Exploring the origin and limitations of kidney regeneration

J Pathol. 2015 Jun;236(2):251-63. doi: 10.1002/path.4514. Epub 2015 Mar 4.

Abstract

Epidemiological findings indicate that acute kidney injury (AKI) increases the risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), although the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Genetic fate mapping demonstrated that nephrons, functional units in the kidney, are repaired by surviving nephrons after AKI. However, the cell population that repairs damaged nephrons and their repair capacity limitations remain controversial. To answer these questions, we generated a new transgenic mouse strain in which mature proximal tubules, the segment predominantly damaged during AKI, could be genetically labelled at desired time points. Using this strain, massive proliferation of mature proximal tubules is observed during repair, with no dilution of the genetic label after the repair process, demonstrating that proximal tubules are repaired mainly by their own proliferation. Furthermore, acute tubular injury caused significant shortening of proximal tubules associated with interstitial fibrosis, suggesting that proximal tubules have a limited capacity to repair. Understanding the mechanism of this limitation might clarify the mechanism of the AKI-to-CKD continuum.

Keywords: acute kidney injury; chronic kidney disease; fibrosis; nephron; regeneration; tubule.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / pathology
  • Acute Kidney Injury / physiopathology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Fibrosis / pathology
  • Fibrosis / physiopathology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney / physiology*
  • Kidney Tubules, Proximal / metabolism
  • Kidney Tubules, Proximal / pathology
  • Kidney Tubules, Proximal / physiology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Regeneration / physiology*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 protein