1: Cell. 1999 Nov 12;99(4):377-86. 

Mesenchymal to epithelial conversion in rat metanephros is induced by LIF.

Barasch J, Yang J, Ware CB, Taga T, Yoshida K, Erdjument-Bromage H, Tempst P,
Parravicini E, Malach S, Aranoff T, Oliver JA.

Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia
University, New York, New York 10032, USA. jmb4@columbia.edu

Inductive signals cause conversion of mesenchyme into epithelia during the
formation of many organs. Yet a century of study has not revealed the inducing
molecules. Using a standard model of induction, we found that ureteric bud cells
secrete factors that convert kidney mesenchyme to epithelia that, remarkably,
then form nephrons. Purification and sequencing of one such factor identified it
as leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). LIF acted on epithelial precursors that we
identified by the expression of Pax2 and Wnt4. Other IL-6 type cytokines acted
like LIF, and deletion of their shared receptor reduced nephron development. In
situ, the ureteric bud expressed LIF, and metanephric mesenchyme expressed its
receptors. The data suggest that IL-6 cytokines are candidate regulators of
mesenchymal to epithelial conversion during kidney development.

PMID: 10571180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


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