Clca1 expression in the aged kidney in mice

In this study, a discovery approach was designed to identify novel mRNA transcripts that may be involved in kidney aging. RNA-Seq revealed increase in the expression of Clca1 mRNA in the aged kidney. CLCA1 facilitates Cl- current operated by TMEM16A, a Ca++-dependent Cl- channel. Cl- movement accompanied by cations such as Na+ and K+ or in exchange for other anions occurs among fluid compartments in many segments of the nephron. Cl- shift among these compartments is governed by electrochemical potential and transporters and exchangers. Four RNA samples extracted from the kidney cortex of young mice (mean age 5.2 months) were compared to four aged mice (mean age 30.2 months). Differential expression analysis were carried out to identify genes that showed over- or under-expression levels in two age-grouped samples.