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Horng JL, Hsiao BY, Lin WT, Lin TT, Chang CY, Lin LY. Investigation of verapamil-induced cardiorenal dysfunction and compensatory ion regulation in zebrafish embryos. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 284:109980. [PMID: 39038748 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2024.109980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the development of verapamil-induced cardiorenal failure and the response of epidermal ionocytes in zebrafish embryos to this syndrome. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to verapamil for 24 h at different developmental stages (48, 72, and 96 h post-fertilization). The exposure resulted in the generation of edema in the pericardial and yolk sac regions, with more-pronounced effects observed in later-stage embryos. Cardiac parameters showed a suppressed heart rate at all stages, with a more-significant effect appearing in later stages. Verapamil also affected cardiac parameters including the end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), and cardiac output (CO), indicating negative overall effects on cardiac performance. mRNA levels of heart failure markers (nppa and nppb genes) were upregulated in verapamil-exposed embryos at all stages. Renal function was impaired as FITC-dextran excretion was suppressed. A whole-embryo ion content analysis revealed significant increases in sodium and calcium contents in verapamil-exposed embryos. The density of epidermal ionocytes increased, and the apical membrane of ionocytes was enlarged, indicating upregulation of ion uptake. In addition, mRNA levels of several ion transporter genes (rhcg1, slc9a3, atp6v1a, atp2b1a, trpv6, and slc12a10.2) were significantly upregulated in verapamil-exposed embryos. In summary, prolonged exposure to verapamil can induce cardiorenal failure which triggers compensatory upregulation of ionocytes in zebrafish embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiun-Lin Horng
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Bu-Yuan Hsiao
- Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Taipei Heart Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ting Lin
- Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10658, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Ting Lin
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Yen Chang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Li-Yih Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan.
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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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3
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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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4
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Zeitler EM, Jennette JC, Flythe JE, Falk RJ, Poulton JS. High-calorie diet results in reversible obesity-related glomerulopathy in adult zebrafish regardless of dietary fat. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2022; 322:F527-F539. [PMID: 35224994 PMCID: PMC8977181 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00018.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a risk factor for the development of kidney disease. The role of diet in this association remains undetermined, in part due to practical limitations in studying nutrition in humans. In particular, the relative importance of calorie excess versus dietary macronutrient content is poorly understood. For example, it is unknown if calorie restriction modulates obesity-related kidney pathology. To study the effects of diet-induced obesity in a novel animal model, we treated zebrafish for 8 wk with diets varied in both calorie and fat content. Kidneys were evaluated by light and electron microscopy. We evaluated glomerular filtration barrier function using a dextran permeability assay. We assessed the effect of diet on podocyte sensitivity to injury using an inducible podocyte injury model. We then tested the effect of calorie restriction on the defects caused by diet-induced obesity. Fish fed a high-calorie diet developed glomerulomegaly (mean: 1,211 vs. 1,010 µm2 in controls, P = 0.007), lower podocyte density, foot process effacement, glomerular basement membrane thickening, tubular enlargement (mean: 1,038 vs. 717 µm2 in controls, P < 0.0001), and ectopic lipid deposition. Glomerular filtration barrier dysfunction and increased susceptibility to podocyte injury were observed with high-calorie feeding regardless of dietary fat content. These pathological changes resolved with 4 wk of calorie restriction. Our findings suggest that calorie excess rather than dietary fat drives obesity-related kidney dysfunction and that inadequate podocyte proliferation in response to glomerular enlargement may cause podocyte dysfunction. We also demonstrate the value of zebrafish as a novel model for studying diet in obesity-related kidney disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Obesity is a risk factor for kidney disease. The role of diet in this association is difficult to study in humans. In this study, zebrafish fed a high-calorie diet, regardless of fat macronutrient composition, developed glomerulomegaly, foot process effacement, and filtration barrier dysfunction, recapitulating the changes seen in humans with obesity. Calorie restriction reversed the changes. This work suggests that macronutrient composition may be less important than total calories in the development of obesity-related kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan M Zeitler
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, UNC Kidney Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - J Charles Jennette
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, UNC Kidney Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Nephropathology Division, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jennifer E Flythe
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, UNC Kidney Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Ronald J Falk
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, UNC Kidney Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - John S Poulton
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, UNC Kidney Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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5
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Bolten JS, Pratsinis A, Alter CL, Fricker G, Huwyler J. Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) larva as an in vivo vertebrate model to study renal function. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2022; 322:F280-F294. [PMID: 35037468 PMCID: PMC8858672 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00375.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing interest in using zebrafish (Danio rerio) larva as a vertebrate screening model to study drug disposition. As the pronephric kidney of zebrafish larvae shares high similarity with the anatomy of nephrons in higher vertebrates including humans, we explored in this study whether 3- to 4-day-old zebrafish larvae have a fully functional pronephron. Intravenous injection of fluorescent polyethylene glycol and dextran derivatives of different molecular weight revealed a cutoff of 4.4-7.6 nm in hydrodynamic diameter for passive glomerular filtration, which is in agreement with corresponding values in rodents and humans. Distal tubular reabsorption of a FITC-folate conjugate, covalently modified with PEG2000, via folate receptor 1 was shown. Transport experiments of fluorescent substrates were assessed in the presence and absence of specific inhibitors in the blood systems. Thereby, functional expression in the proximal tubule of organic anion transporter oat (slc22) multidrug resistance-associated protein mrp1 (abcc1), mrp2 (abcc2), mrp4 (abcc4), and zebrafish larva p-glycoprotein analog abcb4 was shown. In addition, nonrenal clearance of fluorescent substrates and plasma protein binding characteristics were assessed in vivo. The results of transporter experiments were confirmed by extrapolation to ex vivo experiments in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) proximal kidney tubules. We conclude that the zebrafish larva has a fully functional pronephron at 96 h postfertilization and is therefore an attractive translational vertebrate screening model to bridge the gap between cell culture-based test systems and pharmacokinetic experiments in higher vertebrates.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The study of renal function remains a challenge. In vitro cell-based assays are approved to study, e.g., ABC/SLC-mediated drug transport but do not cover other renal functions such as glomerular filtration. Here, in vivo studies combined with in vitro assays are needed, which are time consuming and expensive. In view of these limitations, our proof-of-concept study demonstrates that the zebrafish larva is a translational in vivo test model that allows for mechanistic investigations to study renal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Stephan Bolten
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Pratsinis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Luca Alter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gert Fricker
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salsbury Cove, Bar Harbor, Maine
| | - Jörg Huwyler
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salsbury Cove, Bar Harbor, Maine
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6
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Miyawaki I. Application of zebrafish to safety evaluation in drug discovery. J Toxicol Pathol 2020; 33:197-210. [PMID: 33239838 PMCID: PMC7677624 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2020-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, safety evaluation at the early stage of drug discovery research has been done using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo systems in this order because of limitations on the amount of compounds available and the throughput ability of the assay systems. While these in vitro assays are very effective tools for detecting particular tissue-specific toxicity phenotypes, it is difficult to detect toxicity based on complex mechanisms involving multiple organs and tissues. Therefore, the development of novel high throughput in vivo evaluation systems has been expected for a long time. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a vertebrate with many attractive characteristics for use in drug discovery, such as a small size, transparency, gene and protein similarity with mammals (80% or more), and ease of genetic modification to establish human disease models. Actually, in recent years, the zebrafish has attracted interest as a novel experimental animal. In this article, the author summarized the features of zebrafish that make it a suitable laboratory animal, and introduced and discussed the applications of zebrafish to preclinical toxicity testing, including evaluations of teratogenicity, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity based on morphological findings, evaluation of cardiotoxicity using functional endpoints, and assessment of seizure and drug abuse liability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izuru Miyawaki
- Preclinical Research Laboratories, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma
Co., Ltd., 3-1-98 Kasugade-naka, Konohana-ku, Osaka 554-0022, Japan
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7
