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Lee JM, Lim TY, Oh SB, Lee SJ, Bae YS, Jung HS. Ahnak is required to balance calcium ion homeostasis and smooth muscle development in the urinary system. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:108. [PMID: 37308968 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01055-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various renal abnormalities, including hydronephrosis, polycystic kidney disease, and hydroureter, have been reported, and these abnormalities are present in DiGeorge syndrome, renal dysplasia, and acute kidney failure. Previous studies have shown that various genes are associated with renal abnormalities. However, the major target genes of nonobstructive hydronephrosis have not yet been elucidated. RESULTS We examined neuroblast differentiation-associated protein Ahnak localization and analyzed morphogenesis in developing kidney and ureter. To investigated function of Ahnak, RNA-sequencing and calcium imaging were performed in wild type and Ahnak knockout (KO) mice. Ahnak localization was confirmed in the developing mouse kidneys and ureter. An imbalance of calcium homeostasis and hydronephrosis, which involves an expanded renal pelvis and hydroureter, was observed in Ahnak KO mice. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis on RNA-seq results indicated that 'Channel Activity', 'Passive Transmembrane Transporter Activity' and 'Cellular Calcium Ion Homeostasis' were downregulated in Ahnak KO kidney. 'Muscle Tissue Development', 'Muscle Contraction', and 'Cellular Calcium Ion Homeostasis' were downregulated in Ahnak KO ureter. Moreover, peristaltic movement of smooth muscle in the ureter was reduced in Ahnak KO mice. CONCLUSIONS Abnormal calcium homeostasis causes renal disease and is regulated by calcium channels. In this study, we focused on Ahnak, which regulates calcium homeostasis in several organs. Our results indicate that Ahnak plays a pivotal role in kidney and ureter development, and in maintaining the function of the urinary system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Min Lee
- Department of Oral Biology, Taste Research Center, Oral Science Research Center, BK21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Tae-Yang Lim
- Department of Oral Biology, Taste Research Center, Oral Science Research Center, BK21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Sang-Bin Oh
- Department of Oral Biology, Taste Research Center, Oral Science Research Center, BK21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Seung-Jun Lee
- Department of Oral Biology, Taste Research Center, Oral Science Research Center, BK21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Yun Soo Bae
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Woman's University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Han-Sung Jung
- Department of Oral Biology, Taste Research Center, Oral Science Research Center, BK21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
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Greenberg D, D’Cruz R, Lacanlale JL, Rowan CJ, Rosenblum ND. Hedgehog-GLI mediated control of renal formation and malformation. FRONTIERS IN NEPHROLOGY 2023; 3:1176347. [PMID: 37675356 PMCID: PMC10479618 DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2023.1176347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
CAKUT is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease in children and comprises a broad spectrum of phenotypic abnormalities in kidney and ureter development. Molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of CAKUT have been elucidated in genetic models, predominantly in the mouse, a paradigm for human renal development. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is critical to normal embryogenesis, including kidney development. Hh signaling mediates the physiological development of the ureter and stroma and has adverse pathophysiological effects on the metanephric mesenchyme, ureteric, and nephrogenic lineages. Further, disruption of Hh signaling is causative of numerous human developmental disorders associated with renal malformation; Pallister-Hall Syndrome (PHS) is characterized by a diverse spectrum of malformations including CAKUT and caused by truncating variants in the middle-third of the Hh signaling effector GLI3. Here, we outline the roles of Hh signaling in regulating murine kidney development, and review human variants in Hh signaling genes in patients with renal malformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Greenberg
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert D’Cruz
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jon L. Lacanlale
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher J. Rowan
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Norman D. Rosenblum
