Neuropilin-1 regulates renin synthesis in juxtaglomerular cells.

Renin is the key enzyme of the systemic renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which plays an essential role in regulating blood pressure and maintaining electrolyte and extracellular volume homeostasis. Renin is mainly produced and secreted by specialized juxtaglomerular (JG) cells in the kidney. In the present study, we report for the first time that the conserved transmembrane receptor neuropilin-1 (NRP1) participates in the development of JG cells and plays a key role in renin production. We used the myelin protein zero-Cre (P0-Cre) to abrogate Nrp1 constitutively in P0-Cre lineage-labelled cells of the kidney. We found that the P0-Cre precursor cells differentiate into renin-producing JG cells. We employed a lineage-tracing strategy combined with RNAscope quantification and metabolic studies to reveal a cell-autonomous role for NRP1 in JG cell function. Nrp1-deficient animals displayed abnormal levels of tissue renin expression and failed to adapt properly to a homeostatic challenge to sodium balance. These findings provide new insights into cell fate decisions and cellular plasticity operating in P0-Cre-expressing precursors and identify NRP1 as a novel key regulator of JG cell maturation. KEY POINTS: Renin is a centrepiece of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and is produced by specialized juxtaglomerular cells (JG) of the kidney. Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is a conserved membrane-bound receptor that regulates vascular and neuronal development, cancer aggressiveness and fibrosis progression. We used conditional mutagenesis and lineage tracing to show that NRP1 is expressed in JG cells where it regulates their function. Cell-specific Nrp1 knockout mice present with renin paucity in JG cells and struggle to adapt to a homeostatic challenge to sodium balance. The results support the versatility of renin-producing cells in the kidney and may open new avenues for therapeutic approaches.

Prolyl-4-hydroxylases 2 and 3 control erythropoietin production in renin-expressing cells of mouse kidneys.

Activation of the hypoxia-signalling pathway induced by deletion of the ubiquitin-ligase von Hippel-Lindau protein causes an endocrine shift of renin-producing cells to erythropoietin (EPO)-expressing cells. However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been investigated. Since oxygen-regulated stability of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors relevant for EPO expression is dependent on the activity of prolyl-4-hydroxylases (PHD) 2 and 3, this study aimed to determine the relevance of different PHD isoforms for the EPO expression in renin-producing cells in vivo. For this purpose, mice with inducible renin cell-specific deletions of different PHD isoforms were analysed. Our study shows that there are two subgroups of renal renin-expressing cells, juxtaglomerular renin+ cells and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-ß+ interstitial renin+ cells. These interstitial renin+ cells belong to the cell pool of native EPO-producing cells and are able to express EPO and renin in parallel. In contrast, co-deletion of PHD2 and PHD3, but not PHD2 deletion alone, induces EPO expression in juxtaglomerular and hyperplastic renin+ cells and downregulates renin expression. A strong basal PHD3 expression in juxtaglomerular renin+ cells seems to prevent the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-2-dependent phenotype shift into EPO cells. In summary, PHDs seem important for the stabilization of the juxtaglomerular renin cell phenotype. Moreover, these findings reveal tubulointerstitial cells as a novel site of renal renin expression and suggest a high endocrine plasticity of these cells. Our data concerning the distinct expression patterns and functions of PHD2 and PHD3 provide new insights into the regulation of renin-producing cells and highlight the need for selective PHD inhibitors. KEY POINTS: Renal renin-expressing cells can be clearly distinguished into two subgroups, the typical juxtaglomerular renin-producing cells and interstitial renin+ cells. Interstitial renin+ cells belong to the cell pool of native erythropoietin (EPO)-producing cells, show a fast EPO response to acute hypoxia-inducible factor-2 (HIF-2) stabilization and are able to express EPO and renin in parallel. Only co-deletion of the prolyl-4-hydroxylases (PHD) 2 and 3, but not PHD2 deletion alone, induces EPO expression in juxtaglomerular renin+ cells. Chronic HIF-2 stabilization in juxtaglomerular renin-expressing cells leads to their phenotypic shift into EPO-producing cells. A strong basal PHD3 expression in juxtaglomerular renin+ cells seems to prevent a HIF-2-dependent phenotype shift into EPO cells suggesting PHD3 fulfils a stabilizer function for the juxtaglomerular renin cell phenotype.