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Steenbergen PJ, Heigwer J, Pandey G, Tönshoff B, Gehrig J, Westhoff JH. A Multiparametric Assay Platform for Simultaneous In Vivo Assessment of Pronephric Morphology, Renal Function and Heart Rate in Larval Zebrafish. Cells 2020; 9:E1269. [PMID: 32443839 PMCID: PMC7290829 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Automated high-throughput workflows allow for chemical toxicity testing and drug discovery in zebrafish disease models. Due to its conserved structural and functional properties, the zebrafish pronephros offers a unique model to study renal development and disease at larger scale. Ideally, scoring of pronephric phenotypes includes morphological and functional assessments within the same larva. However, to efficiently upscale such assays, refinement of existing methods is required. Here, we describe the development of a multiparametric in vivo screening pipeline for parallel assessment of pronephric morphology, kidney function and heart rate within the same larva on a single imaging platform. To this end, we developed a novel 3D-printed orientation tool enabling multiple consistent orientations of larvae in agarose-filled microplates. Dorsal pronephros imaging was followed by assessing renal clearance and heart rates upon fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-inulin microinjection using automated time-lapse imaging of laterally positioned larvae. The pipeline was benchmarked using a set of drugs known to induce developmental nephrotoxicity in humans and zebrafish. Drug-induced reductions in renal clearance and heart rate alterations were detected even in larvae exhibiting minor pronephric phenotypes. In conclusion, the developed workflow enables rapid and semi-automated in vivo assessment of multiple morphological and functional parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petrus J. Steenbergen
- Department of Pediatrics I, University Children’s Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (P.J.S.); (J.H.); (G.P.); (B.T.)
| | - Jana Heigwer
- Department of Pediatrics I, University Children’s Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (P.J.S.); (J.H.); (G.P.); (B.T.)
| | - Gunjan Pandey
- Department of Pediatrics I, University Children’s Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (P.J.S.); (J.H.); (G.P.); (B.T.)
| | - Burkhard Tönshoff
- Department of Pediatrics I, University Children’s Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (P.J.S.); (J.H.); (G.P.); (B.T.)
| | - Jochen Gehrig
- DITABIS, Digital Biomedical Imaging Systems AG, 75179 Pforzheim, Germany
- ACQUIFER Imaging GmbH, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jens H. Westhoff
- Department of Pediatrics I, University Children’s Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (P.J.S.); (J.H.); (G.P.); (B.T.)
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8
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Ahn SJ, Ruiz-Uribe NE, Li B, Porter J, Sakadzic S, Schaffer CB. Label-free assessment of hemodynamics in individual cortical brain vessels using third harmonic generation microscopy. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:2665-2678. [PMID: 32499951 PMCID: PMC7249811 DOI: 10.1364/boe.385848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We show that third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy using a 1-MHz train of 1,300-nm femtosecond duration laser pulses enabled visualization of the structure and quantification of flow speed in the cortical microvascular network of mice to a depth of > 1 mm. Simultaneous three-photon imaging of an intravascular fluorescent tracer enabled us to quantify the cell free layer thickness. Using the label-free imaging capability of THG, we measured flow speed in different types of vessels with and without the presence of an intravascular tracer conjugated to a high molecular weight dextran (2 MDa FITC-dextran, 5% w/v in saline, 100 µl). We found a ∼20% decrease in flow speeds in arterioles and venules due to the dextran-conjugated FITC, which we confirmed with Doppler optical coherence tomography. Capillary flow speeds did not change, although we saw a ∼7% decrease in red blood cell flux with dextran-conjugated FITC injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Ji Ahn
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Nancy E. Ruiz-Uribe
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Baoqiang Li
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jason Porter
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Sava Sakadzic
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Chris B. Schaffer
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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9
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Lerman LO, Kurtz TW, Touyz RM, Ellison DH, Chade AR, Crowley SD, Mattson DL, Mullins JJ, Osborn J, Eirin A, Reckelhoff JF, Iadecola C, Coffman TM. Animal Models of Hypertension: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Hypertension 2019; 73:e87-e120. [PMID: 30866654 DOI: 10.1161/hyp.0000000000000090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hypertension is the most common chronic disease in the world, yet the precise cause of elevated blood pressure often cannot be determined. Animal models have been useful for unraveling the pathogenesis of hypertension and for testing novel therapeutic strategies. The utility of animal models for improving the understanding of the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of hypertension and its comorbidities depends on their validity for representing human forms of hypertension, including responses to therapy, and on the quality of studies in those models (such as reproducibility and experimental design). Important unmet needs in this field include the development of models that mimic the discrete hypertensive syndromes that now populate the clinic, resolution of ongoing controversies in the pathogenesis of hypertension, and the development of new avenues for preventing and treating hypertension and its complications. Animal models may indeed be useful for addressing these unmet needs.