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Nephrology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Yang L, Arbona RJR, Smith CS, Banks KM, Thomas VK, Palmer L, Evans T, Hurtado R. An evolutionarily conserved pacemaker role for HCN ion channels in smooth muscle. J Physiol 2023; 601:1225-1246. [PMID: 36930567 PMCID: PMC10065941 DOI: 10.1113/jp283701] [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: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Although hyperpolarization-activated cation (HCN) ion channels are well established to underlie cardiac pacemaker activity, their role in smooth muscle organs remains controversial. HCN-expressing cells are localized to renal pelvic smooth muscle (RPSM) pacemaker tissues of the murine upper urinary tract and HCN channel conductance is required for peristalsis. To date, however, the Ih pacemaker current conducted by HCN channels has never been detected in these cells, raising questions on the identity of RPSM pacemakers. Indeed, the RPSM pacemaker mechanisms of the unique multicalyceal upper urinary tract exhibited by humans remains unknown. Here, we developed immunopanning purification protocols and demonstrate that 96% of isolated HCN+ cells exhibit Ih . Single-molecule STORM to whole-tissue imaging showed HCN+ cells express single HCN channels on their plasma membrane and integrate into the muscular syncytium. By contrast, PDGFR-α+ cells exhibiting the morphology of ICC gut pacemakers were shown to be vascular mural cells. Translational studies in the homologous human and porcine multicalyceal upper urinary tracts showed that contractions and pacemaker depolarizations originate in proximal calyceal RPSM. Critically, HCN+ cells were shown to integrate into calyceal RPSM pacemaker tissues, and HCN channel block abolished electrical pacemaker activity and peristalsis of the multicalyceal upper urinary tract. Cumulatively, these studies demonstrate that HCN ion channels play a broad, evolutionarily conserved pacemaker role in both cardiac and smooth muscle organs and have implications for channelopathies as putative aetiologies of smooth muscle disorders. KEY POINTS: Pacemakers trigger contractions of involuntary muscles. Hyperpolarization-activated cation (HCN) ion channels underpin cardiac pacemaker activity, but their role in smooth muscle organs remains controversial. Renal pelvic smooth muscle (RPSM) pacemakers trigger contractions that propel waste away from the kidney. HCN+ cells localize to murine RPSM pacemaker tissue and HCN channel conductance is required for peristalsis. The HCN (Ih ) current has never been detected in RPSM cells, raising doubt whether HCN+ cells are bona fide pacemakers. Moreover, the pacemaker mechanisms of the unique multicalyceal RPSM of higher order mammals remains unknown. In total, 97% of purified HCN+ RPSM cells exhibit Ih . HCN+ cells integrate into the RPSM musculature, and pacemaker tissue peristalsis is dependent on HCN channels. Translational studies in human and swine demonstrate HCN channels are conserved in the multicalyceal RPSM and that HCN channels underlie pacemaker activity that drives peristalsis. These studies provide insight into putative channelopathies that can underlie smooth muscle dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rodolfo J. Ricart Arbona
- Center of Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carl S. Smith
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kelly M. Banks
- Department of Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - V. Kaye Thomas
- Bio-Imaging Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lawrence Palmer
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Todd Evans
- Department of Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Romulo Hurtado
- Department of Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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Jackson AR, Ching CB, McHugh KM, Becknell B. Roles for urothelium in normal and aberrant urinary tract development. Nat Rev Urol 2020; 17:459-468. [PMID: 32647226 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-020-0348-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUTs) represent the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease in children. Increasing evidence points to critical roles for the urothelium in the developing urinary tract and in the genesis of CAKUTs. The involvement of the urothelium in patterning the urinary tract is supported by evidence that CAKUTs can arise as a result of abnormal urothelial development. Emerging evidence indicates that congenital urinary tract obstruction triggers urothelial remodelling that stabilizes the obstructed kidney and limits renal injury. Finally, the diagnostic potential of radiological findings and urinary biomarkers derived from the urothelium of patients with CAKUTs might aid their contribution to clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley R Jackson
- Nephrology and Urology Research Affinity Group, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Christina B Ching
- Nephrology and Urology Research Affinity Group, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kirk M McHugh
- Nephrology and Urology Research Affinity Group, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Anatomy, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Brian Becknell
- Nephrology and Urology Research Affinity Group, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA. .,Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA. .,Nephrology Division, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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