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McLarnon SR, Honeycutt SE, N'Guetta PEY, Xiong Y, Li X, Abe K, Kitai H, Souma T, O'Brien LL. Altered renal vascular patterning reduces ischemic kidney injury and limits age-associated vascular loss. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2025; 328:F876-F889. [PMID: 40331791 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00284.2024] [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: 10/04/2024] [Revised: 11/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2025] [Indexed: 05/08/2025] Open
Abstract
The kidney vasculature has a complex arrangement, which runs in both series and parallel to perfuse the renal tissue and appropriately filter plasma. Recent studies have demonstrated that the development of this vascular pattern is dependent on netrin-1 secreted by renal stromal progenitors. Mice lacking netrin-1 (Ntn1) from these cells develop an arterial tree with stochastic branching, particularly of the large interlobar vessels. The current study investigated whether abnormalities in renal vascular patterning altered kidney function or response to injury. To examine this, we analyzed kidney function at baseline as well as in response to a model of bilateral ischemic injury and measured vascular dynamics in 7- to 8-mo-old mice. We found no differences in kidney function or morphology at baseline between mice with an abnormal arterial pattern compared with control. Interestingly, male and female mutant mice with stochastic vascular patterning showed a reduction in tubular injury in response to ischemia. Similarly, mutant mice also had a preservation of perfused vasculature with increased age compared with a reduction in the control group. These results suggest that guided and organized patterning of the renal vasculature may not be required for normal kidney function, but uncovers new implications for patterning in response to injury. Understanding how patterning and maturation of the arterial tree affects physiology and response to injury has important implications for enhancing kidney regeneration and tissue engineering strategies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Kidney vascular patterning is established through responses to guidance cues such as netrin-1; however, the significance of proper patterning to function and injury response remains unexplored. Here, utilizing a conditional knockout of netrin-1 (Ntn1) that displays persistent abnormal arterial patterning, we identify no significant disruptions to normal kidney physiology in adult animals but, surprisingly, less tubular damage in response to ischemic injury. This study uncovers new and significant implications for proper kidney vascular patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R McLarnon
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Samuel E Honeycutt
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Pierre-Emmanuel Y N'Guetta
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Yubin Xiong
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Xinwei Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Koki Abe
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Hiroki Kitai
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Tomokazu Souma
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Lori L O'Brien
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
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Xue Z, Xuan H, Lau K, Su Y, Wegener M, Li K, Turner L, Adams M, Shi X, Wen H. Expression of ENL YEATS domain tumor mutations in nephrogenic or stromal lineage impairs kidney development. Nat Commun 2025; 16:2531. [PMID: 40087269 PMCID: PMC11909213 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57926-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2025] [Indexed: 03/17/2025] Open
Abstract
Recurrent gain-of-function mutations in the histone reader protein ENL have been identified in Wilms tumor, the most prevalent pediatric kidney cancer. However, their pathological significance in kidney development and tumorigenesis in vivo remains elusive. Here, we generate mouse models mimicking ENL tumor (ENLT) mutations and show that heterozygous mutant expression in Six2+ nephrogenic or Foxd1+ stromal lineages leads to severe, lineage-specific kidney defects, both resulting in neonatal lethality. Six2-ENLT mutant kidneys display compromised cap mesenchyme, scant nephron tubules, and cystic glomeruli, indicative of premature progenitor commitment and blocked differentiation. Bulk and spatial transcriptomic analyses reveal aberrant activation of Hox and Wnt signaling genes in mutant nephrogenic cells. In contrast, Foxd1-ENLT mutant kidneys exhibit expansion in renal capsule and cap mesenchyme, with dysregulated stromal gene expression affecting stroma-epithelium crosstalk. Our findings uncover distinct pathways through which ENL mutations disrupt nephrogenesis, providing a foundation for further investigations into their role in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyu Xue
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Hongwen Xuan
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Kin Lau
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Yangzhou Su
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Marc Wegener
- Genomics Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Kuai Li
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Lisa Turner
- Pathology Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Marie Adams
- Genomics Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Xiaobing Shi
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Hong Wen
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA.