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10
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Elmonem MA, Berlingerio SP, van den Heuvel LP, de Witte PA, Lowe M, Levtchenko EN. Genetic Renal Diseases: The Emerging Role of Zebrafish Models. Cells 2018; 7:cells7090130. [PMID: 30200518 PMCID: PMC6162634 DOI: 10.3390/cells7090130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural and functional similarity of the larval zebrafish pronephros to the human nephron, together with the recent development of easier and more precise techniques to manipulate the zebrafish genome have motivated many researchers to model human renal diseases in the zebrafish. Over the last few years, great advances have been made, not only in the modeling techniques of genetic diseases in the zebrafish, but also in how to validate and exploit these models, crossing the bridge towards more informative explanations of disease pathophysiology and better designed therapeutic interventions in a cost-effective in vivo system. Here, we review the significant progress in these areas giving special attention to the renal phenotype evaluation techniques. We further discuss the future applications of such models, particularly their role in revealing new genetic diseases of the kidney and their potential use in personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A Elmonem
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology & Development and Regeneration, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 817, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 11628 Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Sante Princiero Berlingerio
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology & Development and Regeneration, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 817, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Lambertus P van den Heuvel
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology & Development and Regeneration, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 817, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Peter A de Witte
- Laboratory for Molecular Bio-Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Martin Lowe
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Elena N Levtchenko
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology & Development and Regeneration, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 817, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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11
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Endlich N, Lange T, Kuhn J, Klemm P, Kotb AM, Siegerist F, Kindt F, Lindenmeyer MT, Cohen CD, Kuss AW, Nath N, Rettig R, Lendeckel U, Zimmermann U, Amann K, Stracke S, Endlich K. BDNF: mRNA expression in urine cells of patients with chronic kidney disease and its role in kidney function. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:5265-5277. [PMID: 30133147 PMCID: PMC6201371 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Podocyte loss and changes to the complex morphology are major causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). As the incidence is continuously increasing over the last decades without sufficient treatment, it is important to find predicting biomarkers. Therefore, we measured urinary mRNA levels of podocyte genes NPHS1, NPHS2, PODXL and BDNF, KIM‐1, CTSL by qRT‐PCR of 120 CKD patients. We showed a strong correlation between BDNF and the kidney injury marker KIM‐1, which were also correlated with NPHS1, suggesting podocytes as a contributing source. In human biopsies, BDNF was localized in the cell body and major processes of podocytes. In glomeruli of diabetic nephropathy patients, we found a strong BDNF signal in the remaining podocytes. An inhibition of the BDNF receptor TrkB resulted in enhanced podocyte dedifferentiation. The knockdown of the orthologue resulted in pericardial oedema formation and lowered viability of zebrafish larvae. We found an enlarged Bowman's space, dilated glomerular capillaries, podocyte loss and an impaired glomerular filtration. We demonstrated that BDNF is essential for glomerular development, morphology and function and the expression of BDNF and KIM‐1 is highly correlated in urine cells of CKD patients. Therefore, BDNF mRNA in urine cells could serve as a potential CKD biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Tim Lange
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jana Kuhn
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Clinic for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Karlsburg Hospital Dr. Guth GmbH & Co KG, Karlsburg, Germany
| | - Paul Klemm
- 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
| | - Florian Siegerist
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Frances Kindt
- 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
| | - Andreas W Kuss
- Department of Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Neetika Nath
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Rainer Rettig
- Department of Physiology, University of Greifswald, Karlsburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Lendeckel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Zimmermann
- Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kerstin Amann
- Department of Pathology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sylvia Stracke
- Department of Internal Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Karlhans Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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12
