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Wang M, Chen S, Cheng S, Nederstigt TAP, Poelmann RE, DeRuiter MC, Lamers GEM, Willemse JJ, Mascitelli C, Vijver MG, Richardson MK. The biodistribution of polystyrene nanoparticles administered intravenously in the chicken embryo. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108723. [PMID: 38744045 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics can cause severe malformations in chicken embryos. To improve our understanding of the toxicity of nanoplastics to embryos, we have studied their biodistribution in living chicken embryos. We injected the embryos in the vitelline vein at stages 18-19. We injected polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) tagged with europium- or fluorescence. Their biodistribution was tracked using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry on tissue lysates, paraffin histology, and vibratome sections analysed by machine learning algorithms. PS-NPs were found at high levels in the heart, liver and kidneys. Furthermore, PS-NPs crossed the endocardium of the heart at sites of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation; they also crossed the liver endothelium. Finally, we detected PS-NPs in the allantoic fluid, consistent with their being excreted by the kidneys. Our study shows the power of the chicken embryo model for analysing the biodistribution of nanoplastics in embryos. Such experiments are difficult or impossible in mammalian embryos. These findings are a major advance in our understanding of the biodistribution and tissue-specific accumulation of PS-NPs in developing animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiru Wang
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shuhao Chen
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shixiong Cheng
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tom A P Nederstigt
- Centrum voor Milieuwetenschappen Leiden (CML), Van Steenis Building, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robert E Poelmann
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marco C DeRuiter
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, LUMC Onderzoeksgebouw, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gerda E M Lamers
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Joost J Willemse
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chiara Mascitelli
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Martina G Vijver
- Centrum voor Milieuwetenschappen Leiden (CML), Van Steenis Building, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michael K Richardson
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Stevenson MJ, Phanor SK, Patel U, Gisselbrecht SS, Bulyk ML, O'Brien LL. Altered binding affinity of SIX1-Q177R correlates with enhanced WNT5A and WNT pathway effector expression in Wilms tumor. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050208. [PMID: 37815464 PMCID: PMC10668032 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Wilms tumors present as an amalgam of varying proportions of tissues located within the developing kidney, one being the nephrogenic blastema comprising multipotent nephron progenitor cells (NPCs). The recurring missense mutation Q177R in NPC transcription factors SIX1 and SIX2 is most correlated with tumors of blastemal histology and is significantly associated with relapse. Yet, the transcriptional regulatory consequences of SIX1/2-Q177R that might promote tumor progression and recurrence have not been investigated extensively. Utilizing multiple Wilms tumor transcriptomic datasets, we identified upregulation of the gene encoding non-canonical WNT ligand WNT5A in addition to other WNT pathway effectors in SIX1/2-Q177R mutant tumors. SIX1 ChIP-seq datasets from Wilms tumors revealed shared binding sites for SIX1/SIX1-Q177R within a promoter of WNT5A and at putative distal cis-regulatory elements (CREs). We demonstrate colocalization of SIX1 and WNT5A in Wilms tumor tissue and utilize in vitro assays that support SIX1 and SIX1-Q177R activation of expression from the WNT5A CREs, as well as enhanced binding affinity within the WNT5A promoter that may promote the differential expression of WNT5A and other WNT pathway effectors associated with SIX1-Q177R tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Stevenson
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sabrina K. Phanor
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Urvi Patel
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Stephen S. Gisselbrecht
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Martha L. Bulyk
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lori L. O'Brien
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Iroquois transcription factor irx2a is required for multiciliated and transporter cell fate decisions during zebrafish pronephros development. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6454. [PMID: 31015532 PMCID: PMC6478698 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42943-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic regulation of nephron patterning during kidney organogenesis remains poorly understood. Nephron tubules in zebrafish are composed of segment populations that have unique absorptive and secretory roles, as well as multiciliated cells (MCCs) that govern fluid flow. Here, we report that the transcription factor iroquois 2a (irx2a) is requisite for zebrafish nephrogenesis. irx2a transcripts localized to the developing pronephros and maturing MCCs, and loss of function altered formation of two segment populations and reduced MCC number. Interestingly, irx2a deficient embryos had reduced expression of an essential MCC gene ets variant 5a (etv5a), and were rescued by etv5a overexpression, supporting the conclusion that etv5a acts downstream of irx2a to control MCC ontogeny. Finally, we found that retinoic acid (RA) signaling affects the irx2a expression domain in renal progenitors, positioning irx2a downstream of RA. In sum, this work reveals new roles for irx2a during nephrogenesis, identifying irx2a as a crucial connection between RA signaling, segmentation, and the control of etv5a mediated MCC formation. Further investigation of the genetic players involved in these events will enhance our understanding of the molecular pathways that govern renal development, which can be used help create therapeutics to treat congenital and acquired kidney diseases.
