Summary
Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) is a polypeptide related to epidermal growth factor (EGF). Both bind to EGF-receptor (EGF-R) to carry out their function in a variety of tissues and cell lines. Several studies have shown their presence in mammalian kidney, however, nothing has to date been stated concerning their existence in avian kidney. Expression of TGF-α and EGF-R is reported here for the first time during the development of the chicken kidney. Using immunohistochemical techniques, we identified a TGF-α (but not EGF) in mesonephric distal tubule cells from day 8 to day 20 of embryonic development and in metanephric distal tubule cells from day 14 of embryonic development to the adult. The histochemical characteristics of these cells and their histological localization suggest that they may be the “principal cells” of the distal tubules. Similarly, EGF-R was found in mesonephric proximal tubule cells from day 7 to day 18 of embryonic development and in metanephric proximal tubule cells from day 13 of embryonic development up to adult stages. The coexistence of both TGF-α and EGF-R from the onset of development of mesonephros and metanephros supports their possible role in mechanisms of proliferation and differentiation of the cells of these organs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Avner ED (1990) Polypeptide growth factors and the kidney: a developmental perspective. Pediatr Nephrol 4:345–353
Avner ED, Sweeney WE (1990a) Polypeptide growth factors in metanephric growth and segmental nephron differentiation. Pediatr Nephrol 4:372–377
Avner ED, Sweeney WE (1990b) Transforming growth factor alpha induces hyperplastic tubular cysts and increases Na+ pump activity during in vitro nephrogenesis (Abstract). Pediatr Res 27
Croisille Y (1972) Immunochemical study of hypoxanthine dehydrogenase in different organs of the chick. J Embry Exp Morphol 27:261–275
DeLarco JE, Todaro GJ (1978) Growth factors from murine sarcoma virus-transformed cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75:4001–4005
Fisher DA, Salido EC Barajas L (1989) Epidermal growth factor and the kidney. Annu Rev Physiol 51:67–80
Friebová-Zemanová Z, Schakhmatova J, Szarska E, Kopecky J, Houstek J, Dakhota Z (1987) Changes in the protein spectrum of the chick embryo mesonephros and metanephros in the course of development. Physiol Bohemoslov 36:127–134
Gheri G, Bryk SG, Petrelli V (1990) Histochemical detection of sugar residues in the chick embryo mesonephros with lectinhorseradish peroxidase conjugates. Histochemistry 95:63–71
Gomella LG, Sargent ER, Wade TP, Anglard P, Linehan WM, Kasid A (1989) Expression of transforming growth factor α in normal human adult kidney and enhanced expression of transforming growth factors α and β1 in renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Res 49:6972–6975
Harris RC (1989) Response of rat inner medullary collecting duct to epidermal growth factor. Am J Physiol 256:F1117-F1124
Harris RC, Daniel O (1989) Epidermal growth factor binding, stimulation of phosphorylation, and inhibition of gluconeogenesis in rat proximal tubule. J Cell Physiol 139:383–391
Lax I, Johnson A, Howk R, Sap J, Bellot F, Winkler M, Ullrich A, Vennstrom B, Schlessinger J, Givol D (1988) Chicken epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor: cDNA cloning, expression in mouse cells, and differential binding of EGF and transforming growth factor alpha. Mol Cell Biol 8:1970–1978
Lee LW, Raymond VW, Tsao M, Lee DC, Earp HS, Grisham JW (1991) Clonal cosegregation of tumorigenicity with overexpression of c-myc and transforming growth factor α genes in chemically transformed rat liver epithelial cells. Cancer Res 51:5238–5244
Lillie FR (1950) The development of the chick. Revised by HL Hamilton, Holt H, Harper and Row, New York, pp 39–70
Massagué J (1990) Transforming growth factor-α. J Biol Chem 265:21393–21396
Mesiano S, Browne CA, Thorburn GD (1985) Detection of endogenous epidermal growth factor-like activity in the developing chick embryo. Dev Biol 110:23–28
Mydlo JH, Michaeli J, Cordon-Cardo C, Goldenberg AS, Heston DW, Fair WR (1989) Expression of transforming growth factor-α and epidermal growth factor receptor messenger RNA in neoplatic and noneoplastic human kidney tissue. Cancer Res 49:3407–3411
Pérez-Tomás R, Mayol X, Culleré X, Díaz C, Domingo J (1992) Transforming growth factor-α in rat experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. Histol Histopathol 7:457–462
Raper SE, Burwen SJ, Barker ME, Jones AL (1987) Translocation of epidermal growth factor to the hepatocyte nucleus during rat liver regeneration. Gastroenterology 92:1243–1250
Safirstein R, Zelent AZ, Price PM (1989) Reduced renal preproepidermal growth factor mRNA and decreased EGF excretion in ARF. Kidney Int 36:810–815
Scoggins BA, Butkus A, Coghlan JP, Fei DTW, McDougall JG, Niall HD, Walsh JR, Wang X (1984) In vivo cardiovascular, renal and endocrine effects of epidermal growth factor in sheep. In: Labrie F, Proulx L (eds) Endocrinology, Elsevier, New York, pp 573–576
Smith J, McLachlan CJ (1990) Identification of a novel growth factor with transforming activity secreted by individual chick embryos. Development 109:905–910
Sorvillo JM, McCormack ES, Yanez L, Valenzuela D, Reynolds FH (1990) Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for human transforming growth factor α. Oncogene 5:377–386
Stämpfli JR (1950) Histologische Studien am Wolffschen Körper (Mesonephros) der Vögel und über seinen Umbau zu Nebenhoden und Nebenovar. Rev Suisse Zool 57:237–316
Taub M, Wang Y, Szczesny TM, Kleinman K (1990) Epidermal growth factor or transforming growth factor α is required for kidney tubulogenesis in matrigel cultures in serum-free medium. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87:4002–4006
Vehaskari VM, Hering-Smith KS, Moskowitz DW, Weiner ID, Ham LL (1989) Effect of epidermal growth factor on sodium transport in the cortical collecting tubule. Am J Physiol 256:F803-F809
Walker C, Everitt J, Freed JJ, Knudson AG, Whiteley LO (1991) Altered expression of transforming growth factor-α in hereditary rat renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Res 51:2973–2978
Wideman RF (1988) Avian kidney anatomy and physiology. CRC Crit Rev Poult Biol 1:133–176
Wideman RF (1989) Maturation of glomerular size distribution profiles in domestic fowl (Gallus gallus). J Morphol 201:205–213
Wilcox JN, Derynck R (1988) Developmental expression of transforming growth factors alpha and beta in mouse fetus. Mol Cell Biol 8:3415–3422
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Díaz-Ruiz, C., Pérez-Tomás, R., Culleré, X. et al. Immunohistochemical localization of transforming growth factor-α and epidermal growth factor-receptor in the mesonephros and metanephros of the chicken. Cell Tissue Res 271, 3–8 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297536
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297536