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Hagmann H, Brinkkoetter PT. Experimental Models to Study Podocyte Biology: Stock-Taking the Toolbox of Glomerular Research. Front Pediatr 2018; 6:193. [PMID: 30057894 PMCID: PMC6053518 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases affecting the glomeruli of the kidney, the renal filtration units, are a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure. Despite recent advances in the understanding of glomerular biology, treatment of these disorders has remained extraordinarily challenging in many cases. The use of experimental models has proven invaluable to study renal, and in particular, glomerular biology and disease. Over the past 15 years, studies identified different and very distinct pathogenic mechanisms that result in damage, loss of glomerular visceral epithelial cells (podocytes) and progressive renal disease. However, animal studies and, in particular, mouse studies are often protracted and cumbersome due to the long reproductive cycle and high keeping costs. Transgenic and heterologous expression models have been speeded-up by novel gene editing techniques, yet they still take months. In addition, given the complex cellular biology of the filtration barrier, certain questions may not be directly addressed using mouse models due to the limited accessibility of podocytes for analysis and imaging. In this review, we will describe alternative models to study podocyte biology experimentally. We specifically discuss current podocyte cell culture models, their role in experimental strategies to analyze pathophysiologic mechanisms as well as limitations with regard to transferability of results. We introduce current models in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and Danio rerio that allow for analysis of protein interactions, and principle signaling pathways in functional biological structures, and enable high-throughput transgenic expression or compound screens in multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul T. Brinkkoetter
- Department II of Internal Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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13
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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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14
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Gehrig J, Pandey G, Westhoff JH. Zebrafish as a Model for Drug Screening in Genetic Kidney Diseases. Front Pediatr 2018; 6:183. [PMID: 30003073 PMCID: PMC6031734 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic disorders account for a wide range of renal diseases emerging during childhood and adolescence. Due to the utilization of modern biochemical and biomedical techniques, the number of identified disease-associated genes is increasing rapidly. Modeling of congenital human disease in animals is key to our understanding of the biological mechanism underlying pathological processes and thus developing novel potential treatment options. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been established as a versatile small vertebrate organism that is widely used for studying human inherited diseases. Genetic accessibility in combination with elegant experimental methods in zebrafish permit modeling of human genetic diseases and dissecting the perturbation of underlying cellular networks and physiological processes. Beyond its utility for genetic analysis and pathophysiological and mechanistic studies, zebrafish embryos, and larvae are amenable for phenotypic screening approaches employing high-content and high-throughput experiments using automated microscopy. This includes large-scale chemical screening experiments using genetic models for searching for disease-modulating compounds. Phenotype-based approaches of drug discovery have been successfully performed in diverse zebrafish-based screening applications with various phenotypic readouts. As a result, these can lead to the identification of candidate substances that are further examined in preclinical and clinical trials. In this review, we discuss zebrafish models for inherited kidney disease as well as requirements and considerations for the technical realization of drug screening experiments in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Gehrig
- Acquifer is a Division of Ditabis, Digital Biomedical Imaging Systems AG, Pforzheim, Germany
| | - Gunjan Pandey
- Acquifer is a Division of Ditabis, Digital Biomedical Imaging Systems AG, Pforzheim, Germany.,Department of Pediatrics I, University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jens H Westhoff
- Department of Pediatrics I, University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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15
