title: MUC1 in mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition during human nephrogenesis: changing the fate of renal progenitor/stem cells?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of the human kidney is a complex process requiring interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells. The condensed cap mesenchyme is hypothesized to generate a population of stem/progenitor cells that undergo mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) originating nephrons. Few immunohistochemical markers are available for detecting cap mesenchymal cells in the early phases of MET.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of MUC1 was evaluated in the kidneys, of 4 human foetuses and 2 newborns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MUC1 immunoreactivity was detected in all the examined kidneys in the cap mesenchyme and in the renal vesicles. Immunostaining for MUC1 in cap mesenchymal cells changed from one nodule to the next: some mesenchymal nodules were negative, some showed MUC1 reactivity in scattered cells, whereas in others, positive cells revealed the presence of a roundish developing epithelial structure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data clearly indicates, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, immunohistochemical evidence of MUC1 expression during human kidney development. We focused on MUC1 reactivity in the cap mesenchyme. On the basis of these preliminary data, we speculate that MUC1 may be involved in human nephrogenesis and may play a relevant role in MET from the cap mesenchyme to the renal vesicle, changing the fate of renal stem/progenitor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. fandan73@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fanni
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fanos
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerosa
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nemolato
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Locci
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Eyken
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iacovidou
authors.forename: Gavino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faa
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1