Aquaporin 2-labeled cells differentiate to intercalated cells in response to potassium depletion

作者：Kim Wan Young; Nam Sun Ah; Choi Arum; Kim Yu Mi; Park Sang Hee; Kim Yong Kyun; Kim Jin^*

来源：Histochemistry and Cell Biology, 2016, 145(1): 17-24.

DOI：10.1007/s00418-015-1372-9

• Aquaporin
• Principal cell
• Intercalated cells
• Differentiation

The mammalian renal collecting duct consists of principal cells (PCs) and intercalated cells (ICs). Both PCs and ICs are involved in potassium (K+) homeostasis, PCs through their role in K+ secretion and ICs through their ability to facilitate K+ resorption. We previously hypothesized that PCs may differentiate into ICs upon K+ depletion. However, no direct evidence has yet been obtained to conclusively demonstrate that PCs differentiate into ICs in response to K+ depletion. Here, we present direct evidence for the differentiation of PCs into ICs by cell lineage tracing using aquaporin 2 (AQP2)-Cre mice and R26R-EYFP transgenic mice. In control mice, AQP2-EYFP+ cells exhibited mainly a PC phenotype (AQP2-positive/H+-ATPase-negative). Interestingly, some AQP2-EYFP+ cells exhibited an IC phenotype (H+-ATPase-positive/AQP2-negative); these cells accounted for 1.7 %. After K+ depletion, the proportion of AQP2-EYFP+ cells with an IC phenotype was increased to 4.1 %. Furthermore, some AQP2-EYFP+ cells exhibited a "null cell" phenotype (AQP2-negative/H+-ATPase-negative) after K+ depletion. Collectively, our data demonstrate that AQP2-labeled cells can differentiate into ICs, as well as null cells, in response to K+ depletion. This finding indicates that some of AQP2-labeled cells possess properties of progenitor cells and that they can differentiate into ICs in the adult mouse kidney.

• 出版日期2016-1