BET proteins regulate gene expression in early kidney development. BET proteins regulate gene expression in early kidney development

In utero renal development is subject to maternal metabolic and environmental influences af-fecting long-term renal function and the risk to develop chronic kidney failure and cardiovascular disease. Epigenetic processes have been implicated in the orchestration of renal development and prenatal programming of nephron number. Bromodomain and extraterminal domain proteins act as histone acetylation reader molecules and promote gene transcription. BET family members Brd2, Brd3 and Brd4 are expressed in the nephrogenic zone during kidney development. Here, the effect of FDA-approved BET inhibitor JQ1 on renal development is evaluated. Inhibition of BET proteins via JQ1 leads to reduced growth of metanephric cultures, loss of the progenitor cell population, and premature and disturbed nephron differentiation. Overall design: Bulk RNA sequencing of kidney cultures after 24 h treatment of DMSO or JQ1