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Tomas NM, Meyer-Schwesinger C, von Spiegel H, Kotb AM, Zahner G, Hoxha E, Helmchen U, Endlich N, Koch-Nolte F, Stahl RAK. A Heterologous Model of Thrombospondin Type 1 Domain-Containing 7A-Associated Membranous Nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 2017; 28:3262-3277. [PMID: 28814510 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2017010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) is a target for autoimmunity in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN). Circulating autoantibodies from patients with THSD7A-associated MN have been demonstrated to cause MN in mice. However, THSD7A-associated MN is a rare disease, preventing the use of patient antibodies for larger experimental procedures. Therefore, we generated antibodies against the human and mouse orthologs of THSD7A in rabbits by coimmunization with the respective cDNAs. Injection of these anti-THSD7A antibodies into mice induced a severe nephrotic syndrome with proteinuria, weight gain, and hyperlipidemia. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed granular antigen-antibody complexes in a subepithelial location along the glomerular filtration barrier 14 days after antibody injection, and immunohistochemistry for rabbit IgG and THSD7A as well as ultrastructural analyses showed the typical characteristics of human MN. Mice injected with purified IgG from rabbit serum that was taken before immunization failed to develop any of these changes. Notably, MN developed in the absence of detectable complement activation, and disease was strain dependent. In vitro, anti-THSD7A antibodies caused cytoskeletal rearrangement and activation of focal adhesion signaling. Knockdown of the THSD7A ortholog, thsd7aa, in zebrafish larvae resulted in altered podocyte differentiation and impaired glomerular filtration barrier function, with development of pericardial edema, suggesting an important role of THSD7A in glomerular filtration barrier integrity. In summary, our study introduces a heterologous mouse model that allows further investigation of the molecular events that underlie MN.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ahmed M Kotb
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; and.,Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | | | | | | | - Nicole Endlich
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; and
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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16
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Bachmann S. From fish to nephrology: modelling glomerular function in Danio rerio larvae. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2017; 220:16-18. [PMID: 27860407 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Bachmann
- Department of Anatomy; Charité Universitätsmedizin; Berlin Germany
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17
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Siegerist F, Zhou W, Endlich K, Endlich N. 4D in vivo imaging of glomerular barrier function in a zebrafish podocyte injury model. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2017; 220:167-173. [PMID: 27414464 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
AIM Zebrafish larvae with their simplified pronephros are an ideal model to study glomerular physiology. Although several groups use zebrafish larvae to assess glomerular barrier function, temporary or slight changes are still difficult to measure. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of in vivo two-photon microscopy (2-PM) for long-term imaging of glomerular barrier function in zebrafish larvae. METHODS As a proof of principle, we adapted the nitroreductase/metronidazole model of targeted podocyte ablation for 2-PM. Combination with a strain, which expresses eGFP-vitamin D-binding protein in the blood plasma, led to a strain that allowed induction of podocyte injury with parallel assessment of glomerular barrier function. We used four-dimensional (4D) 2-PM to assess eGFP fluorescence over 26 h in the vasculature and in tubules of multiple zebrafish larvae (5 days post-fertilization) simultaneously. RESULTS By 4D 2-PM, we observed that, under physiological conditions, eGFP fluorescence was retained in the vasculature and rarely detected in proximal tubule cells. Application of metronidazole induced podocyte injury and cell death as shown by TUNEL staining. Induction of podocyte injury resulted in a dramatic decrease of eGFP fluorescence in the vasculature over time (about 50% and 90% after 2 and 12 h respectively). Loss of vascular eGFP fluorescence was paralleled by an endocytosis-mediated accumulation of eGFP fluorescence in proximal tubule cells, indicating proteinuria. CONCLUSION We established a microscopy-based method to monitor the dynamics of glomerular barrier function during induction of podocyte injury in multiple zebrafish larvae simultaneously over 26 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Siegerist
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology; University Medicine Greifswald; Greifswald Germany
| | - W. Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases; University of Michigan; Ann Arbor MI USA
| | - K. Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology; University Medicine Greifswald; Greifswald Germany
| | - N. Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology; University Medicine Greifswald; Greifswald Germany
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18
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Assady S, Wanner N, Skorecki KL, Huber TB. New Insights into Podocyte Biology in Glomerular Health and Disease. J Am Soc Nephrol 2017; 28:1707-1715. [PMID: 28404664 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2017010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Podocyte and glomerular research is center stage for the development of improved preventive and therapeutic strategies for chronic progressive kidney diseases. Held April 3-6, 2016, the 11th International Podocyte Conference took place in Haifa and Jerusalem, Israel, where participants from all over the world presented their work on new developments in podocyte research. In this review, we briefly highlight the advances made in characterizing the mechanisms involved in podocyte development, metabolism, acquired injury, and repair, including progress in determining the roles of genetic variants and microRNA in particular, as well as the advances made in diagnostic techniques and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suheir Assady
