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

Susan E. Quaggin, Gregory B. Vanden Heuvel, Peter Igarashi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

145 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)37-48
Number of pages12
JournalMechanisms of Development
Volume71
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1998

Funding

We thank Kui Li and Sue Ann Mentone for expert technical assistance and Michele Pucci for expert secretarial assistance. We thank Doris Herzlinger for providing the Dolichos biflorus agglutinin staining protocol. We thank Frank Ruddle, Charles Radding, and Sherman Weissman for critically reviewing earlier versions of the manuscript. S.E.Q. is the recipient of a Clinician Scientist Award from the Medical Research Council of Canada. G.B.V. was the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association Connecticut Affiliate. P.I. is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association. This work was supported by NIH grant RO1 DK45678 to P.I.

Keywords

  • Antisense oligonucleotides
  • Branching morphogenesis
  • Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions
  • Kidney development
  • Transcription factor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Embryology
  • Developmental Biology

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