Project description:A critical event during kidney organogenesis is the differentiation of podocytes, specialized epithelial cells that filter blood plasma to form urine. Podocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-podocytes) have recently been generated in nephron-like kidney organoids, but the developmental stage of these cells and their capacity to reveal disease mechanisms remains unclear. Here, we show that hPSC-podocytes phenocopy mammalian podocytes at the capillary loop stage (CLS), recapitulating key features of ultrastructure, gene expression, and mutant phenotype. hPSC-podocytes in vitro progressively establish junction-rich basal membranes (nephrin+ podocin+ ZO-1+) and microvillus-rich apical membranes (podocalyxin+), similar to CLS podocytes in vivo. Ultrastructural, biophysical, and transcriptomic analysis of podocalyxin-knockout hPSCs and derived podocytes, generated using CRISPR/Cas9, reveals defects in the assembly of microvilli and lateral spaces between developing podocytes, resulting in failed junctional migration. These defects are phenocopied in CLS glomeruli of podocalyxin-deficient mice, which cannot produce urine, thereby demonstrating that podocalyxin has a conserved and essential role in mammalian podocyte maturation. Defining the maturity of hPSC-podocytes and their capacity to reveal and recapitulate pathophysiological mechanisms establishes a powerful framework for studying human kidney disease and regeneration.
Project description:Analysis of gene expression changes in differentiated human podocytes treated with the serum from patients with (DKD+) or without (DKD-) diabetic kidney disease when compared to normal subjects (C). The hypothesis is that the three groups can be distinghed by their differential gene expression pattern. The results obtained revealed important information regarding differences in gene expression in human podocytes treated with the serum from patients with (DKD+) or without (DKD-) diabetic kidney disease when compared to normal subjects (C). Human podocytes were contacted with the serum from patients with diabetes and kidney disease (DKD+) or without kidney disease (DKD-) and compared to normal human podocytes contacted with serum from patients without diabetes (C).
Project description:Analysis of gene expression changes in differentiated human podocytes treated with the serum from patients with (DKD+) or without (DKD-) diabetic kidney disease when compared to normal subjects (C). The hypothesis is that the three groups can be distinghed by their differential gene expression pattern. The results obtained revealed important information regarding differences in gene expression in human podocytes treated with the serum from patients with (DKD+) or without (DKD-) diabetic kidney disease when compared to normal subjects (C).
Project description:Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune skin blistering disease characterized by autoimmunity against the hemidesmosomal proteins BP180, type XVII collagen, and BP230. To elucidate the genetic basis of susceptibility to BP, we performed the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) in Germans. This GWAS was combined with HLA locus targeted sequencing in an additional independent BP cohort. The strongest association with BP in Germans tested in this study was observed in the two HLA loci, HLA-DQA1*05:05 and HLA-DRB1*07:01. Further studies with increased sample sizes and complex studies integrating multiple pathogenic drivers will be conducted.