title: Lim1, an embryonal transcription factor, is absent in multicystic renal dysplasia, but reactivated in nephroblastomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lim1 (Lim homeobox 1) plays an important role during rodent renal development; however, its rolein human kidney development and disease is still unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated LIM1 expression during human renal development, in dysplastic kidneys and in renal neoplasms using immunohistochemistry. RNA levels in renal carcinomas were determined by quantitative RT-PCR, and the potential roles of LIM1 in mesenchymal-epithelial transition and cell cycle were investigated in a cell culture model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LIM1 was detected in pretubular aggregates, S-shaped and comma-shaped bodies as well as immature glomeruli between 10 and 30 weeks of gestation. Eleven dysplastic kidneys showed no expression of LIM1. In contrast, 12 of 32 nephroblastomas showed nuclear positivity. One regressive nephroblastoma had diffuse expression of LIM1 in tubular structures, all others showed focal positivity in mesenchymal, blastemal and epithelial structures. Renal cell carcinomas revealed no expression of LIM1. Overexpression of LIM1 in a cell culture model led to an increase in KERATIN7 expression but no change in the cell cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study supports the concept of a causative role of LIM1 deficiency in the development of multicystic kidney. In a small subset of nephroblastomas with a more diffuse expression pattern LIM1 might also contribute to the pathogenesis of these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. barbara.guertl-lackner@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guertl
authors.forename: Upeka
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Senanayake
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nusshold
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leuschner
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mannweiler
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoefler
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D021782:Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; C085473:LHX1 protein, human; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; C497318:PAX2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D014157:Transcription Factors