Arsenite Exposure to Human Renal Progenitor Cells (HRTPT) Produces a Reversible Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

ABSTRACT: Background The human kidney is known to possess renal progenitor cells (RPCs) that can assist in the repair of acute tubular injury. The RPCs are sparsely located as single cells throughout the kidney. We recently generated an immortalized human renal progenitor cell line (HRTPT) that co-expresses PROM1/CD24 and expresses features expected on a RPCs. This included the ability to form nephrospheres, differentiate on the surface of Matrigel, and to undergo adipogenic, neurogenic, and osteogenic differentiation. These cells were used in the present study to determine how the cells would respond when exposed to a nephrotoxin. Arsenite (iAS) was chosen as the nephrotoxin since the kidney is susceptible to this toxin and there is evidence for its involvement in renal disease. Methods gene expression profiles when the cells were exposed to iAS for 3, 8, 10 passages (subcultured at 1:3 ratio) identified a shift in from the control unexposed cells. The cells exposed to iAS for 8 passages were then referred with growth media containing no iAS and within 2 passages the cells returned to an epithelial morphology with strong agreement in differential gene expression between control and cells recovered from iAS exposure. Results Results shows within 3 serial passages of the cells exposed to iAS there was a shift in morphology from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype. EMT was suggested based on an increase in known mesenchymal markers. Conclusion We found RPCs can undergo EMT when exposed to a nephrotoxin and undergo MET when the agent is removed from the growth media.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE215904 | GEO | 2023/04/04

REPOSITORIES: GEO