Figure 4 |. Inactivation of mitochondrial complex III subunit QPC in SIX2 nephron progenitors inhibits mesenchyme to epithelial transition.

(a) Representative immunofluorescence images of kidney sections from Six2-mT/mG;Qpc^−/− and Six2-mT/mG;Qpc^−/− mice at age postnatal day (P) 0, costained for green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and LIM homeobox 1 (LHX1), Jagged 1 (JAG1), or laminin. eGFP expression indicates recombination of the Cre reporter allele (mT/mG). Ureteric buds are outlined by dashed white lines. Bar = 50 μm. (b) Expression levels of genes associated with mesenchymal epithelial transition and nascent nephron formation in Six2-eGFP/cre–expressing cells; cells were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from Six2-Qpc^+/− control and Six2-Qpc^−/− mutant mice at age embryonic day 18.5 (n = 4 and 5, respectively); heat map generated by RNA-seq analysis. Qpc, Lhx1, and wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 4 (Wnt4) transcript levels were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (n = 3). (c) RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis of Wnt4 expression (white arrows) in kidney sections from Cre⁻ control littermates and Six2-Qpc^−/− kidneys at age P0. Ureteric buds are outlined by dashed white lines. Bar = 50 μm. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM; Student’s t test; 2-tailed, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. 18S, 18S ribosomal RNA; CM, cap mesenchyme; CSB, comma-shaped bodies; Fgf8, fibroblast growth factor 8; Lef1, lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1; Rel, relative; SSB, S-shaped bodies. To optimize viewing of this image, please see the online version of this article at www.kidney-international.org.