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Effects of alternative splicing events and transcriptome changes on kidney stone formation
Qunsheng Yan1,2,3, Yang Chen1,2,3, Haoran Liu1,2,3
1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Urolithiasis
|January 8, 2022
Summary
This study reveals that alternative splicing events regulate crystal adhesion in kidney stone disease. These splicing changes impact gene expression, affecting crystal adherence and cell death in renal tubular epithelial cells.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Urinary stone disease involves crystal formation and adhesion to renal tubular epithelium.
- Crystal adhesion causes epithelial damage and promotes further stone development.
- Gene expression changes, including alternative splicing, occur but are understudied in kidney stones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of alternative splicing in kidney stone formation.
- To determine if alternative splicing regulates crystal-epithelial cell interactions at the transcriptional level.
Main Methods:
- RNA sequencing was performed on cells in an in vitro stone model.
- Alternative splicing-related bioassays were conducted.
- Transcriptional regulation and apoptosis were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Numerous alternative splicing events were linked to crystal-epithelial cell interactions.
- These splicing events were found to regulate transcription.
- Alternative splicing significantly influenced crystal adhesion capacity and apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Alternative splicing plays a regulatory role in kidney stone pathogenesis.
- Splicing events modulate crystal adherence and cellular responses like apoptosis.
- This highlights alternative splicing as a potential therapeutic target for urinary stone disease.
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