title: Priming the renal progenitor cell.
abstract: The mammalian kidney arises from OSR1(+) progenitor cells in the intermediate mesoderm. However, these cells must acquire unique properties before they can respond to inductive signals that launch the differentiation program. Recent data indicate that the transcription factor, WT1, plays a master role in this transition. Interestingly, some of these embryonic nephron progenitor cells are retained in the adult organ where they may participate in tissue regeneration after acute kidney injury. A better understanding of the biology of these cells may one day allow progenitor cell-based therapeutic strategies to help regenerate damaged adult nephrons.
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.forename: Murielle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Akpa
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goodyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D025721:WT1 Proteins