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Math6 expression during kidney development and altered expression in a mouse model of glomerulosclerosis
Author(s) -
Ross Michael D.,
Martinka Scott,
Mukherjee Amitava,
Sedor John R.,
Vinson Charles,
Bruggeman Leslie A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20934
Subject(s) - podocyte , synaptopodin , biology , kidney development , nephrin , mesenchyme , glomerulosclerosis , microbiology and biotechnology , cell fate determination , transcription factor , cellular differentiation , kidney , medicine , endocrinology , mesenchymal stem cell , genetics , embryonic stem cell , gene , proteinuria
Abstract Math6 is a tissue‐restricted member of the Atonal family of basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors and has been implicated in specification and differentiation of cell lineages in the brain. We identify here Math6 as a podocyte‐expressed bHLH protein that was down‐regulated in human immunodeficiency virus–associated nephropathy (HIVAN); a collapsing glomerulopathy characterized by podocyte dedifferentiation. Early in metanephric development, Math6 was expressed in metanephric mesenchyme but not ureteric bud‐derived cells, with overall Math6 expression most abundant in the nephrogenic zone, including developing glomeruli. In adult kidney, Math6 expression was restricted to podocytes. In adult podocyte cell lines and kidneys from the transgenic mouse model of HIVAN, Math6 podocyte expression was reduced concurrent with previously reported reductions in Nephrin and Synaptopodin expression, suggesting a correlation between the loss of Math6 expression and typical podocyte terminal differentiation markers. These studies suggest that Math6 may participate in kidney development and may be a permissive factor for podocyte differentiation. Developmental Dynamics 235:3102–3109, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.