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Beaven R, Denholm B. Release and spread of Wingless is required to pattern the proximo-distal axis of Drosophila renal tubules. eLife 2018; 7:e35373. [PMID: 30095068 PMCID: PMC6086663 DOI: 10.7554/elife.35373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Wingless/Wnts are signalling molecules, traditionally considered to pattern tissues as long-range morphogens. However, more recently the spread of Wingless was shown to be dispensable in diverse developmental contexts in Drosophila and vertebrates. Here we demonstrate that release and spread of Wingless is required to pattern the proximo-distal (P-D) axis of Drosophila Malpighian tubules. Wingless signalling, emanating from the midgut, directly activates odd skipped expression several cells distant in the proximal tubule. Replacing Wingless with a membrane-tethered version that is unable to diffuse from the Wingless producing cells results in aberrant patterning of the Malpighian tubule P-D axis and development of short, deformed ureters. This work directly demonstrates a patterning role for a released Wingless signal. As well as extending our understanding about the functional modes by which Wnts shape animal development, we anticipate this mechanism to be relevant to patterning epithelial tubes in other organs, such as the vertebrate kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Beaven
- Deanery of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Barry Denholm
- Deanery of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
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MacGregor-Ramiasa M, Hopp I, Bachhuka A, Murray P, Vasilev K. Surface nanotopography guides kidney-derived stem cell differentiation into podocytes. Acta Biomater 2017; 56:171-180. [PMID: 28232254 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells have enormous potential for developing novel therapies for kidney disease but our current inability to direct their differentiation to specialised renal cells presents a barrier to their use in renal bioengineering and drug development programmes. Here, a plasma-based technology was used to produce a range of biocompatible substrates comprising controlled surface nanotopography and tailored outermost chemical functionalities. These novel substrata were used to investigate the response of mouse kidney-derived stem cells to changes in both substrate nanotopography and surface chemistry. The stem cells proliferated to a similar extent on all substrates, but specific combinations of nanotopography and surface chemistry promoted differentiation into either podocyte or proximal tubule-like cells. The data reveal that high density of surface nanodefects in association with amine rich chemistry primarily lead to differentiation into podocytes while surfaces with low amine content constituted better substrates for differentiation into proximal tubule cells regardless of the surface nanotopographic profile. Thus plasma coated nanorough substrate may provide useful platform for guiding the fate kidney stem cell in vitro. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Adult kidney-derived stem cells have been identified as a promising way to regenerate damaged nephrons. Artificial growth platforms capable to guide the stem cells differentiation into useful cell lineages are needed to expand regenerative cell therapies for chronic kidney diseases. Chemically homogeneous growth substrates endowed with nanotopography gradients were generated via plasma assisted methods in order to investigate the effect of physical cues on the proliferation and differentiation of kidney-derived stem cells. For the first time it is shown that the surface density of the nano-structures had a greater impact on fate of the stem cells than their size. Careful design of the growth substrate nanotopography may help directing the differentiation into either podocytes or proximal tubule cells.
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Bolin G, Dubansky B, Burggren WW. Incubation relative humidity induces renal morphological and physiological remodeling in the embryo of the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2016; 204:185-196. [PMID: 27894883 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The metanephric kidneys of the chicken embryo, along with the chorioallantoic membrane, process water and ions to maintain osmoregulatory homeostasis. We hypothesized that changes in relative humidity (RH) and thus osmotic conditions during embryogenesis would alter the developmental trajectory of embryonic kidney function. White leghorn chicken eggs were incubated at one of 25-30% relative humidity, 55-60% relative humidity, and 85-90% relative humidity. Embryos were sampled at days 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 to examine embryo and kidney mass, glomerular characteristics, body fluid osmolalities, hematological properties, and whole embryo oxygen consumption. Low and especially high RH elevated mortality, which was reflected in a 10-20% lower embryo mass on D18. Low RH altered several glomerular characteristics by day 18, including increased numbers of glomeruli per kidney, increased glomerular perfusion, and increased total glomerular volume, all indicating potentially increased functional kidney capacity. Hematological variables and plasma and amniotic fluid osmolalities remained within normal physiological values. However, the allantoic, amniotic and cloacal fluids had a significant increase in osmolality at most developmental points sampled. Embryonic oxygen consumption increased relative to control at both low and high relative humidities on Day 18, reflecting the increased metabolic costs of osmotic stress. Major differences in both renal structure and performance associated with changes in incubation humidity occurred after establishment of the metanephric kidney and persisted into late development, and likely into the postnatal period. These data indicate that the avian embryo deserves to be further investigated as a promising model for fetal programming of osmoregulatory function, and renal remodeling during osmotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Bolin
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX 76203-5017, USA
| | - Benjamin Dubansky
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX 76203-5017, USA
| | - Warren W Burggren
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX 76203-5017, USA.
