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Håkan Axelson

Håkan Axelson

Research team manager

Håkan Axelson

Evidence for a morphologically distinct and functionally robust cell type in the proximal tubules of human kidney.

Author

  • Jennifer Hansson
  • Kjell Hultenby
  • Catharina Cramnert
  • Fredrik Pontén
  • Hannes Jansson
  • David Lindgren
  • Håkan Axelson
  • Martin Johansson

Summary, in English

Acute tubular necrosis (ATN), elicited by ischemia and/or toxicity, is a potentially life-threatening condition. Histologically, ATN corresponds to necrosis and detachment of renal tubular epithelial cells. However, the tubules possess a considerable regenerative capacity and may be restored. We have previously identified a scattered population of progenitor-like cells within the proximal tubules, sharing marker expression with the parietal epithelial cells of Bowman's capsule as well as with renal tubules regenerating after ATN. In the present analysis, we use transmission electron microscopy, immunoelectron microscopy and immunofluorescence of human kidney cortex to further explore these cells. We demonstrate that the cells are smaller and have drastically fewer mitochondria than the surrounding proximal tubule cells. They also display strong expression of several structural proteins such as vimentin, collagen-7A1 and the tight junction protein claudin-1. To functionally assess these cells, we also developed a novel human kidney explant model of ATN demonstrating that the cells are more resilient to injury than the surrounding proximal tubular cells. Taken together the results suggest a novel robust cell type with a contrasting biological role to that of the bulk of proximal tubular epithelium.

Department/s

  • Department of Translational Medicine
  • Rheumatology
  • Breastcancer-genetics
  • BioCARE: Biomarkers in Cancer Medicine improving Health Care, Education and Innovation
  • Pathology, Malmö

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Pages

382-393

Publication/Series

Human Pathology

Volume

45

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Cancer and Oncology

Status

Published

Research group

  • Pathology, Malmö

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1532-8392