Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026
Assessing Urinary Tract Junction Obstruction Defects by Methylene Blue Dye Injection
Published on: October 12, 2017
Intrauterine low-protein diet disturbs metanephric gene expression and induces urinary tract developmental
Minghui Yu1, Lihong Tan1, Jing Chen1
1Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Kidney Development and Pediatric Kidney Disease Research Center, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Intrauterine low-protein diet can affect kidney development and hence final nephron number. In this study, we reported that intrauterine low-protein diet can cause congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) phenotypes, which was dominated by the duplicated collecting system phenotype. At the same time, ectopic ureteric buds were increased under intrauterine low-protein diet and the number of UB branches was reduced in the serum-free culture. Intrauterine low-protein diet can change metanephric gene expression. Slit2/Robo2 and Spry1 expression levels were decreased, Ret expression was increased, and downstream p-Akt activity enhanced with apoptosis abnormal in ureteric bud tissue, which may be the mechanisms that intrauterine low-protein diet causes increased incidence of CAKUT in offspring. Thus, we showed correlation between intrauterine low-protein diet and CAKUT in offspring.
Insights
Maternal low-protein diet during pregnancy is linked to congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) in offspring. This diet impacts kidney development, increasing CAKUT incidence, particularly duplicated collecting systems.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Nephrology
- Teratology
Background:
- Intrauterine environment significantly influences fetal development, including kidney formation.
- Maternal nutrition, specifically protein intake, is a critical factor in organogenesis.
- Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) represent a spectrum of developmental abnormalities with significant clinical impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of an intrauterine low-protein diet on kidney development.
- To identify specific CAKUT phenotypes associated with intrauterine low-protein diet.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying diet-induced CAKUT.
Main Methods:
- Animal model of intrauterine low-protein diet exposure.
- Histological analysis of kidney development and nephron number.
- Assessment of ureteric bud branching and gene expression.
- Western blot analysis for protein signaling pathways and apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Intrauterine low-protein diet induced CAKUT phenotypes, predominantly duplicated collecting systems.
- Increased ectopic ureteric buds and reduced ureteric bud branching were observed.
- Downregulation of Slit2/Robo2 and Spry1, alongside increased Ret expression, was noted.
- Enhanced p-Akt activity and abnormal apoptosis in ureteric bud tissue were detected.
Conclusions:
- Intrauterine low-protein diet is correlated with an increased incidence of CAKUT in offspring.
- Altered gene expression and signaling pathways (Slit2/Robo2, Spry1, Ret, Akt) in ureteric buds are implicated mechanisms.
- This study highlights the critical role of maternal nutrition in preventing congenital kidney anomalies.
Related Concept Videos
01:42What is Gene Expression?
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
01:26Urinary Tract Infection I: Introduction
01:25Urinary Tract Infection II: Pathophysiology
02:26Ecological Disturbance
02:11Proteins: From Genes to Degradation
Transcription is the synthesis of RNA...