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PLAGL1 protein is differentially expressed in the nephron segments and collecting ducts in human kidney
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Abstract
Introduction. PLAGL1 (pleiomorphic adenoma gene-like 1) is a C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor associated with the regulation of cell growth and development. Although PLAGL1 expression in kidney was assessed by biochemical methods, the exact localization of the PLAGL1 protein in human kidney has not yet been described.
Material and methods. Macroscopically unchanged specimens of kidney tissue were collected from 39 patients undergoing nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma. H & E staining of paraffin sections was used to assess histology of the kidney whereas immunohistochemistry was used to localize PLAGL1 protein in kidney compartments. In addition, database sequences search for putative PLAGL1 binding sites among the kidney-related genes was performed.
Results. PLAGL1 staining intensity differed depending on the kidney compartment. Strong PLAGL1 immunoreactivity was found in thick ascending limbs of Henle’s loop, distal tubules and collecting ducts, whereas PLAGL1 expression in proximal tubules and renal corpuscles (including podocytes) was moderate and weak, respectively. By the in sillico screening of promoter sequences for PLAGL1 specific DNA-binding sites GGGGCCCC we designated 43 candidate genes for PLAGL1-regulated genes. Analysis of their functional annotations identified three significantly over-represented gene sets: inositol phosphate metabolic processes (GO), endocrine and other factor-regulated calcium reabsorption (KEGG) and calcium signaling pathways (KEGG).
Conclusion. Differences in the renal expression of PLAGL1 suggest that this protein may be involved in the regulation of several cellular pathways both as transcriptional factor and coactivator/corepressor of other transcription factors reflecting its role in the cell type-specific control of gene expression.
Abstract
Introduction. PLAGL1 (pleiomorphic adenoma gene-like 1) is a C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor associated with the regulation of cell growth and development. Although PLAGL1 expression in kidney was assessed by biochemical methods, the exact localization of the PLAGL1 protein in human kidney has not yet been described.
Material and methods. Macroscopically unchanged specimens of kidney tissue were collected from 39 patients undergoing nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma. H & E staining of paraffin sections was used to assess histology of the kidney whereas immunohistochemistry was used to localize PLAGL1 protein in kidney compartments. In addition, database sequences search for putative PLAGL1 binding sites among the kidney-related genes was performed.
Results. PLAGL1 staining intensity differed depending on the kidney compartment. Strong PLAGL1 immunoreactivity was found in thick ascending limbs of Henle’s loop, distal tubules and collecting ducts, whereas PLAGL1 expression in proximal tubules and renal corpuscles (including podocytes) was moderate and weak, respectively. By the in sillico screening of promoter sequences for PLAGL1 specific DNA-binding sites GGGGCCCC we designated 43 candidate genes for PLAGL1-regulated genes. Analysis of their functional annotations identified three significantly over-represented gene sets: inositol phosphate metabolic processes (GO), endocrine and other factor-regulated calcium reabsorption (KEGG) and calcium signaling pathways (KEGG).
Conclusion. Differences in the renal expression of PLAGL1 suggest that this protein may be involved in the regulation of several cellular pathways both as transcriptional factor and coactivator/corepressor of other transcription factors reflecting its role in the cell type-specific control of gene expression.
Keywords
PLAGL1; Zac1; human kidney; proximal tubules; distal tubules; collecting ducts; IHC; in silico gene analysis
About this articleTitle
PLAGL1 protein is differentially expressed in the nephron segments and collecting ducts in human kidney
Journal
Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
96-104
Published online
2015-04-14
Page views
1987
Article views/downloads
1853
DOI
10.5603/FHC.a2015.0011
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2015;53(1):96-104.
Keywords
PLAGL1
Zac1
human kidney
proximal tubules
distal tubules
collecting ducts
IHC
in silico gene analysis
Authors
Janusz Godlewski
Bartlomiej E. Krazinski
Jacek Kiezun
Przemyslaw Kwiatkowski
Marian Sulik
Michal Tenderenda
Wojciech Biernat
Zbigniew Kmiec
