Insulin and transferrin restore important cellular functions of human fetal kidney in serum-free organ culture

Exposure of human fetal kidneys to mild analgesics interferes with early nephrogenesis

Acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen are mild analgesics commonly used by pregnant women, the sole current recommendation being to avoid ibuprofen from the fifth month of gestation. The nephrotoxicity of these three analgesics is well documented in adults, as is their interference with prostaglandins biosynthesis. Here we investigated the effect of these analgesics on human first trimester kidneys ex vivo. We first evaluated prostaglandins biosynthesis functionality by performing a wide screening of prostaglandin expression patterns in first trimester human kidneys. We demonstrated that prostaglandins biosynthesis machinery is functional during early nephrogenesis. Human fetal kidney explants aged 7-12 developmental weeks were exposed ex vivo to ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen for 7 days, and analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. This study has revealed that these analgesics induced a spectrum of abnormalities within early developing structures, ranging from cell death to a decline in differentiating glomeruli density. These results warrant caution for the use of these medicines during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Transferrin Identification in Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) Reproductive System

Transferrins are a superfamily of iron-binding proteins and are recognized as multifunctional proteins. In the present study, transcriptomic and proteomic methods were used to identify transferrins in the reproductive organs and sperm of out-of-spawning and spermiating sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) males. The results showed that seven transferrin transcripts were identified in the transcriptome of sterlet, and these transcripts were qualified as two different transferrin genes, serotransferrin and melanotransferrin, with several isoforms present for serotransferrin. The relative abundance of serotransferrin isoforms was higher in the kidneys and Wolffian ducts in the spermiating males compared to out-of-spawning males. In addition, transferrin was immunodetected in sterlet seminal plasma, but not in sterlet spermatozoa extract. Mass spectrometry identification of transferrin in seminal plasma but not in spermatozoa corroborates immunodetection. The identification of transferrin in the reproductive organs and seminal plasma of sterlet in this study provides the potential function of transferrin during sturgeon male reproduction.

A Simple Bioreactor-Based Method to Generate Kidney Organoids from Pluripotent Stem Cells

Kidney organoids made from pluripotent stem cells have the potential to revolutionize how kidney development, disease, and injury are studied. Current protocols are technically complex, suffer from poor reproducibility, and have high reagent costs that restrict scalability. To overcome some of these issues, we have established a simple, inexpensive, and robust method to grow kidney organoids in bulk from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Our organoids develop tubular structures by day 8 and show optimal tissue morphology at day 14. A comparison with fetal human kidneys suggests that day-14 organoid tissue most closely resembles late capillary loop stage nephrons. We show that deletion of HNF1B, a transcription factor linked to congenital kidney defects, interferes with tubulogenesis, validating our experimental system for studying renal developmental biology. Taken together, our protocol provides a fast, efficient, and cost-effective method for generating large quantities of human fetal kidney tissue, enabling the study of normal and aberrant kidney development.

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Technically simple and cost-efficient protocol for kidney organoid generation

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Tubular organoids are obtained rapidly, with high efficiency, yield, and robustness

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Organoids contain nephrons that correspond to human fetal nephrons

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The applicability to model congenital kidney defects is presented

Characterisation and trophic functions of murine embryonic macrophages based upon the use of a Csf1r–EGFP transgene reporter

All solid organs contain resident monocyte-derived cells that appear early in organogenesis and persist throughout life. These cells are critical for normal development in some organs. Here we report the use of a previously described transgenic line, with EGFP driven by the macrophage-restricted Csf1r (c-fms) promoter, to image macrophage production and infiltration accompanying organogenesis in many tissues. Using microarray analysis of FACS-isolated EGFP-positive cells, we show that fetal kidney, lung and brain macrophages show similar gene expression profiles irrespective of their tissue of origin. EGFP-positive cells appeared in the renal interstitium from 12 days post coitum, prior to nephrogenesis, and maintain a close apposition to renal tubules postnatally. CSF-1 added to embryonic kidney explants increased overall renal growth and ureteric bud branching. Expression profiling of tissue macrophages and of CSF-1-treated explants showed evidence of the alternate, pro-proliferative (M2) activation profile, including expression of macrophage mannose receptor (CD206), macrophage scavenger receptor 2 (Msr2), C1q, CD163, selenoprotein P, CCL24 and TREM2. This response has been associated with the trophic role of tumour-associated macrophages. These findings suggest a trophic role of macrophages in embryonic kidney development, which may continue to play a similar role in postnatal repair.

