Yap/Taz regulates pericyte differentiation in the embryonic kidney

The embryonic renal stroma is highly heterogeneous; however, the significance of this cellular diversity has been poorly understood. Here, we identify a subpopulation of embryonic stroma with enriched Yap/Taz signaling that functions in supporting the developing microvasculature, demonstrating that distinct stromal cells have unique roles in normal renal development. Mouse models with deletion of the paralogs Yap and Taz in the stromal lineage were generated by crossing Foxd1cre transgenic with mice carrying loxP-flanked Yap (Yapflox/flox or Yapc/c) or Taz/Wwtr1 (Tazflox/flox or Tazc/c) alleles.胚胎肾间质（embryonic renal stroma）具有高度异质性，但学界此前对这类细胞多样性的生物学意义仍知之甚少。本研究鉴定出一类富集Yap/Taz信号通路的胚胎间质亚群，其功能为支持发育中的微血管系统，由此证实不同的间质细胞在正常肾脏发育中发挥独特作用。研究团队通过将Foxd1cre转基因（Foxd1cre transgenic）小鼠与携带loxP侧翼序列的Yap（Yapflox/flox或Yapc/c）或Taz/Wwtr1（Tazflox/flox或Tazc/c）等位基因的小鼠杂交，成功构建了间质谱系中旁系同源基因Yap与Taz缺失的小鼠模型。