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The proepicardium keeps a potential for glomerular marker expression which supports its evolutionary origin from the
Elena Cano1,2,3, Rita Carmona1,2, Víctor Velecela4
1Department of Animal Biology, University of Málaga, Faculty of Science, Málaga 29071, Spain.
Evolution & Development
|July 16, 2015
Summary
The embryonic proepicardium retains latent kidney development potential, expressing podocyte markers when exposed to specific inducers. This suggests an evolutionary link between cardiac and kidney primordial tissues.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The proepicardium is crucial for heart development, forming the epicardium and providing progenitor cells.
- Its evolutionary origins and precise nature remain poorly understood.
- Previous research suggests a link to an ancient pronephric glomerulus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary origin of the proepicardium.
- To explore the potential for nephrogenic (kidney-forming) differentiation within the proepicardium.
- To examine the role of Wt1 in both epicardial and kidney development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of podocyte marker (glepp1, synaptopodin) and intermediate mesoderm marker (Pax2) expression in chick proepicardium.
- Culture of proepicardium with nephrogenic inducers and retinoic acid.
- Investigation of Wt1 gene function in mouse embryos with conditional deletion.
Main Results:
- Chick proepicardium expresses podocyte markers (glepp1, synaptopodin) and Pax2 upon culture with nephrogenic inducers.
- Retinoic acid treatment upregulates Hoxb4 in the proepicardium, indicating latent nephrogenic potential.
- Wt1 exhibits opposing roles: inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the proepicardium but promoting epithelialization in kidneys.
Conclusions:
- The proepicardium possesses a latent nephrogenic potential, suggesting an evolutionary link to kidney primordial structures.
- The transcription factor Wt1 plays distinct, opposing roles in proepicardium/epicardium and kidney development.
- Understanding these dual roles offers insights into cardiac and kidney evolutionary origins.
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