Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42029548›Full record

ArticleJournal of developmental biology2026

Melatonin Receptor 1 and Melatonin Receptor 2 Expression During Human Kidney Development and Their Association with CAKUT.

Ann-Kathrin Schmitt, Victoria Tjora, Nela Kelam, Marija Jurić Gunjača, Petar Todorović, Clelia Picard, Manel Loche-Dalmon, Katarina Vukojević, Anita Racetin

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Article in Journal of developmental biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ann-Kathrin SchmittLaboratory for Early Human Development, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia.
Victoria TjoraLaboratory for Early Human Development, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia.
Nela KelamLaboratory for Early Human Development, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-6529-5474
Marija Jurić GunjačaDepartment of Radiology, General Hospital of Šibenik-Knin County, 22000 Sibenik, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-7729-4041
Petar TodorovićLaboratory for Early Human Development, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia.ORCID 0009-0005-6953-0135
Clelia PicardFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Angers, 49100 Angers, France.
Manel Loche-DalmonFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Angers, 49100 Angers, France.
Katarina VukojevićLaboratory for Early Human Development, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0003-2182-2890
Anita RacetinLaboratory for Early Human Development, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-0123-7558

Funding

Croatian Science Foundation IP-2022-10-8720Republic of Croatia Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth from NPOO PIKBIO grant no. IP-UNIST-33
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesGrowing evidence indicates that melatonin contributes to kidney development and function, while disruptions of fetal circadian signaling have been linked to congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). This study aimed to characterize the developmental and spatial expression patterns of melatonin receptors MTNR1A and MTNR1B in normal human fetal kidneys and in CAKUT phenotypes.

methodsThis study analyzed 40 human fetal kidney specimens, including healthy controls and CAKUT cases (horseshoe kidneys, duplex kidneys, and dysplastic kidneys), obtained from spontaneous abortions and pregnancy terminations. Samples were classified into developmental phases Ph2-Ph4 according to established morphological criteria. Immunofluorescence staining was used to visualize MTNR1A and MTNR1B expression. Quantitative analysis was performed using ImageJ, measuring the fluorescence area percentage. Statistical comparisons were conducted using a two-way ANOVA.

resultsIn control kidneys, MTNR1A expression was predominantly observed in glomeruli and interstitial cells and showed a descending trend across developmental stages, whereas MTNR1B was localized to glomeruli and strongly to the apical membranes of tubules, particularly distal tubules, without substantial developmental variation. CAKUT phenotypes exhibited higher expression of both receptors compared to controls. Significant phase-dependent differences in MTNR1A expression were observed in horseshoe, duplex, and dysplastic kidneys. MTNR1B expression decreased across developmental stages in dysplastic kidneys and differed significantly between Ph3 and Ph4 in duplex kidneys. At Ph3, duplex kidneys showed the highest MTNR1B expression.

conclusionsAltered developmental expression patterns of MTNR1A and MTNR1B in CAKUT suggest an association between melatonin signaling and abnormal human kidney development.

Indexed as

CAKUTkidney developmentmelatoninMTNR1AMTNR1B

Identifiers

PMID42029548
PMCPMC13108090

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