Department of Nephrology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
J Pathol. 2012 Jan;226(2):394-403. doi: 10.1002/path.2967. Epub 2011 Aug 24.
Notch signalling is a highly conserved cell-cell communication mechanism that regulates development, tissue homeostasis, and repair. Within the kidney, Notch has an important function in orchestrating kidney development. Recent studies indicate that Notch plays a key role in establishing proximal epithelial fate during nephron segmentation as well as the differentiation of principal cells in the renal collecting system. Notch signalling is markedly reduced in the adult kidney; however, increased Notch signalling has been noted in both acute and chronic kidney injury. Increased glomerular epithelial Notch signalling has been associated with albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis, while tubular epithelial Notch activation caused fibrosis development most likely inducing an improper epithelial repair pathway. Recent studies thereby indicate that Notch is a key regulator of kidney development, repair, and injury.
Notch 信号通路是一种高度保守的细胞间通讯机制,它调节着发育、组织稳态和修复。在肾脏中,Notch 在协调肾脏发育方面具有重要作用。最近的研究表明,Notch 在肾单位分割过程中建立近端上皮命运以及肾集合系统主要细胞的分化中起着关键作用。Notch 信号在成人肾脏中显著降低;然而,在急性和慢性肾损伤中,Notch 信号增加。肾小球上皮 Notch 信号增加与白蛋白尿和肾小球硬化有关,而肾小管上皮 Notch 激活导致纤维化发展,很可能诱导了一种不当的上皮修复途径。最近的研究表明,Notch 是肾脏发育、修复和损伤的关键调节因子。