Project description:We recently developed a new model of renal agenesis [i.e., the heterogeneous stock derived model of unilateral renal agenesis, (HSRA)]. The HSRA model consistently exhibits unilateral renal agenesis ranging from 50-75% in each generation and is characterized by low nephron number, early kidney hypertrophy, and an inherent susceptibility to develop significant kidney injury and decline in renal function with age. Whole transcriptome analysis was evaluated at month 1 to identify early changes in genes/networks that may be involved in increased susceptibility of HSRA-S to develop kidney injury in the long-term. An n=4 per group (independent samples) were evaluated for HSRA-S (congenital solitary kidney) and HSRA-C (two-kidney). HSRA-C (two-kidney) samples were set as the control.
Project description:Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is an unfavorable disease with heterogeneous causes and variable prognosis. One of the clinically crucial prognostic feature is the response to initial glucocorticoid treatment. Whereas in some children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) the treatment may induce long-term remission of the disease, steroid-resistant cases (SRNS) are at risk of renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy. The aim of this project was to explore whether sera from children with the two main clinically defined types of NS induce changes in transcriptome of in-vitro cultures of immortalized human podocytes. After 3 days of culture, total RNA was isolated and then library from polyadenylated RNA was prepared and RNA sequencing was performed. Log2 (fold-changes) were calculated to describe differential gene expression. Within the Reactome online tool, Camera methodology was implemented to identify functionally linked gene groups (pathways) that could distinguish the two patient groups. Significant transcriptome differences were found between samples from children with SSNS and SRNS. This may help to reveal the molecular mechanisms of the disease and open up for an effective individualized treatment.
Project description:Congenital obstructive nephropathy is a common cause of chronic kidney disease and a leading indication for renal transplant in children. The cellular and molecular responses of the kidney to congenital obstruction are incompletely characterized. In this study, we evaluated global transcription in kidneys with graded hydronephrosis in the megabladder (mgb-/-) mouse to better understand the pathophysiology of congenital obstructive nephropathy. Three primary pathways associated with kidney remodeling/repair were induced in mgb-/- kidneys independent of the degree of hydronephrosis. These pathways included retinoid signaling, steroid hormone metabolism, and renal response to injury. Urothelial proliferation and the expression of genes with roles in the integrity and maintenance of the renal urothelium were selectively increased in mgb-/- kidneys. Ngal/Lcn2, a marker of acute kidney injury, was elevated in 36% of kidneys with higher grades of hydronephrosis. Evaluation of Ngalhigh versus Ngallow kidneys identified the expression of several novel candidate markers of renal injury. This study indicates that the development of progressive hydronephrosis in mgb-/- mice results in renal adaptation that includes significant changes in the morphology and potential functionality of the renal urothelium. These observations will permit the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to progressive renal injury in the context of congenital obstruction. Gene expression was measured in control, mild, moderate and severely hydronephrotic megabladder mouse kidneys. A total of 6 control kidneys were compared to 18 mutant kidneys from age-matched male animals.
Project description:Congenital obstructive nephropathy is a common cause of chronic kidney disease and a leading indication for renal transplant in children. The cellular and molecular responses of the kidney to congenital obstruction are incompletely characterized. In this study, we evaluated global transcription in kidneys with graded hydronephrosis in the megabladder (mgb-/-) mouse to better understand the pathophysiology of congenital obstructive nephropathy. Three primary pathways associated with kidney remodeling/repair were induced in mgb-/- kidneys independent of the degree of hydronephrosis. These pathways included retinoid signaling, steroid hormone metabolism, and renal response to injury. Urothelial proliferation and the expression of genes with roles in the integrity and maintenance of the renal urothelium were selectively increased in mgb-/- kidneys. Ngal/Lcn2, a marker of acute kidney injury, was elevated in 36% of kidneys with higher grades of hydronephrosis. Evaluation of Ngalhigh versus Ngallow kidneys identified the expression of several novel candidate markers of renal injury. This study indicates that the development of progressive hydronephrosis in mgb-/- mice results in renal adaptation that includes significant changes in the morphology and potential functionality of the renal urothelium. These observations will permit the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to progressive renal injury in the context of congenital obstruction.
