PLX041253

GSE94089: DNA methylation regulates nephron progenitor cell renewal and differentiation

• Organsim mouse
• Type RNASEQ
• Target gene
• Project ARCHS4

Nephron number is a major determinant of long-term renal function. We hypothesized a link between epigenetic regulation and nephron formation. In support of this hypothesis, expression analysis evidenced high levels of DNA methyltransferases Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a in the nephrogenic zone of the developing mouse kidney. Using targeted loss-of-function manipulations in mice, we show that deletion of Dnmt1 in nephron progenitor cells results in a marked hypoplasia and reduction of nephron number at birth. In contrast, deletion of Dnmt3a/3b in nephron progenitor cells or deletion of Dnmt1/3a/3b in differentiated renal cells did not lead to any overt kidney phenotype. Whole mount optical projection tomography and 3D-reconstructions uncovered a significant reduction of stem cell niches and progenitor cells in Dnmt1-deficient mice. Ultimately, RNA sequencing analysis revealed that Dnmt1 controls DNA transcription regulating progenitor renewal, identity and differentiation. In summary, this study establishes DNA methylation as key regulatory event of prenatal renal programming. SOURCE: Nicola Wanner (nicola.wanner@uniklinik-freiburg.de) - University Medical Center Freiburg