Pod-1, a mesoderm-specific basic-helix-loop-helix protein expressed in mesenchymal and glomerular epithelial cells in the developing kidney

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• 作者：Quaggin ; Susan E. ; et. al.
• 关键词：Kidney development ; Transcription factor ; Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions ; Branching morphogenesis ; Antisense oligonucleotides
• 刊名：Mechanisms of Development
• 出版年：1998
• 出版时间：February, 1998
• 年：1998
• 卷：71
• 期：1-2
• 页码：37-48
• 全文大小：1.32 M

文摘

Basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are transcriptional regulatory proteins that govern cell fate determination and differentiation in a variety of tissues. We have identified a novel bHLH protein, named Pod-1, that belongs to a recently-described subfamily of bHLH proteins that have essential roles in the embryonic development of mesodermal tissues. In the adult human and mouse, Pod-1 was most highly expressed in the kidney, lung and heart. In developing mouse embryos, Pod-1 was selectively expressed in mesenchymal cells at sites of epithelial-mesenchymal interaction in the kidney, lung, intestine and pancreas. Pod-1 was also expressed in visceral glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes) in the kidney, and its expression coincided with the onset of podocyte differentiation. The expression of Pod-1 in embryonic kidney explants was inhibited using antisense oligonucleotides. Inhibition of Pod-1 expression resulted in decreased mesenchymal cell condensation around the ureteric bud and a 40 % decrease in ureteric branching. Pod-1 is the first tissue-restricted basic-helix-loop-helix protein that has been identified in the developing kidney where it may play a role in the regulation of morphogenetic events.