Dataset Information

Lithium induces mesenchymal-epithelial differentiation during human kidney development by activation of the Wnt signalling system.

ABSTRACT: Kidney function is directly linked to the number of nephrons which are generated until 32-36 weeks gestation in humans. Failure to make nephrons during development leads to congenital renal malformations, whilst nephron loss in adulthood occurs in progressive renal disease. Therefore, an understanding of the molecular processes which underlie human nephron development may help design new treatments for renal disease. Mesenchyme to epithelial transition (MET) is critical for forming nephrons, and molecular pathways which control rodent MET have been identified. However, we do not know whether they are relevant in human kidney development. In this study, we isolated mesenchymal cell lines derived from human first trimester kidneys in monolayer culture and investigated their differentiation potential. We found that the mesenchymal cells could convert into osteogenic, but not adipogenic or endothelial lineages. Furthermore, addition of lithium chloride led to MET which was accompanied by increases in epithelial (CDH1) and tubular (ENPEP) markers and downregulation of renal progenitor (SIX2, EYA1, CD133) and mesenchymal markers (HGF, CD24). Prior to phenotypic changes, lithium chloride altered Wnt signalling with elevations in AXIN2, GSK3? phosphorylation and ?-catenin. Collectively, these studies provide the first evidence that lithium-induced Wnt activation causes MET in human kidneys. Therapies targeting Wnts may be critical in the quest to regenerate nephrons for human renal diseases.

SUBMITTER: Price KL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5841285 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Lithium induces mesenchymal-epithelial differentiation during human kidney development by activation of the Wnt signalling system.

Price Karen L KL Kolatsi-Joannou Maria M Mari Chiara C Long David A DA Winyard Paul J D PJD

Cell death discovery 20180207

Kidney function is directly linked to the number of nephrons which are generated until 32-36 weeks gestation in humans. Failure to make nephrons during development leads to congenital renal malformations, whilst nephron loss in adulthood occurs in progressive renal disease. Therefore, an understanding of the molecular processes which underlie human nephron development may help design new treatments for renal disease. Mesenchyme to epithelial transition (MET) is critical for forming nephrons, and ...[more]

PMID: 29531810

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Project description:Epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) confers stem cell‑like phenotype and more motile properties to carcinoma cells. During EMT, the expression of E‑cadherin decreases, resulting in loss of cell‑cell adhesion and increased migration. Expression of Twist1 and other pleiotropic transcription factors, such as Snail, is known to activate EMT. We established primary colon cancer cell cultures from samples of operated patients and validated cultures by cytogenetic and molecular biology approaches. Western blot assay, quantitative real‑time PCR and immunofluorescence were performed to investigate the expression of E‑cadherin, vimentin, β‑catenin, cytokeratin‑20 and ‑18, Twist1, Snail, CD44, cyclooxygenase‑2 (COX2), Sox2, Oct4 and Nanog. Moreover, cell differentiation was induced by incubation with LiCl‑containing medium for 10 days. We observed that these primary colorectal cancer (CRC) cells lost expression of the E‑cadherin epithelial marker, which was instead expressed in cancer and normal colon mucosa of the same patient, while overexpressed vimentin (mesenchymal marker), Twist1, Snail (EMT markers) and COX2. Cytokeratin‑18 was expressed both in tissues and cell cultures. Expression of stem cell markers, such as CD44, Oct4 and Nanog, were also observed. Following differentiation with the glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) inhibitor LiCl, the cells began to express E‑cadherin and, at once, Twist1 and Snail expression was strongly downregulated, suggesting a MET‑reverting process. In conclusion, we established primary colon mesenchymal cancer cell cultures expressing mesenchymal and epithelial biomarkers together with high level of EMT transcription factors. We propose that they could represent a good model for studying EMT and its reverting mechanism, the mesenchymal‑to‑epithelial transition (MET). Our observation indicates that LiCl, a GSK3β inhibitor, induces MET in vitro, suggesting that LiCl and GSK3β could represent, respectively, interesting drug, and target for CRC therapy.

Project description:Epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been demonstrated to serve a crucial role in the progression of interstitial fibrosis, which is one of the principal pathological features of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). However, to the best of our knowledge, the mechanisms of EMT in CAN have not been investigated. In the present study, the effect of stromal cell‑derived factor 1 (SDF‑1) and the Wnt signaling pathway on the progression of EMT following kidney transplantation was investigated. The CAN model was established using Fisher 344 and Lewis rats, treated with low‑dose cyclosporine with or without AMD3100. CAN was confirmed by the pathological alterations and chronic allograft damage index scoring, and EMT was confirmed by western blotting and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In the AMD3100 group, there were lower expression levels of α‑SMA and higher expression levels of E‑cadherin, which indicated that CAN and EMT were ameliorated by AMD3100. The kidney tissue was analyzed using an mRNA + long noncoding (lnc)RNA microarray. A total of 506 mRNAs and 404 lncRNAs were demonstrated to be significantly differentially expressed between the two groups, which revealed the involvement of SDF‑1/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and the Wnt pathway. SDF‑1 was demonstrated to induce EMT in vitro through the upregulation of α‑SMA, downregulation of E‑cadherin and the wound healing assay, and in the rat renal tubular epithelial cells via the nuclear accumulation of β‑catenin, which were all inhibited by either AMD3100 or DKK‑1. CXXC finger protein 5 (CXXC5), a negative regulator of the Wnt pathway, was downregulated following treatment with SDF‑1, which was inhibited by AMD3100 but not by DKK‑1. Thus, CXXC5 may be a regulator downstream of SDF‑1/CXCR4 in EMT. In conclusion, SDF‑1/CXCR4 induces EMT of renal tubular epithelial cells with the involvement of the Wnt pathway, which may be a novel mechanism and therapeutic target in kidney allograft fibrosis of rats.

Dataset Information

Lithium induces mesenchymal-epithelial differentiation during human kidney development by activation of the Wnt signalling system.

Publications

Lithium induces mesenchymal-epithelial differentiation during human kidney development by activation of the Wnt signalling system.

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