Project description:Objective: To investigate the differential expression of genes in whole transcripts of congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) using second-generation sequencing (also known as next-generation sequencing, NGS) technology. Methods: Children with CPAM were strictly screened after setting the criteria, and grouped by taking CPAM parietal tissue and CPAM lesion tissue respectively, and RNA-Seq libraries were established separately using second-generation sequencing technology, followed by differential expression analysis and GO (gene ontology) functional enrichment analysis, KEGG pathway analysis and GSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) analysis. Results: Five cases were screened from 36 children with CPAM, and high-throughput sequencing was performed to obtain 10 whole transcripts of samples with acceptable sequence quality and balanced gene coverage. One aberrantly expressed sample was found by analysis of principal components, which was excluded and then subjected to differential expression analysis, and 860 up-regulated genes and 203 down-regulated genes. GO functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes demonstrates the functional class and cellular localization of target genes. Conclusion: The whole transcript of CPAM shows obvious gene up- and down-regulation, differentially expressed genes are located in specific cells and belong to different functional categories, and NGS can provide an effective means to study the transcriptional regulation of CPAM from the overall transcriptional level.
Project description:To explore molecular mechanisms affecting nutritional risk and neurodevelopment in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) by combining transcriptome and metabolome analysis. In this study, transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of blood and serum samples from 26 children with CHD was performed to search for key DEGs and DEMs, and explore molecular mechanisms affecting nutritional risk and neurodevelopment in children with CHD.
Project description:Aberrant DNA methylation is common in cancer. To associate DNA methylation with gene function, we performed RNAseq upon tumor tissue and matched normal tissues of two ccRCC (clear cell renal cell carcinoma) patients. To quantify 5mC and 5hmC level in each CG site at genome-wide level, we performed BS-seq and TAB-seq upon tumor tissue and matched normal tissues of two ccRCC (clear cell renal cell carcinoma) patients, respectively. mRNA profiles of tumor and matched normal tissues from two ccRCC patients were generated by deep sequencing, using Hiseq 2000. Single-nucleotide-resolution, whole-genome, 5mC and 5hmC profiles of tumor and matched normal tissues from two ccRCC (clear cell renal cell carcinoma) patients were generated by deep sequencing, using Hiseq 2000.
Project description:Kidney tumours are among the most common solid tumours in children, comprising several distinct subtypes differing in many aspects, including cell-of-origin, genetics, and pathology. Pre-clinical cell models capturing the disease heterogeneity are currently lacking. Here, we describe the first paediatric cancer organoid biobank. It contains tumour and matching normal kidney organoids from over 50 children with different subtypes of kidney cancer, including Wilms tumours, malignant rhabdoid tumours, renal cell carcinomas, and congenital mesoblastic nephromas. The malignant rhabdoid tumour organoids represent the first organoid model for tumours of non-epithelial origin. The tumour organoids retain key properties of native tumours, useful for revealing patient-specific drug vulnerabilities. We further demonstrate that organoid cultures derived from Wilms tumours consist of multiple different cell types, including epithelial, stromal and blastemal-like. Our organoid biobank captures the cellular heterogeneity of paediatric kidney tumours, providing a representative collection of well-characterized models for basic cancer research, drug-screening, and personalized medicine.
Project description:The objective of the present work was to identify new renal proteins responsible for Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and of the Urinary Tract (CAKUT pathophysiology). We conducted a comparative LC-MS/MS-based proteomics analysis of amniotic fluids (AF) collected from non-severe CAKUT (ns-CAKUT; n=19), severe CAKUT (s-CAKUT; n=14), and healthy controls (cont; n=22) fetuses. We identified a total of 224 gestational age independent proteins that were significantly different in abundance when comparing (one-way ANOVA corrected p<0.05) the 3 groups of amniotic fluids 2 by 2. We identified 8 gestational-age independent proteins that were in common when comparing the 3 groups two by two, and that were considered as associated to both CAKUT onset and CAKUT severity.