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Developmental expression of maf-1 messenger ribonucleic acids in rat kidney by in situ hybridization histochemistry
J Imaki1, H Onodera, K Tsuchiya
1Department of Anatomy, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. jimaki@nms.ac.jp
Abstract:
maf is a family of oncogenes, originally identified from the avian oncogenic retrovirus AS42, which encodes a nuclear bZip transcription factor protein. It has been reported that maf family genes have critical roles in embryological development and cellular differentiation. In this study, the distribution of maf-1 genes, the rat homologues of mafB, was examined in rat kidneys at the embryonic stages from 13 days, gestation (E13) through E21 and then 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after birth by in situ hybridization with (35)S-labeled antisense riboprobes. The cellular localization was determined using double in situ hybridization. Expression of maf-1 mRNA appeared weakly on E15 and was restricted to glomerular visceral epithelial cells during the pre- and postnatal stages until 2 weeks after birth and then gradually diminished. Double in situ hybridization demonstrated that maf-1 mRNA-positive cells in glomerulus also expressed Pod-1 gene, suggesting that maf-1 mRNA was expressed in the podocyte. These findings suggest that the expression of maf-1 gene may be involved in embryological development and/or differentiation of the kidney.
Insights
The maf-1 gene, crucial for kidney development, is expressed in rat podocytes during embryonic and early postnatal stages. Its expression diminishes after two weeks, suggesting a role in kidney differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Renal Physiology
Background:
- The maf gene family encodes nuclear bZip transcription factors.
- Maf family genes play critical roles in embryological development and cellular differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the distribution and cellular localization of maf-1 gene expression in developing rat kidneys.
- To investigate the potential role of maf-1 in kidney embryogenesis and differentiation.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization using (35)S-labeled antisense riboprobes to detect maf-1 mRNA.
- Double in situ hybridization to determine cellular localization of maf-1 expression.
- Analysis of rat kidneys during embryonic (E13-E21) and postnatal (1-8 weeks) stages.
Main Results:
- Maf-1 mRNA expression was detected in rat kidneys from embryonic day 15.
- Expression was primarily localized to glomerular visceral epithelial cells (podocytes) from embryonic stages through 2 weeks postnatally.
- Maf-1 mRNA-positive cells co-expressed the Pod-1 gene, confirming expression in podocytes.
- Maf-1 expression gradually diminished after 2 weeks postnatally.
Conclusions:
- Maf-1 gene expression is developmentally regulated in rat kidney podocytes.
- These findings suggest a significant role for maf-1 in kidney embryological development and/or podocyte differentiation.