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.,Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nicola Wanner
- Department of Medicine IV, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Karl L Skorecki
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel; .,Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tobias B Huber
- Department of Medicine IV, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; .,BIOSS-Centre for Biological Signalling Studies and.,III. Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,ZBSA-Center for Biological Systems Analysis, Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany; and
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19
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Schenk H, Müller-Deile J, Kinast M, Schiffer M. Disease modeling in genetic kidney diseases: zebrafish. Cell Tissue Res 2017; 369:127-141. [PMID: 28331970 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2593-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Growing numbers of translational genomics studies are based on the highly efficient and versatile zebrafish (Danio rerio) vertebrate model. The increasing types of zebrafish models have improved our understanding of inherited kidney diseases, since they not only display pathophysiological changes but also give us the opportunity to develop and test novel treatment options in a high-throughput manner. New paradigms in inherited kidney diseases have been developed on the basis of the distinct genome conservation of approximately 70 % between zebrafish and humans in terms of existing gene orthologs. Several options are available to determine the functional role of a specific gene or gene sets. Permanent genome editing can be induced via complete gene knockout by using the CRISPR/Cas-system, among others, or via transient modification by using various morpholino techniques. Cross-species rescues succeeding knockdown techniques are employed to determine the functional significance of a target gene or a specific mutation. This article summarizes the current techniques and discusses their perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Schenk
- Department of Medicine/Nephrology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, Bar Harbor, Me., USA
| | - Janina Müller-Deile
- Department of Medicine/Nephrology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, Bar Harbor, Me., USA
| | - Mark Kinast
- Department of Medicine/Nephrology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, Bar Harbor, Me., USA
| | - Mario Schiffer
- Department of Medicine/Nephrology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, Bar Harbor, Me., USA.
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20
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Xu W, Jin M, Hu R, Wang H, Zhang F, Yuan S, Cao Y. The Joubert Syndrome Protein Inpp5e Controls Ciliogenesis by Regulating Phosphoinositides at the Apical Membrane. J Am Soc Nephrol 2016; 28:118-129. [PMID: 27401686 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2015080906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoinositides, a family of phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns), are tightly regulated both temporally and spatially by PtdIns phosphatases and kinases. Mutations in inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase E (INPP5E) cause Joubert syndrome, a human disorder associated with numerous ciliopathic defects, including renal cyst formation, linking phosphoinositides to ciliopathies. However, the molecular mechanism by which INPP5E-mediated PtdIns signaling regulates ciliogenesis and cystogenesis is unclear. Here, we utilized an in vivo vertebrate model of renal cystogenesis to show that Inpp5e enzymatic activity at the apical membrane directs apical docking of basal bodies in renal epithelia. Knockdown or knockout of inpp5e led to ciliogenesis defects and cystic kidneys in zebrafish. Furthermore, knockdown of inpp5e in embryos led to defects in cell polarity, cortical organization of F-actin, and apical segregation of PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 Knockdown of the ezrin gene, which encodes an ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) protein that crosslinks PtdIns(4,5)P2 and F-actin, phenocopied inpp5e knockdowns. Notably, overexpression of the ezrin gene rescued inpp5e morphants. Finally, treatment with the PI 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002, which decreases PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 levels, rescued the cellular, phenotypic, and renal functional defects in inpp5e-knockdown embryos. Together, our data indicate that Inpp5e functions as a key regulator of cell polarity in the renal epithelia, by inhibiting PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and subsequently stabilizing PtdIns(4,5)P2 and recruiting Ezrin, F-actin, and basal bodies to the apical membrane, and suggest a possible novel approach for treating human ciliopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Xu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Life Sciences and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Miaomiao Jin
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Life Sciences and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruikun Hu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Life Sciences and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Life Sciences and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Life Sciences and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiaulou Yuan
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; and
| | - Ying Cao
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Life Sciences and Technology, Shanghai, China; .,Tongji University and Shanghai Changzheng Hospital Joint Research Center for Translational Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China
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21
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Kotb AM, Simon O, Blumenthal A, Vogelgesang S, Dombrowski F, Amann K, Zimmermann U, Endlich K, Endlich N. Knockdown of ApoL1 in Zebrafish Larvae Affects the Glomerular Filtration Barrier and the Expression of Nephrin. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153768. [PMID: 27138898 PMCID: PMC4854397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
APOL1, a secreted high-density lipoprotein, is expressed in different human tissues. Genetic variants of APOL1 are described to be associated with the development of end stage renal diseases in African Americans. In human kidney, APOL1 is mainly expressed in podocytes that are responsible for proper blood filtration. Since mice do not express ApoL1, the zebrafish is an ideal model to study the role of ApoL1. Injection of morpholinos against zApoL1 into zebrafish eggs and larvae, respectively, induces severe edema indicating a leakage of the filtration barrier. This was demonstrated in zApoL1 knockdown larvae by intravascular injection of fluorescently-labeled 10- and 500-kDa dextrans and by clearance of the vitamin D-binding protein from the circulation. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR revealed the reduction of nephrin, a podocyte-specific protein essential for blood filtration. Coinjection of human nephrin mRNA rescued the zApoL1 knockdown induced phenotype. Reduced APOL1 and nephrin levels were also found in biopsies of patients suffering from end stage renal diseases. Our results demonstrate that zApoL1 is essential for proper blood filtration in the zebrafish glomerulus and that zApoL1 affects the expression of nephrin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Kotb
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ole Simon
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Antje Blumenthal
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Silke Vogelgesang
- Institute of Pathology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Frank Dombrowski
- Institute of Pathology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kerstin Amann
- Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Uwe Zimmermann
- Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Karlhans Endlich
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nicole Endlich
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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22
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Novel in vivo techniques to visualize kidney anatomy and function. Kidney Int 2015; 88:44-51. [PMID: 25738253 PMCID: PMC4490063 DOI: 10.1038/ki.2015.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2014] [Revised: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Intravital imaging using multiphoton microscopy (MPM) has become an increasingly popular and widely used experimental technique in kidney research over the past few years. MPM allows deep optical sectioning of the intact, living kidney tissue with submicron resolution which is unparalleled among intravital imaging approaches. MPM has solved a long-standing critical technical barrier in renal research to study several complex and inaccessible cell types and anatomical structures in vivo in their native environment. Comprehensive and quantitative kidney structure and function MPM studies helped our better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the healthy and diseased kidney. This review summarizes recent in vivo MPM studies with a focus on the glomerulus and the filtration barrier, although select, glomerulus-related renal vascular and tubular functions are also mentioned. The latest applications of serial MPM of the same glomerulus in vivo, in the intact kidney over several days, during the progression of glomerular disease are discussed. This visual approach, in combination with genetically encoded fluorescent markers of cell lineage, has helped to track the fate and function (e.g. cell calcium changes) of single podocytes during the development of glomerular pathologies, and provided visual proof for the highly dynamic rather than static nature of the glomerular environment. Future intravital imaging applications have the promise to further push the limits of optical microscopy, and to advance our understanding of the mechanisms of kidney injury. Also, MPM will help to study new mechanisms of tissue repair and regeneration, a cutting edge area of kidney research.
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