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Wnt/β-catenin signalling and podocyte dysfunction in proteinuric kidney disease. Nat Rev Nephrol 2015; 11:535-45. [PMID: 26055352 DOI: 10.1038/nrneph.2015.88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Podocytes are unique, highly specialized, terminally differentiated cells that are integral components of the kidney glomerular filtration barrier. Podocytes are vulnerable to a variety of injuries and in response they undergo a series of changes ranging from hypertrophy, autophagy, dedifferentiation, mesenchymal transition and detachment to apoptosis, depending on the nature and extent of the insult. Emerging evidence indicates that Wnt/β-catenin signalling has a central role in mediating podocyte dysfunction and proteinuria. Wnts are induced and β-catenin is activated in podocytes in various proteinuric kidney diseases. Genetic or pharmacologic activation of β-catenin is sufficient to impair podocyte integrity and causes proteinuria in healthy mice, whereas podocyte-specific ablation of β-catenin protects against proteinuria after kidney injury. Mechanistically, Wnt/β-catenin controls the expression of several key mediators implicated in podocytopathies, including Snail1, the renin-angiotensin system and matrix metalloproteinase 7. Wnt/β-catenin also negatively regulates Wilms tumour protein, a crucial transcription factor that safeguards podocyte integrity. Targeted inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signalling preserves podocyte integrity and ameliorates proteinuria in animal models. This Review highlights advances in our understanding of the pathomechanisms of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in mediating podocyte injury, and describes the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway for the treatment of proteinuric kidney disease.
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Schneider J, Arraf AA, Grinstein M, Yelin R, Schultheiss TM. Wnt signaling orients the proximal-distal axis of kidney nephrons. Development 2015; 142:2686-95. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.123968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The nephron is the fundamental structural and functional unit of the kidney. Each mature nephron is patterned along a proximal-distal axis, with blood filtered at the proximal end and urine emerging from the distal end. In order to filter the blood and produce urine, specialized structures are formed at specific proximal-distal locations along the nephron, including the glomerulus at the proximal end, the tubule in the middle, and the collecting duct at the distal end. The developmental processes that specify these different nephron segments are very incompletely understood. Wnt ligands, which are expressed in the nephric duct and later in the nascent nephron itself, are well-characterized inducers of nephrons, being both required and sufficient for initiation of nephron formation from nephrogenic mesenchyme. Here we present evidence that Wnt signaling also patterns the proximal-distal nephron axis. Using the chick mesonephros as a model system, a Wnt ligand was ectopically expressed in the coelomic lining, thereby introducing a source of Wnt signaling that is at right angles to the endogenous Wnt signal of the nephric duct. Under these conditions, the nephron axis was re-oriented, such that the glomerulus was always located at a position farthest from the Wnt sources. This re-orientation occurred within hours of exposure to ectopic Wnt signaling, and was accompanied initially by a repression of the early glomerular podocyte markers Wt1 and Pod1, followed by their re-emergence at a position distant from the Wnt signals. In parallel, an increase in the number of tubules was observed, and some tubules were seen fusing with the Wnt-expressing coelomic epithelium instead of their normal target, the nephric duct. Activation of the Wnt signaling pathway in mesonephric explant cultures resulted in strong and specific repression of early and late glomerular markers. Together, these data indicate that Wnt signaling patterns the proximal-distal axis of the nephron, with glomeruli differentiating in regions of lowest Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Schneider
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
| | - Alaa A. Arraf
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
| | - Mor Grinstein
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
| | - Ronit Yelin
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
| | - Thomas M. Schultheiss
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
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