood samples were analyzed, pathological changes were examined, the number of podocytes was determined, and renal progenitor cells were studied. Results Anti-thy1.1 nephritis was significantly alleviated after losartan treatment, as reported previously and as expected. Compared with the untreated Thy-1 group, the number of podocytes in the losartan group increased, and the area of renal progenitor cells significantly increased. The protein expression of components of the p-ERK pathway was determined during the development of renal progenitor cells differentiating into podocytes. Conclusions The data in this paper show the direct glomerular cell action of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) treatment in improving outcomes in anti-thy1.1 nephritis. The positive effects of ARB medication on anti-thy1.1 nephritis were due to an increase in the number of renal epithelial progenitor cells (defined as PECs that expressed only stem cell markers without podocyte proteins).
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.,Department of Nephrology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jiuxu Bai
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.,Department of Nephrology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Shaoyuan Cui
- Department of Nephrology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Bo Fu
- Department of Nephrology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Zhiwei Yin
- Department of Nephrology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Guangyan Cai
- Department of Nephrology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.,Department of Nephrology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing 100853, China
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Okabe M, Motojima M, Miyazaki Y, Pastan I, Yokoo T, Matsusaka T. Global polysome analysis of normal and injured podocytes. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2018; 316:F241-F252. [PMID: 30379099 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00115.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Podocyte injury is a key event for progressive renal failure. We have previously established a mouse model of inducible podocyte injury (NEP25) that progressively develops glomerulosclerosis after immunotoxin injection. We performed polysome analysis of intact and injured podocytes utilizing the NEP25 and RiboTag transgenic mice, in which a hemagglutinin tag is attached to ribosomal protein L22 selectively in podocytes. Podocyte-specific polysomes were successfully obtained by immunoprecipitation with an antihemagglutinin antibody from glomerular homogenate and analyzed using a microarray. Compared with glomerular cells, 353 genes were highly expressed and enriched in podocytes; these included important podocyte genes and also heretofore uncharacterized genes, such as Dach1 and Foxd2. Podocyte injury by immunotoxin induced many genes to be upregulated, including inflammation-related genes despite no infiltration of inflammatory cells in the glomeruli. MafF and Egr-1, which structurally have the potential to antagonize MafB and WT1, respectively, were rapidly and markedly increased in injured podocytes before MafB and WT1 were decreased. We demonstrated that Maff and Egr1 knockdown increased the MafB targets Nphs2 and Ptpro and the WT1 targets Ptpro, Nxph3, and Sulf1, respectively. This indicates that upregulated MafF and Egr-1 may promote deterioration of podocytes by antagonizing MafB and WT1. Our systematic microarray study of the heretofore undescribed behavior of podocyte genes may open new insights into the understanding of podocyte pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Okabe
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan.,Department of Basic Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine , Isehara , Japan
| | - Masaru Motojima
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Tokai University School of Medicine , Isehara , Japan
| | - Yoichi Miyazaki
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Takashi Yokoo
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Taiji Matsusaka
- Department of Basic Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine , Isehara , Japan.,Institute of Medical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine , Isehara , Japan
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23
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Endlich N, Kliewe F, Kindt F, Schmidt K, Kotb AM, Artelt N, Lindenmeyer MT, Cohen CD, Döring F, Kuss AW, Amann K, Moeller MJ, Kabgani N, Blumenthal A, Endlich K. The transcription factor Dach1 is essential for podocyte function. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:2656-2669. [PMID: 29498212 PMCID: PMC5908116 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Dedifferentiation and loss of podocytes are the major cause of chronic kidney disease. Dach1, a transcription factor that is essential for cell fate, was found in genome‐wide association studies to be associated with the glomerular filtration rate. We found that podocytes express high levels of Dach1 in vivo and to a much lower extent in vitro. Parietal epithelial cells (PECs) that are still under debate to be a type of progenitor cell for podocytes expressed Dach1 only at low levels. The transfection of PECs with a plasmid encoding for Dach1 induced the expression of synaptopodin, a podocyte‐specific protein, demonstrated by immunocytochemistry and Western blot. Furthermore, synaptopodin was located along actin fibres in a punctate pattern in Dach1‐expressing PECs comparable with differentiated podocytes. Moreover, dedifferentiating podocytes of isolated glomeruli showed a significant reduction in the expression of Dach1 together with synaptopodin after 9 days in cell culture. To study the role of Dach1 in vivo, we used the zebrafish larva as an animal model. Knockdown of the zebrafish ortholog Dachd by morpholino injection into fertilized eggs resulted in a severe renal phenotype. The glomeruli of the zebrafish larvae showed morphological changes of the glomerulus accompanied by down‐regulation of nephrin and leakage of the filtration barrier. Interestingly, glomeruli of biopsies from patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy showed also a significant reduction of Dach1 and synaptopodin in contrast to control biopsies. Taken together, Dach1 is a transcription factor that is important for podocyte differentiation and proper kidney function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Felix Kliewe
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Frances Kindt
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Katharina Schmidt
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ahmed M Kotb
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Nadine Artelt
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Maja T Lindenmeyer
- Nephrological Center, Medical Clinic and Policlinic IV, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Clemens D Cohen
- Nephrological Center, Medical Clinic and Policlinic IV, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Franziska Döring
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andreas W Kuss
- Department of Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kerstin Amann
- Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marcus J Moeller
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nazanin Kabgani
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Antje Blumenthal
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Karlhans Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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