title: SCUBE1, a novel developmental gene involved in renal regeneration and repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have identified that a novel developmental gene and protein, SCUBE1, is expressed in endothelial cells and may play an important role in kidney regeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The temporal and spatial expression of SCUBE1 was determined in a mouse model of ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury at 3 days and 1, 3 and 6 weeks post-injury by immunofluorescence microscopy. In vitro analysis was used to examine SCUBE1 signalling in endothelial cells under conditions of cell stress using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence labelling. The media from cultured endothelial cells following SCUBE1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was used to assess the proliferation capacity of epithelial cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy demonstrated that the SCUBE1 protein was localized to CD31-positive endothelial cells in IR kidneys during the resolution of tissue damage (3 weeks), but not in control animals. The peak expression of SCUBE1 following 3 weeks of IR injury was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. SCUBE1 mRNA and protein expression were detected in cultured endothelial cells under hypoxic conditions or serum starving. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in epithelial cell proliferation following the addition of a supernatant derived from cultured endothelial cells following SCUBE1 siRNA gene silencing compared to control media.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that SCUBE1 may be involved in the regulation of tubular cell proliferation and re-epithelialization during the resolution of kidney injury.
authors.affiliation: Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Monash University and the Australian Stem Cell Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Junli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: James Antony
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Deane
authors.forename: Ruey-Bing
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jinhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sharon Denise
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ricardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012038:Regeneration; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C417547:Scube1 protein, mouse