Flexible and multifaceted: the plasticity of renin-expressing cells.

The protease renin, the key enzyme of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, is mainly produced and secreted by juxtaglomerular cells in the kidney, which are located in the walls of the afferent arterioles at their entrance into the glomeruli. When the body's demand for renin rises, the renin production capacity of the kidneys commonly increases by induction of renin expression in vascular smooth muscle cells and in extraglomerular mesangial cells. These cells undergo a reversible metaplastic cellular transformation in order to produce renin. Juxtaglomerular cells of the renin lineage have also been described to migrate into the glomerulus and differentiate into podocytes, epithelial cells or mesangial cells to restore damaged cells in states of glomerular disease. More recently, it could be shown that renin cells can also undergo an endocrine and metaplastic switch to erythropoietin-producing cells. This review aims to describe the high degree of plasticity of renin-producing cells of the kidneys and to analyze the underlying mechanisms.

Intact prostaglandin signaling through EP2 and EP4 receptors in stromal progenitor cells is required for normal development of the renal cortex in mice.

Cyclooxygenase (Cox) inhibitors are known to have severe side effects during renal development. These consist of reduced renal function, underdeveloped subcapsular glomeruli, interstitial fibrosis, and thinner cortical tissue. Global genetic deletion of Cox-2 mimics the phenotype observed after application of Cox inhibitors. This study aimed to investigate which cell types express Cox-2 and prostaglandin E2 receptors and what functions are mediated through this pathway during renal development. Expression of EP2 and EP4 mRNA was detected by RNAscope mainly in descendants of FoxD1+ stromal progenitors; EP1 and EP3, on the other hand, were expressed in tubules. Cox-2 mRNA was detected in medullary interstitial cells and macula densa cells. Functional investigations were performed with a cell-specific approach to delete Cox-2, EP2, and EP4 in FoxD1+ stromal progenitor cells. Our data show that Cox-2 expression in macula densa cells is sufficient to drive renal development. Deletion of EP2 or EP4 in FoxD1+ cells had no functional effect on renal development. Codeletion of EP2 and EP4 in FoxD1+ stromal cells, however, led to severe glomerular defects and a strong decline of glomerular filtration rate (1.316 ± 69.7 µL/min/100 g body wt in controls vs. 644.1 ± 64.58 µL/min/100 g body wt in FoxD1+/Cre EP2-/- EP4ff mice), similar to global deletion of Cox-2. Furthermore, EP2/EP4-deficient mice showed a significant increase in collagen production with a strong downregulation of renal renin expression. This study shows the distinct localization of EP receptors in mice. Functionally, we could identify EP2 and EP4 receptors in stromal FoxD1+ progenitor cells as essential receptor subtypes for normal renal development.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) produces prostaglandins that are essential for normal renal development. It is unclear in which cells Cox-2 and the receptors for prostaglandin E2 (EP receptors) are expressed during late nephrogenesis. This study identified the expression sites for EP subtypes and Cox-2 in neonatal mouse kidneys. Furthermore, it shows that stromal progenitor cells may require intact prostaglandin E2 signaling through EP2 and EP4 receptors for normal renal development.

Endothelin receptors in renal interstitial cells do not contribute to the development of fibrosis during experimental kidney disease.