Transferrin is an insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 binding protein

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) possesses both growth-inhibitory and -potentiating effects on cells that are independent of IGF action and are mediated through specific IGFBP-3 binding proteins/receptors located at the cell membrane, cytosol, or nuclear compartments and in the extracellular matrix. We have here characterized transferrin (Tf) as one of these IGFBP-3 binding proteins. Human serum was fractionated over an IGFBP-3 affinity column, and a 70-kDa protein was eluted, sequenced, and identified (through database searching and Western immunoblot) as human Tf. Tf bound IGFBP-3 but had negligible affinity to the other five IGFBPs, and iron-saturated holo-Tf bound IGFBP-3 more avidly than unsaturated Tf. Biosensor interaction analysis confirmed that this interaction is specific and sensitive, with a high association rate similar to IGF-I, and suggested that binding occurs in the vicinity of the IGFBP-3 nuclear localization site. As an independent confirmation of this interaction, using a yeast two-hybrid system, we cloned Tf from a human liver complementary DNA library as an IGFBP-3 protein partner. Tf treatment blocked IGFBP-3-induced cell proliferation in bladder smooth muscle cells, and IGFBP-3-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. In summary, we have employed a combination of techniques to demonstrate that Tf specifically binds IGFBP-3, and we showed that this interaction has important physiological effects on cellular events.

Rat prostate explants in serum-free organ culture: a comparison of two media and gas mixtures

BACKGROUND

Urologists are looking for a way to easily discriminate between aggressive and very slow-growing prostate tumors. A sound way to appreciate such developing activities would be to identify an appropriate cell marker in prostate explants maintained in a defined culture system.

METHODS

Different biological parameters were compared in rat prostate explants cultured for 5 days in rich CMRL or basic Leibovitz's L-15 medium, unsupplemented with serum, under a mixture of either 95% air/5% CO2 or 50% N2/45% O2/5% CO2.

RESULTS

DNA synthesis was somewhat similar with the two-gas combination, but was higher in explants maintained in L-15 medium than in CMRL. Hence, L-15 medium and the 95% air/5% CO2 mixture were selected. Under these defined conditions for 5 days, cells were still able to synthesize DNA and proteins while preserving their morphological integrity and maintaining alkaline and acid phosphatase activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the present culture system works well in a controlled environment and under such minimal conditions, it appears to be a reliable and promising model that will provide basic data and allow the study of hormones and growth factors involved in prostatic tissue growth. It might eventually permit the identification of a cell marker.

The effects of insulin, transferrin and androgens on rat prostate explants in serum-free organ culture

A model previously developed in our laboratory to culture rat prostate explants in serum-free chemically-defined medium was used to evaluate the direct influence of potential regulators. The aim of the present work was to verify the effects of insulin (I) and transferrin (Tr), two hormones considered as essential in other serum-free culture systems, and three androgenic hormones, since the prostate is known to be androgen-dependent. Explants of rat prostate were cultured for five days in serum-free Leibovitz's L-15 medium (37 degrees C, 95% air-5% CO2). The addition of Tr (50 micrograms/ml) had no effect, but I (5 micrograms/ml) significantly increased DNA synthesis. This influence was amplified by combination of the two hormones. However, protein synthesis was only slightly stimulated. Testosterone (T) or androstanediol significantly increased DNA synthesis when compared to corresponding control values at five days. In combination with I plus Tr, each hormone showed potentiated effects, particularly T with a twofold increase over day 0 values. When dihydrotestosterone was added singly, the incorporation of 3H-thymidine was stimulated by 300% over control values at five days, and by 100% over values in uncultured explants. This influence was maximal since it was not improved by I plus Tr. Protein synthesis was increased significantly by the triple combination. In addition, each androgen as well as the combination of I plus Tr had a positive influence on explant morphology. The above conditions optimize the present culture system and establish its usefulness as a valuable tool to study the direct influence of different effectors in prostate metabolism and to eventually identify putative cancer markers.

