Identification and localization of adhesion G protein-coupled receptor expression in the murine kidney

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (AGPCRs) are a class of seven-transmembrane receptors that sense cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix transient adhesive events. AGPCRs are physiologically relevant and regulate processes throughout the body. However, the physiological roles of many AGPCRs are undefined. Unlike G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that bind soluble agonists, AGPCRs uniquely depend on extracellular interactions and stimuli to facilitate endogenous activation by a tethered peptide agonist. Therefore, it is paramount to determine the cellular localization of AGPCRs to begin unraveling their functional roles. In the present work, we have identified the most abundant AGPCRs expressed in the murine kidney and determined their cellular localization through a combination of single-nucleus RNA sequencing and RNAscope fluorescent in situ hybridization. We not only report the transcriptional abundance of six AGPCRs that are expressed in a cell-specific manner but also demonstrate that Adgrf1, a receptor with low but specific abundance by snRNAseq, is detected in a subset of principal cells by RNAscope. In addition, we identify cell-specific transcript variants of Adgrf5 in the kidney, supporting a significant role of alternative splicing in AGPCR physiology. These data will assist in the generation of tissue- and cell-specific hypotheses and enable future investigations into the physiological roles of AGPCRs in the kidney and other tissues.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a unique class of receptors that regulate numerous physiological processes throughout the body. Here, we identify and localize the AGPCRs expressed in the mouse kidney using a multimodal approach. This work will provide a foundation for future investigations into the novel physiological roles of AGPCRs in the kidney.