Figure 1
Six2-iDTR model for ablation and replacement of Six2-positive nephron progenitor cells. (a) Schematic of the Six2-Cre inducible iDTR system. DTR is specifically expressed on Six2-positive NPCs, and the administration of DT eliminates the NPCs. (b) Schematic of the drug-induced cell elimination system to exchange native NPCs with exogenous NPCs. (c) Organ culture of MNs isolated from E13.5 Six2-iDTR mouse embryos. Transplantation of rat NPCs-containing GFP-RPCs and daily administration of DT (upper column). No transplantation of rat GFP-RPCs and daily administration of DT (lower column). Scale bars, upper right column; 100 µm, others; 500 µm. (d) Immunostaining of MNs in (c). Transplanted rat GFP-NPCs were integrated into the cap mesenchyme with Six2 expression and epithelialised vesicles (upper column). When there was no NPC transplantation, Six2-GFP cells were eliminated, and poor branching of the UB was observed (lower column). Scale bars, upper and lower left column; 250 µm, upper right; 100 µm, lower right; 50 µm. Representative images of four MNs with RPC transplantation and two MNs without RPC transplantation from two independent experiments are indicated.
