The major goal of this thesis is to examine the role of beta1 integrin in kidney development. Our results indicate that beta1 integrin is necessary for ureteric bud branching morphogenesis and maintenance of collecting duct structural integrity. We found that beta1 integrins can regulate branching morphogenesis during development by mediating growth-factor-dependent signaling in addition to their well-defined role as adhesion receptors. We also demonstrated that รข1 integrin expression by podocytes is required for normal development and maintenance of glomerular filtration barrier. Overall, our studies discussed in this thesis proved that beta1 integrin is critical for kidney development. These finding have significantly improved the current knowledge of the role of beta1 integrins and facilitated further in depth investigations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-03232010-175326 |
| Date | 20 April 2010 |
| Creators | Zhang, Xi |
| Contributors | Ambra Pozzi, Roy Zent, Vito Quaranta, Raymond C. Harris |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-03232010-175326/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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