Analysis of molecular mechanisms of the ureteric bud formation

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19013
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General medical chemistry
• Research Institution: Iwate Medical University (2016-2017); Wakayama Medical University (2015)
• Principal Investigator: Murashima Aki 岩手医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50637105)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 中腎 / 尿管芽 / beta-catenin / Fgf / 遺伝子改変マウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hoxb7-Cre mediated removal of beta-catenin from the mouse Wolffian duct (WD) epithelium results in the ectopic ureteric bud (UB) formation. The expression of GDNF/Ret and its intracellular signaling pathways, PI3K/Akt and MEK/Erk, which are important for the normal UB formation, were not augmented in such ectopic ureteric buds. While prominent c-Jun phosphorylation was observed indicating GDNF/Ret signaling independent activation of MAPK signaling pathway during UB formation. Genetic ablation of Fgfr2 in the background of WD epithelia-specific beta-catenin KO did not rescue the phenotype. These results indicate that the presence of novel signaling pathway, other than GDNF/Ret, FGF and BMP, for the UB formation giving better understanding for human congenital anomalies, e.g. CAKUT.

Free Research Field

発生生物学