Renal and related cancers

Actinomycin D and bortezomib disrupt protein homeostasis in Wilms tumor

This study shows that actinomycin D and bortezomib disrupt protein homeostasis in Wilms tumor, sensitizing anaplastic cells to treatment and improving survival in xenograft models.

Multiple Wnt signaling pathways direct epithelial tubule interconnection in the regenerating zebrafish kidney

This study identifies the roles of canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways in directing epithelial tubule interconnection during zebrafish kidney regeneration.

Generation of multi-lineage kidney assembloids with integration between nephrons and a single exiting collecting duct

This study generates integrated kidney assembloids by co-culturing nephron-forming and nephric duct progenitors, demonstrating functional connectivity between nephrons and a single collecting duct.

ZEB2 signaling is essential for ureteral smooth muscle cell differentiation and maintenance

This study shows that ZEB2 is essential for ureteral smooth muscle cell differentiation and maintenance, as its deletion in mice causes hydroureter and hydronephrosis.

Comparative analysis of Xenopus mesonephric transcriptomics: Conservation of the developmental lineage of nephron stages

This study maps the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of Xenopus laevis mesonephros, revealing conserved nephron segment identities and differentiation programs across vertebrate kidney forms.

Variants in NR6A1 as a cause for congenital renal, vertebral and uterine anomalies

The paper identifies NR6A1 variants as a cause of congenital renal, vertebral, and uterine anomalies through clinical and zebrafish model studies.

Epithelial tubule interconnection driven by HGF-Met signaling in the kidney

This study identifies HGF as a key inducer of epithelial tubule anastomosis in vitro and in embryonic kidneys, revealing a proliferation-independent mechanism involving MAPK and MMPs.

Tcf21 as a Founder Transcription Factor in Specifying Foxd1 Cells to the Juxtaglomerular Cell Lineage

This study identifies Tcf21 as essential for Foxd1+ progenitor cells to differentiate into juxtaglomerular cells during kidney development, showing reduced renin expression and altered renal morphology when Tcf21 is inactivated.

Hedgehog-dependent and Hedgehog-independent roles for Growth Arrest Specific 1 in mammalian kidney morphogenesis

This study shows GAS1 is essential for kidney development through both Hedgehog-dependent and -independent mechanisms, with Gas1 deletion causing renal agenesis in mice.

Defining and Controlling Axial Nephron Patterning in Human Kidney Organoids with Synthetic Wnt-Secreting Organizers

This study defines axial nephron patterning in human kidney organoids by using synthetic Wnt-secreting organizers to mimic developmental signals and achieve in vivo-like polarity.

Drivers of Vessel Progenitor Fate Define Intermediate Mesoderm Dimensions by Inhibiting Kidney Progenitor Specification

The paper shows how Hand2, Osr1, and Npas4l coordinate kidney and vessel progenitor specification by inhibiting kidney progenitor formation in the intermediate mesoderm.

Integrating collecting systems in kidney organoids through fusion of distal nephron to ureteric bud.

This paper describes a method to integrate collecting systems in kidney organoids by fusing distal nephron with ureteric bud tissues, enabling functional nephrons with continuous epithelial lumens.

Cadherin Adhesion Complexes Direct Cell Aggregation in the Epithelial Transition of Wnt-Induced Nephron Progenitor Cells

This study shows that Wnt-{beta}-catenin pathway activates cadherin-mediated cell adhesion, driving cell aggregation during the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition of nephron progenitor cells.

Comparative single-cell analyses identify shared and divergent features of human and mouse kidney development

The paper compares single-cell chromatin and gene expression data from human and mouse kidney development to identify conserved and divergent features and human-specific enhancer regions linked to kidney disease.

Single-Cell multiomics reveals ENL mutation perturbs kidney developmental trajectory by rewiring gene regulatory landscape

This study shows that an ENL mutation disrupts kidney development by altering gene regulation, leading to developmental defects and early death in mice, and suggests potential therapeutic strategies.

Stepwise developmental mimicry generates proximal-biased kidney organoids

This paper develops a method to generate proximal tubule precursor cells in kidney organoids using transient Notch signaling activation, showing functional maturity and injury response.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids reveal tubular epithelial pathobiology of heterozygous HNF1B-associated dysplastic kidney malformations

This study uses HNF1B mutant kidney organoids to reveal molecular and physiological defects in dysplastic kidney malformations and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Reduced nephron endowment in the common Six2-TGCtg mouse line is due to Six3 misexpression by aberrant enhancer-promoter interactions in the transgene

The paper identifies that reduced nephron numbers in Six2-TGCtg mice result from Six3 misexpression due to aberrant enhancer-promoter interactions in the transgene.

Identification of a core transcriptional program driving the human renalmesenchymal-to-epithelial transition

The paper identifies a core transcriptional program driving the human renal mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition using human renal organoids and multi-ome profiling.

Geometric Effects Position Renal Vesicles During Kidney Development

The paper shows geometric effects concentrate WNT9b at branch junctions during kidney development, positioning renal vesicles.

A mechanical pacemaker sets rhythmic nephron formation in the kidney

This study identifies a mechanical pacemaker in the kidney stroma that synchronizes nephron formation with ureteric bud branching.

Forming nephrons promote nephron progenitor maintenance and branching morphogenesis via paracrine BMP4 signalling under the control of Wnt4

The paper shows that forming nephrons maintain the nephrogenic niche via paracrine BMP4 signaling controlled by Wnt4, supporting a revised model of kidney development.

Deletion of NuRD component Mta2 in nephron progenitor cells causes developmentally programmed FSGS

This study shows that deleting Mta2 in nephron progenitor cells leads to low nephron number, which causes FSGS and CKD through impaired mitochondrial lipid metabolism and gene regulation.

Stromal netrin-1 coordinates renal arteriogenesis and mural cell differentiation

This study identifies netrin-1 as a regulator of vascular patterning in kidney development, showing its role in arterial formation and mural cell differentiation through the Ntn1-Klf4 axis.

Netrin-1 directs vascular patterning and maturity in the developing kidney

This study shows that Netrin-1 from stromal progenitors in the developing kidney is essential for vascular patterning and maturity, as its deletion leads to hypoplastic kidneys with altered vascular features.

Amniotic Fluid Organoids As Personalized Tools For Real-Time Modeling Of The Developing Fetus

This paper introduces a platform using amniotic fluid-derived organoids to model fetal development and study in utero pathologies in real-time.

Xenopus Ssbp2 is required for embryonic pronephros morphogenesis and terminal differentiation

This study identifies Ssbp2 as a cofactor of the Ldb1-Lhx1 complex required for Xenopus pronephros morphogenesis and differentiation.

Genome-wide association study and sequence similarity analysis for unilateral renal agenesis using heterogeneous stock rats undercovers the KIT gene and AHR, ATF3, GATA3, HNF1B, POU2F2, and TFCP2 transcription factors as potential candidates to explain incomplete penetrance

This paper identifies genetic variants and transcription factors associated with unilateral renal agenesis in rats, suggesting a threshold mechanism involving KIT and interacting transcription factors.

Canonical Wnt transcriptional complexes are essential for induction of nephrogenesis but not maintenance or proliferation of nephron progenitors

The paper investigates the role of canonical Wnt transcriptional complexes in nephron progenitor cell regulation, finding distinct roles in induction versus maintenance of nephrogenesis.

Hedgehog signaling is required for the maintenance of mesenchymal nephron progenitors

This study identifies Hedgehog signaling as critical for maintaining mesenchymal nephron progenitors by inhibiting Notch signaling and upregulating Fox factors.