Project description:Renin cells are essential for survival. They control the morphogenesis of the kidney arterioles, and the composition and volume of our extracellular fluid, arterial blood pressure, tissue perfusion, and oxygen delivery. Renin cells and associated arteriolar cells descend from FoxD1+ progenitor cells. The chromatin states and transcription factors that determine the differentiation of these cells into those that compose the kidney vasculature are unknown. To answer these questions, we isolated progenitors and their descendants at different embryonic and postnatal stages, and using integrated scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq established the developmental trajectory that leads to the mosaic of cells that compose the kidney arterioles. We constructed a single-cell atlas of chromatin accessibility and gene expression profiles-including the critical transcription factors that determine the identity and fate of the mosaic of cells that occur during kidney vascular development. Furthermore, we identified the factors that determine the elusive, myo-endocrine adult renin-secreting juxtaglomerular cell.
Project description:Renin cells are essential for survival. They control the morphogenesis of the kidney arterioles, and the composition and volume of our extracellular fluid, arterial blood pressure, tissue perfusion, and oxygen delivery. Renin cells and associated arteriolar cells descend from FoxD1+ progenitor cells. The chromatin states and transcription factors that determine the differentiation of these cells into those that compose the kidney vasculature are unknown. To answer these questions, we isolated progenitors and their descendants at different embryonic and postnatal stages, and using integrated scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq established the developmental trajectory that leads to the mosaic of cells that compose the kidney arterioles. We constructed a single-cell atlas of chromatin accessibility and gene expression profiles-including the critical transcription factors that determine the identity and fate of the mosaic of cells that occur during kidney vascular development. Furthermore, we identified the factors that determine the elusive, myo-endocrine adult renin-secreting juxtaglomerular cell.
Project description:The kidney vasculature is specialized to filter waste products from the blood, regulate blood pressure, and balance electrolytes. Although recent advances in stem cell studies have enabled the partial generation of kidney tissues in vitro, recapitulating the complex vascular structures of the kidney remains a daunting task. The molecular pathways that specify and sustain kidney vascular heterogeneity to perform these diverse tasks are not well characterized. Here, we have employed high throughput bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing of the non-lymphatic vasculature of the kidney to uncover the progression of pathways that dictate the developmental transition of nephrogenesis and vascular zonation from embryos to adulthood. We show that glomeruli and its associated vessels, manifest vascular-specific signatures expressing defined transcription factors, ion channels, solute transporters, and paracrine factors choreographing kidney functions. Notably, the ontology of the glomerulus coincides with induction of several unique transcription factors, including Tbx3, Gata5, Prdm1, and Pbx1. Selective deletion of Tbx3 in endothelial cells result in glomerular hypoplasia, microaneurysms and regressed fenestrations leading to fibrosis. Unraveling the molecular determinants of kidney vascular signatures will lay the foundation for rebuilding nephrons and understanding the pathogenesis of kidney diseases.
Project description:The kidneys intricate vascular system supports body fluid and organ homeostasis. However, little is known about how vascular architecture is established during kidney development. More specifically, how signals from the kidney influence vessel maturity and patterning remains poorly understood. Netrin-1 (Ntn1) is a secreted ligand critical for vessel and neuronal guidance. Here, we demonstrate that Ntn1 is expressed by Foxd1+ stromal progenitors in the developing kidney and conditional deletion (Foxd1GC/+;Ntn1fl/fl) results in hypoplastic kidneys with extended nephrogenesis. Wholemount 3D analyses additionally revealed the loss of a predictable vascular pattern in Foxd1GC/+;Ntn1fl/fl kidneys. As vascular patterning has been linked to vessel maturity, we investigated arterialization. Quantification of the CD31+ endothelium at E15.5 revealed no differences in metrics such as the number of branches or branch points, whereas the arterial vascular smooth muscle metrics were significantly reduced at both E15.5 and P0. In support of our observed phenotypes, whole kidney RNA-seq revealed disruptions to genes and programs associated with stromal cells, vasculature, and differentiating nephrons. Together, our findings highlight the significance of netrin-1 to proper vascularization and kidney development.
Project description:In this study, we report the protective effect of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) on vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease (CKD). To further investigate the mechanism underpinning the protective effect of BHB on vascular calcification, we performed high-throughput RNA-seq to identify the target gene of BHB. Our data demonstrate that BHB supplementation inhibits vascular calcification in CKD via targeting HDAC9.