Collective cell migration drives morphogenesis of the kidney nephron
2009

How Cell Movement Shapes the Kidney Nephron

publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Vasilyev Aleksandr, Liu Yan, Mudumana Sudha, Mangos Steve, Lam Pui-Ying, Majumdar Arindam, Zhao Jinhua, Poon Kar-Lai, Kondrychyn Igor, Korzh Vladimir, Drummond Iain A

Primary Institution: Nephrology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America

Hypothesis

Does collective cell migration drive the morphogenesis of the kidney nephron?

Conclusion

The study concludes that nephron morphogenesis is driven by fluid flow-dependent, collective epithelial cell migration.

Supporting Evidence

  • Cell migration is essential for defining nephron segment boundaries.
  • Fluid flow is necessary for the collective migration of nephron cells.
  • Nephron morphogenesis is linked to kidney function through cell migration.
  • Collective cell migration maintains cell connections while moving.
  • Proximal tubule convolution is driven by the migration of epithelial cells.

Takeaway

The cells in the kidney move together to help shape the nephron, which is important for its function, and this movement is influenced by the flow of fluid.

Methodology

The study used live, in vivo cell imaging of zebrafish pronephric nephron to observe cell migration and morphogenesis.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pbio.1000009

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