Renal pathophysiology: Edited by Orson W. Moe and Susan Quaggin

Zebrafish: a model system for the study of vertebrate renal development, function, and pathophysiology

Ebarasi, Lwaki; Oddsson, Asmundur; Hultenby, Kjell; Betsholtz, Christer; Tryggvason, Karl

Author Information

aDivision of Vascular Biology, Sweden

bDivision of Matrix Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Sweden

cDivision of Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Correspondence to Professor Karl Tryggvason, Division of Matrix Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 8 524 87720; fax: +46 8 31 61 65; e-mail: [email protected]

Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension 20(4):p 416-424, July 2011. | DOI: 10.1097/MNH.0b013e3283477797

Abstract

Purpose of review 

The zebrafish pronephros provides an informative vertebrate model system for studying renal development and function as well as a rapid screening tool for identification of genes important to the physiology and pathophysiology of the vertebrate kidney. To this end, the zebrafish pronephros is continuously being characterized and its relevance for the study of human diseases validated. This review summarizes recent advances in our current knowledge of the zebrafish pronephros as a valuable model system relevant to the study of human kidney biology and nephropathology.

Recent findings 

Recent findings argue for conserved renal gene structure and function in the zebrafish pronephros and also elucidate the role of genes in kidney biology that were not possible to discern in other vertebrate model systems due to early lethality.

Summary 

Abnormalities in podocyte gene function, renal ion channels and transporters, and renal epithelial primary cilia genes lead to defective pronephric kidney function in the zebrafish that mimics human disease. This supports the use of the zebrafish pronephros as a valid system to study kidney physiology and for rapid identification of potential therapeutic drugs and strategies in combating renal disease.

Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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