The Xenopus pronephros as a model system for the study of kidney development and pathophysiology

By analysing the expression and function of DN-associated genes during renal development in vivo, it may be possible to shed light on their pathogenic roles in the disease. The embryos of the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis provide a useful model for analysing early embryonic development, particularly organogenesis. Their rapid, external development and the large size of embryos allow for ease of observation and manipulation of the developmental programme. The Xenopus pronephros represents a single nephron, the basic unit of the successive vertebrate renal organs, i.e. the mesonephros and metanephros, and thus provides a useful model of nephrogenesis. Suppression subtractive hybridization was used to identify genes induced when primary cultures of mesangial cells are exposed to high extracellular glucose. Among these genes was the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) gremlin. Interestingly gremlin is expressed in Xenopus pronephros at stage 27 where it has the potential to interact with BMPs and related regulators of nephrogenesis. Further analysis of the role of gremlin in renal development may shed light on their roles in disease.