gdf11 is required for pronephros/cloaca development through targeting TGF-β signaling
Abstract The kidney is a vital organ responsible for removing toxins, producing urine, and regulating homeostasis. Developmental defects in the kidney lead to various congenital abnormalities that impair renal function. Gdf11, a member of the transforming growth factor β family, is associated with n...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92571-y |
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| author | Xinning Tian Wantao Yao Jin Tan Zhangle Hu Jingwen Liu |
| author_facet | Xinning Tian Wantao Yao Jin Tan Zhangle Hu Jingwen Liu |
| author_sort | Xinning Tian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The kidney is a vital organ responsible for removing toxins, producing urine, and regulating homeostasis. Developmental defects in the kidney lead to various congenital abnormalities that impair renal function. Gdf11, a member of the transforming growth factor β family, is associated with numerous renal abnormalities. In the early developmental stage, the pronephric duct and hindgut open into the cloaca, and Gdf11 shows significant expression in the hindgut of mice. However, the molecular and cellular roles of gdf11 in kidney and cloaca organogenesis remain unclear. Our study revealed that pronephros and cloaca formation were significantly disrupted upon gdf11 deletion or knockdown in zebrafish. Additionally, we found that the TGF-β pathway acts downstream of Gdf11 in promoting pronephros and cloaca development. Treatment with a TGF-β small molecule activator partially rescued the pronephros and cloaca developmental defects observed in gdf11 −/− mutants. In summary, our findings provide strong evidence of a critical link between pronephros/cloaca formation and TGF-β signaling mediated by Gdf11. Our study also provides new insight into diseases related to renal and cloaca development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-356a2b15808641abb4a3a22365b4716d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-356a2b15808641abb4a3a22365b4716d2025-08-20T01:57:45ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-92571-ygdf11 is required for pronephros/cloaca development through targeting TGF-β signalingXinning Tian0Wantao Yao1Jin Tan2Zhangle Hu3Jingwen Liu4Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAbstract The kidney is a vital organ responsible for removing toxins, producing urine, and regulating homeostasis. Developmental defects in the kidney lead to various congenital abnormalities that impair renal function. Gdf11, a member of the transforming growth factor β family, is associated with numerous renal abnormalities. In the early developmental stage, the pronephric duct and hindgut open into the cloaca, and Gdf11 shows significant expression in the hindgut of mice. However, the molecular and cellular roles of gdf11 in kidney and cloaca organogenesis remain unclear. Our study revealed that pronephros and cloaca formation were significantly disrupted upon gdf11 deletion or knockdown in zebrafish. Additionally, we found that the TGF-β pathway acts downstream of Gdf11 in promoting pronephros and cloaca development. Treatment with a TGF-β small molecule activator partially rescued the pronephros and cloaca developmental defects observed in gdf11 −/− mutants. In summary, our findings provide strong evidence of a critical link between pronephros/cloaca formation and TGF-β signaling mediated by Gdf11. Our study also provides new insight into diseases related to renal and cloaca development.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92571-yGdf11ZebrafishTGF-βPronephrosCloaca |
| spellingShingle | Xinning Tian Wantao Yao Jin Tan Zhangle Hu Jingwen Liu gdf11 is required for pronephros/cloaca development through targeting TGF-β signaling Scientific Reports Gdf11 Zebrafish TGF-β Pronephros Cloaca |
| title | gdf11 is required for pronephros/cloaca development through targeting TGF-β signaling |
| title_full | gdf11 is required for pronephros/cloaca development through targeting TGF-β signaling |
| title_fullStr | gdf11 is required for pronephros/cloaca development through targeting TGF-β signaling |
| title_full_unstemmed | gdf11 is required for pronephros/cloaca development through targeting TGF-β signaling |
| title_short | gdf11 is required for pronephros/cloaca development through targeting TGF-β signaling |
| title_sort | gdf11 is required for pronephros cloaca development through targeting tgf β signaling |
| topic | Gdf11 Zebrafish TGF-β Pronephros Cloaca |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92571-y |
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