Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026

10:05
Analysis of Zebrafish Kidney Development with Time-lapse Imaging Using a Dissecting Microscope Equipped for Optical Sectioning
Published on: April 7, 2016
CITED1 expression in Wilms' tumor and embryonic kidney
Harold N Lovvorn1, Jenifer Westrup, Shaun Opperman
1The Department of Pediatric Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. harold.lovvorn@vanderbilt.edu
Summary
CITED1, a gene regulator, is consistently found in Wilms
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Wilms' tumors (nephroblastomas) originate from aberrant nephrogenic progenitor cells.
- CITED1 is a transcriptional regulator normally downregulated during kidney development.
- Previous work showed CITED1 expression in nephrogenic progenitors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role and localization of CITED1 in Wilms' tumors.
- To determine if CITED1 expression correlates with tumor dissemination.
- To explore CITED1's potential role in Wilms' tumor pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of CITED1 expression in rat and human Wilms' tumors.
- Comparison of CITED1 subcellular localization in normal kidney versus tumor tissue.
- Correlation of CITED1 expression levels with clinical presentation (disseminated disease).
Main Results:
- CITED1 expression persists in blastemal cells of Wilms' tumors.
- Highest CITED1 levels observed in tumors with disseminated disease.
- CITED1 shows nuclear localization in Wilms' tumor blastema, unlike cytoplasmic localization in normal kidneys.
Conclusions:
- CITED1 is a marker of primitive blastema in Wilms' tumors.
- Persistent expression and altered nuclear localization of CITED1 may contribute to Wilms' tumor initiation.
- CITED1's role in nephrogenic progenitor cell regulation is critical in understanding Wilms' tumorigenesis.
Related Concept Videos
The Retinoblastoma Gene
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which results in tumor...
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
Abnormal Proliferation
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Cell Specific Gene Expression
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Catenins
Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...

