Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

WT1 is a key regulator of podocyte function: reduced expression levels cause crescentic glomerulonephritis and mesangial sclerosis

Lookup NU author(s): Dr David Harrison

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Glomerular disease is one of the most common causes of end-stage renal failure. Increasing evidence suggests that these glomerulopathies are frequently caused by primary lesions in the renal podocytes. One of the major consequences of podocyte lesions is the accumulation of mesangial matrix in the glomerular basement membrane, a process called glomerulosclerosis. Mesangial sclerosis is one of the most consistent findings in Denys-Drash patients and can be caused by dominant mutations in the Wilms' tumor 1 gene (WT1). The underlying mechanism, however, is poorly understood. WT1 is expressed in the podocytes throughout life, but its function in this cell type is unknown. Combining Wt1-knockout and inducible yeast artificial chromosome transgenic mouse models, we demonstrate that reduced expression levels of WT1 result in either crescentic glomerulonephritis or mesangial sclerosis depending on the gene dosage. Strikingly, the two podocyte-specific genes nphs1 and podocalyxin are dramatically downregulated in mice with decreased levels of Wt1, suggesting that these two genes act downstream of Wt1. Taken together, our data provide genetic evidence that reduced levels of Wt1 are responsible for the pathogenesis of two distinct renal diseases and offer a molecular explanation for the increased occurrence of glomerulosclerosis in patients with WAGR syndrome.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Guo JK, Menke AL, Gubler MC, Clarke AR, Harrison D, Hammes A, Hastie ND, Schedl A

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Human Molecular Genetics

Year: 2002

Volume: 11

Issue: 6

Pages: 651-659

ISSN (print): 0964-6906

ISSN (electronic): 1460-2083

Publisher: Oxford University Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/11.6.651

DOI: 10.1093/hmg/11.6.651


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share