Fig. 3. General alteration of FGF signalling in Fgf2 mutant MPC cells. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the expression of several Fgfs (Fgf2, Fgf1, Fgf7 and Fgf10) and their receptors (Fgfr1, Fgfr2) in wild-type (+/+) and Fgf2 mutant (-/-) MPC cells and adult kidney cortex tissue (enriched in glomeruli). Note that transcription of the Fgf7 and Fgf10 ligands is upregulated similar to Fgf2 in differentiated wild-type MPC cells grown for 7 days under nonpermissive conditions. Their expression is severely downregulated (Fgf7) or absent (Fgf10, Fgf2) in Fgf2 mutant MPC cells. By contrast, Fgf1 expression is upregulated in Fgf2 mutant MPC cells. No such changes are observed when comparing wild-type to Fgf2 mutant adult kidney cortex tissue. Expression of Fgf receptor isoform IIIc (Fgfr1(IIIc)) remains unchanged, but the Fgfr2(IIIc) isoform is downregulated in Fgf2 mutant MPC cells. By contrast, expression of both Fgfr1(IIIb) and Fgfr2(IIIb) isoforms is upregulated. No changes in Fgf receptor isoform expression levels are observed in adult Fgf2 mutant kidney cortex tissue. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gpdh) was used to normalise RNA content of samples. Diff, differentiated cells; Prol, proliferating cells.
