Lausanne Genomic Technologies Facility, Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Pflugers Arch. 2010 Nov;460(6):925-52. doi: 10.1007/s00424-010-0863-8. Epub 2010 Aug 5.
The distal parts of the renal tubule play a critical role in maintaining homeostasis of extracellular fluids. In this review, we present an in-depth analysis of microarray-based gene expression profiles available for microdissected mouse distal nephron segments, i.e., the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and the connecting tubule (CNT), and for the cortical portion of the collecting duct (CCD; Zuber et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:16523-16528, 2009). Classification of expressed transcripts in 14 major functional gene categories demonstrated that all principal proteins involved in maintaining the salt and water balance are represented by highly abundant transcripts. However, a significant number of transcripts belonging, for instance, to categories of G-protein-coupled receptors or serine/threonine kinases exhibit high expression levels but remain unassigned to a specific renal function. We also established a list of genes differentially expressed between the DCT/CNT and the CCD. This list is enriched by genes related to segment-specific transport functions and by transcription factors directing the development of the distal nephron or collecting ducts. Collectively, this in silico analysis provides comprehensive information about relative abundance and tissue specificity of the DCT/CNT and the CCD expressed transcripts and identifies new candidate genes for renal homeostasis.
肾单位远曲小管在维持细胞外液的动态平衡中起着至关重要的作用。在这篇综述中，我们对微阵列基因表达谱进行了深入分析，这些表达谱可用于分离的小鼠远曲小管（DCT）和连接小管（CNT）的远端部分，以及皮质部分的集合管（CCD；Zuber 等人，Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:16523-16528, 2009）。将 14 个主要功能基因类别中的表达转录本进行分类，结果表明，所有参与维持盐和水平衡的主要蛋白都由高丰度的转录本表达。然而，大量属于 G 蛋白偶联受体或丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶类别的转录本，尽管表达水平很高，但仍未被分配到特定的肾功能上。我们还建立了 DCT/CNT 和 CCD 之间差异表达的基因列表。该列表富含与节段特异性转运功能相关的基因和指导远曲小管或集合管发育的转录因子。总的来说，这种计算机分析提供了 DCT/CNT 和 CCD 表达转录本的相对丰度和组织特异性的全面信息，并确定了肾脏动态平衡的新候选基因。