Positive influence of tetracycline on human fetal kidney in serum-free organ culture

Human fetal kidney explants can be maintained during 5 days in Leibovitz's L15, a basic serum-free medium. Because culture conditions are minimal for growth and differentiation, DNA synthesis drastically decreases during the first 48 h, but stabilizes thereafter. The addition of insulin plus transferrin significantly restores this important cellular function in kidneys of fetuses younger than 16 wk. However, renal explants from older fetuses are more difficult to culture: they respond less to growth factors and are more prone to necrosis. The objective of this study was to verify the influence of tetracycline, an antibiotic with anti-collagenase potential, on cultured kidney explants aged 17 to 20 wk. The addition of 20 micrograms/ml tetracycline did not influence DNA synthesis nor the effectiveness of insulin plus transferrin on cell proliferation. Nor did it change the activities of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase, two enzymic markers of brush border differentiation. After 5 days in L15 alone, explants often showed necrosis and an important reduction in both weight and volume. Insulin plus transferrin significantly restored these parameters to control values observed at Day 0, but evidence of necrosis was still present. Tetracycline alone markedly reduced explant necrosis resulting in a significant increase in weight and volume. The effectiveness of insulin plus transferrin on explant morphometry was not improved when tetracycline was added as third factor. These results indicate that insulin plus transferrin restores explant mass through cell proliferation, whereas tetracycline does so possibly through a reduction in extracellular matrix degradation. The two effects are not additive in cultured mid-term fetal kidneys.

Effect of glucose and insulin deprivation on differentiation and carbohydrate metabolism of rabbit proximal tubular cells in primary culture

Rabbit proximal tubule cells in primary culture revert from gluconeogenesis to glycolysis. To determine whether glucose and insulin deprivation of the culture medium could prevent this metabolic conversion without a loss of differentiation, rabbit proximal tubule cells were cultured in hormonally defined medium free of glucose and insulin and compared to rabbit proximal tubule cells cultured in medium supplemented with 17.5 mM glucose and 5 micrograms/ml insulin. In the two culture conditions, RPT cells grew at a similar rate and reached confluency within 4-5 days. Patterns of enzyme activity, including brush-border hydrolases, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and glutathione-S-transferases as a function of culture time were comparable in the two media. During the growth phase in glucose- and insulin-free medium, cells showed higher sodium-dependent glucose uptake. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a high density of microvilli at confluency regardless of the culture conditions. In both the presence and absence of glucose and insulin, the activities of gluconeogenic enzymes, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, as well as basal and pyruvate-stimulated glucose production fell markedly as a function of time. By contrast, glucose and insulin deprivation greatly reduced both the lactate production rate and the activities of glycolytic enzymes, pyruvate kinase, hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase.

Scanning electron microscopic observations of human fetal kidney maturing in vivo and in serum-free organ culture

A serum-free model has been developed in our laboratory enabling us to maintain human fetal kidney in culture for periods of 5 days or more. In this totally defined system, morphological integrity of these explants was shown to be preserved at both the light and the electron microscopic levels. The present work was undertaken to validate our culture model via scanning electron microscopy, a technique allowing surface observation of micromorphological features overlooked by conventional microscopy. In uncultured kidney, different developmental stages of nephron formation were identified. A sparse population of short microvilli was present on most cell apical membranes. Cell outlines were polygonal and demarcated by longer and densely packed microvilli. In proximal tubules, these microvilli were in the process of forming a brush border. In the majority of cells, one or two cilia with twisted or hooked tips projected into the capsular space or tubule lumen. Microcraters and bleb-like structures characterized the luminal membrane of many cells. The urinary papilla epithelium was composed of some ciliated principal cells but mostly of intercalated cells with either apical microplicae, microvilli, or both. Micro-projections formed zipper-like intercellular junctions. In culture, ultrastructural features, including membrane pits and spherical vesicles, were similar to those in uncultured explants. In summary, these novel observations in cultured fetal kidney indicate that ultrastructural integrity is well preserved in serum-free medium and that the present model is a valuable tool to study human nephrogenesis.