Flexible and multifaceted: the plasticity of renin-expressing cells

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Schematic overview of different aspects of renin-lineage cell plasticity. Renin-lineage cells show a high plasticity and can fulfill different functions in order to maintain renal function, blood pressure, and water and salt balance in the body. Topics highlighted in this review are indicated in bold font

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  Fig. 2. Interstitial renin-expressing cells on kidney sections of wild-type mice. A Spatial distribution pattern of interstitial renin-expressing cells was visualized with RNAscope, a high resolution in situ hybridization technology. Renin mRNA-expressing cells were highlighted with yellow dots on a kidney section of a wild-type mouse. Interstitial renin mRNA-expressing cells are mainly distributed in the outer medulla and to a lesser extent in the renal cortex. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (gray). Scale bar 500 μm. B Medullary detail of a co-RNAscope for renin (green) and PDGFR-β (red) mRNA on a wild-type kidney section. Colocalization of both mRNAs identifies interstitial renin+ cells as fibroblast-like cells. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (gray). Scale bar 20 μm

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  Fig. 3. Schematic overview of distinct markers conveying the identity of juxtaglomerular renin cells and of signaling pathways involved in recruitment of extraglomerular (EGM) cells and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) for renin production. Phenotypic changes accompanying recruitment are also depicted

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  Fig. 4. Schematic overview illustrating the transformation of juxtaglomerular or interstitial renin+ cells into EPO-producing cells