Renal interstitial fibrosis is characterized by the development of myofibroblasts, originating from resident renal and immigrating cells. Myofibroblast formation and extracellular matrix production during kidney damage are triggered by various factors. Among these, endothelins have been discussed as potential modulators of renal fibrosis. Utilizing mouse models of adenine nephropathy (AN) and unilateral ureter occlusion (UUO), this study aimed to investigate the contribution of endothelin signaling in stromal mesenchymal resident renal interstitial cells. We found in controls that adenine feeding and UUO caused marked upregulations of endothelin-1 (ET-1) gene expression in endothelial and in tubular cells and a strong upregulation of ETA-receptor (ETA-R) gene expression in interstitial and mesangial cells, while the gene expression of ETB-receptor (ETB-R) did not change. Conditional deletion of ETA-R and ETB-R gene expression in the FoxD1 stromal cell compartment which includes interstitial cells significantly reduced renal ETA-R gene expression and moderately lowered renal ETB-R gene expression. ET receptor (ET-R) deletion exerted no apparent effects on kidney development nor on kidney function. Adenine feeding and UUO led to similar increases in profibrotic and proinflammatory gene expression in control as well as in ETAflflETBflfl FoxD1Cre+ mice (ET-Ko). In summary, our findings suggest that adenine feeding and UUO activate endothelin signaling in interstitial cells which is due to upregulated ETA-R expression and enhanced renal ET-1 production Our data also suggest that the activation of endothelin signaling in interstitial cells has less impact for the development of experimentally induced fibrosis.

Inhibition of transforming growth factor ß1 signaling in resident interstitial cells attenuates profibrotic gene expression and preserves erythropoietin production during experimental kidney fibrosis in mice.

Kidney fibrosis is characterized by the development of myofibroblasts originating from resident kidney and immigrating cells. Myofibroblast formation and extracellular matrix production during kidney damage are triggered by various cytokines. Among these, transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1) is considered a central trigger for kidney fibrosis. We found a highly upregulated expression of TGFß1 and TGFß receptor 2 (TGFß-R2) mRNAs in kidney interstitial cells in experimental fibrosis. Here, we investigated the contribution of TGFß1 signaling in resident kidney interstitial cells to organ fibrosis using the models of adenine induced nephropathy and unilateral ureteral occlusion in mice. For this purpose TGFß1 signaling was interrupted by inducible deletion of the TGFß-R2 gene in interstitial cells expressing the fibroblast marker platelet derived growth factor receptor-ß. Expression of profibrotic genes was attenuated up to 50% in kidneys lacking TGFß-R2 in cells positive for platelet derived growth factor receptor-ß. Additionally, deletion of TGFß-R2 prevented the decline of erythropoietin production in ureter ligated kidneys. Notably, fibrosis associated expression of α-smooth muscle actin as a myofibroblast marker and deposits of extracellular collagens were not altered in mice with targeted deletion of TGFß-R2. Thus, our findings suggest an enhancing effect of TGFß1 signaling in resident interstitial cells that contributes to profibrotic gene expression and the downregulation of erythropoietin production, but not to the development of myofibroblasts during kidney fibrosis.

Different subpopulations of kidney interstitial cells produce erythropoietin and factors supporting tissue oxygenation in response to hypoxia in vivo.

Genetic induction of hypoxia signaling by deletion of the von Hippel-Lindau (Vhl) protein in mesenchymal PDGFR-ß+ cells leads to abundant HIF-2 dependent erythropoietin (EPO) expression in the cortex and outer medulla of the kidney. This rather unique feature of kidney PDGFR-ß+ cells promote questions about their special characteristics and general functional response to hypoxia. To address these issues, we characterized kidney PDGFR-ß+ EPO expressing cells based on additional cell markers and their gene expression profile in response to hypoxia signaling induced by targeted deletion of Vhl or exposure to low oxygen and carbon monoxide respectively, and after unilateral ureteral obstruction. CD73+, Gli1+, tenascin C+ and interstitial SMMHC+ cells were identified as zonally distributed subpopulations of PDGFR-ß+ cells. EPO expression could be induced by Vhl deletion in all PDGFR-ß+ subpopulations. Under hypoxemic conditions, recruited EPO+ cells were mostly part of the CD73+ subpopulation. Besides EPO production, expression of adrenomedullin and regulator of G-protein signaling 4 was upregulated in PDGFR-ß+ subpopulations in response to the different hypoxic stimuli. Thus, different kidney interstitial PDGFR-ß+ subpopulations exist, capable of producing EPO in response to different stimuli. Activation of hypoxia signaling in these cells also induces factors likely contributing to improved kidney interstitial tissue oxygenation.