Nephron Patterning: Lessons from Xenopus, Zebrafish, and Mouse Studies
The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the vertebrate kidney. To ensure kidney functions, the nephrons possess a highly segmental organization where each segment is specialized for the secretion and reabsorption of particular solutes. During embryogenesis, nephron progenitors und...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2015-09-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/4/3/483 |
| _version_ | 1797707054037598208 |
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| author | Audrey Desgrange Silvia Cereghini |
| author_facet | Audrey Desgrange Silvia Cereghini |
| author_sort | Audrey Desgrange |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the vertebrate kidney. To ensure kidney functions, the nephrons possess a highly segmental organization where each segment is specialized for the secretion and reabsorption of particular solutes. During embryogenesis, nephron progenitors undergo a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) and acquire different segment-specific cell fates along the proximo-distal axis of the nephron. Even if the morphological changes occurring during nephrogenesis are characterized, the regulatory networks driving nephron segmentation are still poorly understood. Interestingly, several studies have shown that the pronephric nephrons in Xenopus and zebrafish are segmented in a similar fashion as the mouse metanephric nephrons. Here we review functional and molecular aspects of nephron segmentation with a particular interest on the signaling molecules and transcription factors recently implicated in kidney development in these three different vertebrate model organisms. A complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying nephrogenesis in different model organisms will provide novel insights on the etiology of several human renal diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:00:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57ff8bf3467542e680262debfa465a24 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:00:42Z |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-57ff8bf3467542e680262debfa465a242023-09-03T04:08:30ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092015-09-014348349910.3390/cells4030483cells4030483Nephron Patterning: Lessons from Xenopus, Zebrafish, and Mouse StudiesAudrey Desgrange0Silvia Cereghini1Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IBPS–UMR7622, Paris F-75005, FranceSorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IBPS–UMR7622, Paris F-75005, FranceThe nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the vertebrate kidney. To ensure kidney functions, the nephrons possess a highly segmental organization where each segment is specialized for the secretion and reabsorption of particular solutes. During embryogenesis, nephron progenitors undergo a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) and acquire different segment-specific cell fates along the proximo-distal axis of the nephron. Even if the morphological changes occurring during nephrogenesis are characterized, the regulatory networks driving nephron segmentation are still poorly understood. Interestingly, several studies have shown that the pronephric nephrons in Xenopus and zebrafish are segmented in a similar fashion as the mouse metanephric nephrons. Here we review functional and molecular aspects of nephron segmentation with a particular interest on the signaling molecules and transcription factors recently implicated in kidney development in these three different vertebrate model organisms. A complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying nephrogenesis in different model organisms will provide novel insights on the etiology of several human renal diseases.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/4/3/483pronephrosmetanephrosnephron segmentationregulatory networksvertebrates |
| spellingShingle | Audrey Desgrange Silvia Cereghini Nephron Patterning: Lessons from Xenopus, Zebrafish, and Mouse Studies Cells pronephros metanephros nephron segmentation regulatory networks vertebrates |
| title | Nephron Patterning: Lessons from Xenopus, Zebrafish, and Mouse Studies |
| title_full | Nephron Patterning: Lessons from Xenopus, Zebrafish, and Mouse Studies |
| title_fullStr | Nephron Patterning: Lessons from Xenopus, Zebrafish, and Mouse Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nephron Patterning: Lessons from Xenopus, Zebrafish, and Mouse Studies |
| title_short | Nephron Patterning: Lessons from Xenopus, Zebrafish, and Mouse Studies |
| title_sort | nephron patterning lessons from xenopus zebrafish and mouse studies |
| topic | pronephros metanephros nephron segmentation regulatory networks vertebrates |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/4/3/483 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT audreydesgrange nephronpatterninglessonsfromxenopuszebrafishandmousestudies AT silviacereghini nephronpatterninglessonsfromxenopuszebrafishandmousestudies |