Developmental bladder defects can lead to numerous health problems throughout life including pediatric kidney failure, urinary tract infections, stone, and urinary retention; however, genetic determinants of bladder diseases are largely unknown. The application's broad long-term objectives are to elucidate the molecular control of bladder development to develop effective therapies for structural bladder disease. Presently, most of the molecular control of bladder development is unknown. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (Fgfr2) is expressed in developing bladder mesenchyme (future muscle and lamina propria); however, global deletion of Fgfr2 in mice leads to early embryonic lethality prior to the onset of urinary tract development, making the roles of the receptor in bladder development unclear. To circumvent the early lethality of the global knockouts, a Tbx18cre line was used to conditionally delete Fgfr2 in the bladder mesenchyme (Fgfr2BM-/-). Preliminary data show that while Fgfr2BM-/- embryonic bladders total bladder volumes are unchanged, the mutants have a relative reduction in the volume of the outer condensing mesenchyme (future muscle) and a decrease in muscle marker expression vs. controls. Conversely, Fgfr2BM-/- bladders have a relative increase in volume of the inner mesenchyme (future lamina propria) and higher expression of early collagen markers with infiltration into the muscle. Early postnatal mutant bladders have histological abnormalities and functional defects including decreases in contractility, poor compliance, and high pressures; aged Fgfr2BM-/- mice develop severe bladder distention with fibrosis and myogenic failure (resembling atonic bladders) and also develop kidney injury. Mechanistically, Fgfr2BM-/- embryonic bladders appear to have increased sonic hedgehog (Shh) activity (and other pathways downstream of hedgehog such as Wnt and Bmp4), which likely mispatterns the mesenchyme. Fgfr2 suppression of hedgehog appears to by regulation of Hh co-receptors Cdon and Boc. Finally preliminary bladder culture experiments suggest a rescue of mutant bladder muscle defects with low doses of a hedgehog inhibitor. The overarching hypothesis is that loss of Fgfr signaling in bladder mesenchyme leads to early developmental patterning defects that have significant postnatal consequences. To test the hypothesis, the following aims are proposed:
Aim1 : Characterize the progressive histological, functional, and signaling defects in Fgfr2BM-/- bladders. Structural and molecular bladder mispatterning will be interrogated in Fgfr2BM-/- embryos and newborn mice. Structural and functional consequences of developmental bladder mispatterning will be determined in postnatal mice. Signaling defects downstream of Fgfr2 will also be characterized in mutant bladders.
Aim 2 : Determine the molecular mechanisms driving the patterning defects in the Fgfr mutants. Perturbations in hedgehog signaling (and other potential pathways downstream of hedgehog such as Bmp4 and Wnt) will be interrogated in embryonic Fgfr2BM-/- bladders. Chemical and genetic approaches will be used ex vivo and in vivo to attempt rescue of bladder defects in Fgfr2BM-/- mice.

Public Health Relevance

Many children and adults have malfunctioning bladders as a result of bladders that form abnormally prior to birth. Malfunctioning bladders can lead to kidney failure, infections, stones, and inability to empty. We have a unique genetic mouse model with bladder birth defects that will lead to a better understanding of how these conditions occur and thus lead to new treatment strategies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK104374-02
Application #
9095329
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Hoshizaki, Deborah K
Project Start
2015-07-01
Project End
2019-06-30
Budget Start
2016-07-01
Budget End
2017-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Ikeda, Y; Zabbarova, I; Schaefer, C M et al. (2017) Fgfr2 is integral for bladder mesenchyme patterning and function. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 312:F607-F618
Narla, Deepti; Slagle, Stacey B; Schaefer, Caitlin M et al. (2017) Loss of peri-Wolffian duct stromal Frs2? expression in mice leads to abnormal ureteric bud induction and vesicoureteral reflux. Pediatr Res 82:1022-1029
Walker, Kenneth A; Sims-Lucas, Sunder; Bates, Carlton M (2016) Fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling in kidney and lower urinary tract development. Pediatr Nephrol 31:885-95
Walker, Kenneth A; Sims-Lucas, Sunder; Di Giovanni, Valeria E et al. (2013) Deletion of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 from the peri-wolffian duct stroma leads to ureteric induction abnormalities and vesicoureteral reflux. PLoS One 8:e56062