VEGF-A loss in the haematopoietic and endothelial lineages exacerbates age-induced renal changes.
Renal function declines with age and this is more pronounced in males than females. VEGF-A is essential for glomerular development and function but its role in other aspects of renal function is poorly understood. We therefore investigated the role of VEGF-A, derived specifically from haematopoietic and endothelial lineages in the kidney. We crossed VavCre and floxed Vegf-a mice allowing specific ablation of a single Vegf-a allele in the haematopoietic and endothelial lineages. Mutants were viable and fertile and had normal haematological composition, indicating that 50% gene dosage of Vegf-a in the Vav-expressing lineage is sufficient for establishing a functional haematopoietic system and mature vascular network. However, several abnormalities were observed in the kidney of the adult mutants. These included the formation of inclusion bodies in the proximal tubular cells, tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. These features were observed in 9-11 month-old mutant animals. Most of these abnormalities have been described in aging kidneys in man, and were also observed in the older control mice (24 months). The pathological features appeared in mutant male animals at a younger age than in female mutants. This indicates that reduction in Vegf-a gene dosage in haematopoietic and endothelial lineages accelerates renal aging, suggesting that VEGF-A derived from these lineages may play a role in protecting the kidney from age-associated damage.
Yamaji
Maiko
M
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK. m.yamaji@ucl.ac.uk
Bielby
Holli
H
Licence
Di
D
Cheng
Ching-wen
CW
Cook
Emma
E
Smith
Stephen K
SK
Print
Cristin G
CG
Charnock-Jones
D Stephen
DS
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D019070:Cell Lineage; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005838:Genotype; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D012737:Sex Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
D015415:Biomarkers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse