Dataset Information

Intrinsic Age-Dependent Changes and Cell-Cell Contacts Regulate Nephron Progenitor Lifespan.

ABSTRACT: During fetal development, nephrons of the metanephric kidney form from a mesenchymal progenitor population that differentiates en masse before or shortly after birth. We explored intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms controlling progenitor lifespan in a transplantation assay that allowed us to compare engraftment of old and young progenitors into the same young niche. The progenitors displayed an age-dependent decrease in proliferation and concomitant increase in niche exit rates. Single-cell transcriptome profiling revealed progressive age-dependent changes, with heterogeneity increasing in older populations. Age-dependent elevation in mTor and reduction in Fgf20 could contribute to increased exit rates. Importantly, 30% of old progenitors remained in the niche for up to 1 week post engraftment, a net gain of 50% to their lifespan, but only if surrounded by young neighbors. We provide evidence in support of a model in which intrinsic age-dependent changes affect inter-progenitor interactions that drive cessation of nephrogenesis.

SUBMITTER: Chen S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4615609 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Intrinsic Age-Dependent Changes and Cell-Cell Contacts Regulate Nephron Progenitor Lifespan.

Chen Shuang S Brunskill Eric W EW Potter S Steven SS Dexheimer Phillip J PJ Salomonis Nathan N Aronow Bruce J BJ Hong Christian I CI Zhang Tongli T Kopan Raphael R

Developmental cell 20151001 1

During fetal development, nephrons of the metanephric kidney form from a mesenchymal progenitor population that differentiates en masse before or shortly after birth. We explored intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms controlling progenitor lifespan in a transplantation assay that allowed us to compare engraftment of old and young progenitors into the same young niche. The progenitors displayed an age-dependent decrease in proliferation and concomitant increase in niche exit rates. Single-cell trans ...[more]

PMID: 26460946

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Project description:Bulk ATAC_seq on GFP expressing FACS-isolated cells from E16.5 and P0 Six2TGC and compound Ezh1 and Ezh2 mutant kidneys( Six2TGC_Ezh2-/- , Ezh1+/-; Six2TGC_Ezh2-/-; and Ezh1-/- ; scRNA-seq analysis of NPCs (Six2/GFP+ cells) from E16.5 as well as P2 kidneys. Genotypes analyzed: Six2TGC (E16.5&P2), Six2TGCEzh2-/- (E16.5), Ezh1+/-;Six2TGCEzh2-/- (E16.5), and Ezh2-/-;Six2TGCEzh2-/- (E16.5) Six2/GFP+ nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) give rise to all epithelial cell types of the nephron, the filtering unit of the kidney. NPCs have a limited lifespan and are consumed near the time of birth. Pre-term birth or prenatal stress further shorten the lifespan of NPCs and result in nephron deficit and chronic kidney disease. Accordingly, there is a pressing need to better understand the factors that regulate NPC lifespan in order to develop novel regenerative strategies. Epigenetic factors are implicated in maintenance of organ-restricted progenitors such as NPCs, but the chromatin-based mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we examined the role of the H3K27 methyltransferases, Enhancer of zeste (Ezh1 and Ezh2), in NPC maintenance using a combination of gene targeting, chromatin profiling, and single-cell RNA analysis. We find that Ezh2 expression correlates with NPC growth potential, and that Ezh2 is the dominant H3K27 methyltransferase in NPCs and epithelial descendants. Surprisingly, NPCs lacking H3K27me3 maintain their progenitor state albeit cycle slowly leading to formation of fewer nephrons. Unlike Ezh2 loss-of-function, dual inactivation of Ezh1 and Ezh2 triggers overexpression of the transcriptional repressor Hey1 and downregulation of Six2 and result in unscheduled activation of Wnt4-driven differentiation, early termination of nephrogenesis and severe renal dysgenesis. Double-mutant NPCs also overexpress the Six family member, Six1. However, in this context, Six1 is unable to access the closed Six2 enhancer and fails to maintain NPC stemness. At the chromatin level, Ezh1 and Ezh2 act by restricting accessibility of AP1 factors to their genomic binding motifs and their absence provokes a regulatory landscape akin of differentiated and non-lineage cells. We conclude that Ezh2 is required for NPC renewal potential, while maintenance of NPC lifespan and tempering the differentiation program require cooperation of both Ezh1 and Ezh2.

Dataset Information

Intrinsic Age-Dependent Changes and Cell-Cell Contacts Regulate Nephron Progenitor Lifespan.

Publications

Intrinsic Age-Dependent Changes and Cell-Cell Contacts Regulate Nephron Progenitor Lifespan.

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