Studies on renal progenitor cells and kidney cancer
Author
Summary, in English
In this thesis we describe a new cell type intermingled between the proximal tubular cells of the nephron in normal human kidney. These cells share marker expression with regenerating tubules and display stem cell-like abilities as well as distinct morphological properties, such as low mitochondrial content and extensive structural and anchorage protein expression. By developing a novel human explant model of ATN ex vivo we also show that these cells are more resilient to injury. These cells were detected in normal chimpanzee and pig kidney, but not in mice, not even after induced renal injury. Additionally, the transcriptional profile of these cells is similar to that of papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC), and correlate to worse prognosis in clear cell RCC (ccRCC). These results indicate that these cells survive renal insults to a higher extent than bulk proximal tubule cells, and become activated to repopulate the tubule, but also suggest that pRCC might originate from oncogenic transformation of these cells.
In the second part of this thesis we show that the dopamine transporter SLC6A3 is highly expressed and functional in ccRCC, while only being expressed at very minute levels in normal kidney and other cancer forms. Additionally, we show that the SLC6A3 expression is affected by hypoxia inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF-2α), an important protein in the cellular oxygen sensing system, which is ubiquitously expressed in the constantly pseudohypoxic ccRCC tumors. We further demonstrate that hypoxia induces SLC6A3 expression in normal kidney cells, but not in cells from other normal tissues like breast or vessels. These results show that SLC6A3 is a highly specific biomarker for ccRCC and that the endogenous features of this dopamine transporter may be utilized for the development of novel treatment modalities in ccRCC.
Department/s
- Division of Translational Cancer Research
- BioCARE: Biomarkers in Cancer Medicine improving Health Care, Education and Innovation
Publishing year
2016
Language
English
Publication/Series
Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
Volume
2016:36
Full text
Document type
Dissertation
Publisher
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University
Topic
- Cell and Molecular Biology
Status
Published
Supervisor
- Martin Johansson
- Håkan Axelson
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1652-8220
- ISBN: 978-91-7619-262-7
Defence date
1 April 2016
Defence time
09:00
Defence place
Main Lecture Hall at Medicon Village
Opponent
- Nigel Mongan