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Iber D, Mederacke M, Vetter R. Coordination of nephrogenesis with branching of the urinary collecting system, the vasculature and the nervous system. Curr Top Dev Biol 2025; 163:45-82. [PMID: 40254350 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2025]
Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Iber
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Malte Mederacke
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roman Vetter
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
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McLarnon SR, Honeycutt SE, N’Guetta PEY, Xiong Y, Li X, Abe K, Kitai H, Souma T, O’Brien LL. Altered renal vascular patterning reduces ischemic kidney injury and limits vascular loss associated with aging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.10.29.620969. [PMID: 39553980 PMCID: PMC11565873 DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.29.620969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2024]
Abstract
The kidney vasculature has a complex arrangement, which runs in both series and parallel to perfuse the renal tissue and appropriately filter plasma. Recent studies have demonstrated that the development of this vascular pattern is dependent on netrin-1 secreted by renal stromal progenitors. Mice lacking netrin-1 develop an arterial tree with stochastic branching, particularly of the large interlobar vessels. The current study investigated whether abnormalities in renal vascular pattern altered kidney function or response to injury. To examine this, we analyzed kidney function at baseline as well as in response to recovery from a model of bilateral ischemic injury and measured vascular dynamics in aged mice. We found no differences in kidney function or morphology at baseline between mice with an abnormal arterial pattern compared to control. Interestingly, male and female mutant mice with stochastic vascular patterning showed a reduction in tubular injury in response to ischemia. Similarly, mutant mice also had a preservation of perfused vasculature with aging compared to a reduction in the control group. These results suggest that guided and organized patterning of the renal vasculature may not be required for normal kidney function; thus, modulating renal vascular patterning may represent an effective therapeutic strategy. Understanding how patterning and maturation of the arterial tree affects physiology and response to injury or aging has important implications for enhancing kidney regeneration and tissue engineering strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. McLarnon
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Samuel E. Honeycutt
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Pierre-Emmanuel Y. N’Guetta
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yubin Xiong
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xinwei Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Cell and Developmental Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Koki Abe
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Hiroki Kitai
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Tomokazu Souma
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Lori L. O’Brien
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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N'Guetta PEY, McLarnon SR, Tassou A, Geron M, Shirvan S, Hill RZ, Scherrer G, O'Brien LL. Comprehensive mapping of sensory and sympathetic innervation of the developing kidney. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114860. [PMID: 39412983 PMCID: PMC11616766 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114860] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/25/2024] [Indexed: 10/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The kidneys act as finely tuned sensors to maintain physiological homeostasis. Both sympathetic and sensory nerves modulate kidney function through precise neural control. However, how the kidneys are innervated during development to support function remains elusive. Using light-sheet and confocal microscopy, we generated anatomical maps of kidney innervation across development. Kidney innervation commences on embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) as network growth aligns with arterial differentiation. Fibers are synapsin I+, highlighting ongoing axonogenesis and potential signaling crosstalk. By E17.5, axons associate with nephrons, and the network continues to expand postnatally. CGRP+, substance P+, TRPV1+, and PIEZO2+ sensory fibers and TH+ sympathetic fibers innervate the developing kidney. TH+ and PIEZO2+ axons similarly innervate the human kidney, following the arterial tree to reach targets. Retrograde tracing revealed the primary dorsal root ganglia, T10-L2, from which sensory neurons project to the kidneys. Together, our findings elucidate the temporality and neuronal diversity of kidney innervation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Emmanuel Y N'Guetta
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sarah R McLarnon
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Adrien Tassou
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Matan Geron
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sepenta Shirvan
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Rose Z Hill
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Grégory Scherrer
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lori L O'Brien
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Kidney Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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Honeycutt SE, N'Guetta PEY, Hardesty DM, Xiong Y, Cooper SL, Stevenson MJ, O'Brien LL. Netrin 1 directs vascular patterning and maturity in the developing kidney. Development 2023; 150:dev201886. [PMID: 37818607 PMCID: PMC10690109 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The intricate vascular system of the kidneys supports body fluid and organ homeostasis. However, little is known about how vascular architecture is established during kidney development. More specifically, how signals from the kidney influence vessel maturity and patterning remains poorly understood. Netrin 1 (Ntn1) is a secreted ligand that is crucial for vessel and neuronal guidance. Here, we demonstrate that Ntn1 is expressed by Foxd1+ stromal progenitors in the developing mouse kidney and conditional deletion (Foxd1GC/+;Ntn1fl/fl) results in hypoplastic kidneys with extended nephrogenesis. Wholemount 3D analyses additionally revealed the loss of a predictable vascular pattern in Foxd1GC/+;Ntn1fl/fl kidneys. As vascular patterning has been linked to vessel maturity, we investigated arterialization. Quantification of the CD31+ endothelium at E15.5 revealed no differences in metrics such as the number of branches or branch points, whereas the arterial vascular smooth muscle metrics were significantly reduced at both E15.5 and P0. In support of our observed phenotypes, whole kidney RNA-seq revealed disruptions to genes and programs associated with stromal cells, vasculature and differentiating nephrons. Together, our findings highlight the significance of Ntn1 to proper vascularization and kidney development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E. Honeycutt
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Pierre-Emmanuel Y. N'Guetta
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Deanna M. Hardesty
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yubin Xiong
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Shamus L. Cooper
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Matthew J. Stevenson
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 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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