Glomerular parietal epithelial cells of adult murine kidney undergo EMT to generate cells with traits of renal progenitors

Glomerular parietal epithelial cells (GPECs) can revert to an embryonic phenotype when the kidney is injured. This study shows that GPECs from adult mice can transform into cells that express specific surface antigens, such as CD24, CD44, and CD29. These cells also express both epithelial and mesenchymal markers, showing they have a mixed, or metastable, phenotype. Further analysis revealed that these cells express genes associated with early kidney development, indicating they have progenitor status. When these GPECs were introduced into developing kidney tissue, they integrated into the kidney structure and differentiated into immature glomeruli and vascular ducts. This research suggests that EMT plays a crucial role in giving GPECs the ability to regenerate kidney tissue.

• 1
  GPECs from adult murine kidneys can undergo EMT in vitro, leading to the generation of cells expressing CD24, CD44, and CD29 surface antigens.
• 2
  These cells exhibit a metastable phenotype, co-expressing both epithelial (cytokeratin-18) and mesenchymal (vimentin) markers, and show high expression of metanephric mesenchymal and uteric bud genes.
• 3
  The EMT process in GPECs is correlated with the acquisition of stemness, as blocking EMT with Prostaglandin E2 resulted in lower expression of renal progenitor markers. The cells also demonstrated renal commitment in vitro and in vivo, differentiating into immature glomeruli and vascular ducts.