Lithium induces mesenchymal-epithelial differentiation during human kidney development by activation of the Wnt signalling system.

ABSTRACT: Kidney function is directly linked to the number of nephrons which are generated until 32-36 weeks gestation in humans. Failure to make nephrons during development leads to congenital renal malformations, whilst nephron loss in adulthood occurs in progressive renal disease. Therefore, an understanding of the molecular processes which underlie human nephron development may help design new treatments for renal disease. Mesenchyme to epithelial transition (MET) is critical for forming nephrons, and molecular pathways which control rodent MET have been identified. However, we do not know whether they are relevant in human kidney development. In this study, we isolated mesenchymal cell lines derived from human first trimester kidneys in monolayer culture and investigated their differentiation p

SUBMITTER: Price KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5841285 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature