The molecular control of renal branching morphogenesis: current knowledge and emerging insights.
Mammalian kidney development requires the formation of a patterned, branched network of collecting ducts, a process termed renal branching morphogenesis. Disruption of renal branching morphogenesis during human kidney development results in renal dysplasia, the major cause of renal failure in young children. Genetic evidence, combined with in vitro data, have implicated transcription factors, secreted growth factors, and cell surface signaling peptides as critical regulators of renal branching morphogenesis. This review discusses the current knowledge regarding the regulation of renal branching morphogenesis in vivo provided by the analysis of genetic mutations in mice and humans which disrupt collecting duct system development. In addition, in vivo and in vitro evidence regarding the functions of several other gene families are considered, rendering new insight into emerging regulatory roles for these molecules in renal branching morphogenesis.
Piscione
Tino D
TD
Program in Development Biology, Division of Nephrology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Ave., Ontario, M5G1X8, Canada.
Rosenblum
Norman D
ND
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007685:Kidney Tubules, Collecting / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D000078792:Midkine; D023421:Models, Animal; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D021782:Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney / Q000196:embryology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D000078792:Midkine; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; C120566:slit protein, vertebrate; C066845:pleiotrophin