Multipotent stem cells and their lineage-restricted progeny drive nephron formation within the developing kidney. During kidney development, progressively committed progenitor cells give rise to the distinct segment of the nephron, the functional unit of kidney. Similar segment-committed progenitor cells are though to be involved in the homeostasis of adult kidney. However, markers for most segment-committed progenitor cells remain to be identified. Here, We evaluated Lrig1, pan-ErbB inhibitor, as a segment-committed nephron progenitor cell marker. We documented expression of adult stem cell marker Lrig1 in the developing kidney and adult kidney homeostasis. And also We assessed the stem/progenitor identity of Lrig1+ cells via in vivo lineage tracing study using Tamoxifen inducible Lrig1-CreERT2 mice. Using these mice system, We showed that Lrig1+ cells can generate new daughter cell, contributing to the regeneration of nephron segment, proximal tubule in cortex and AQP2+, AE-1+ inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Tracing of Lrig1+ cells during adult kidney demonstrates that Lrig1+ cells are persisted for up to 1 yr after induction. Lrig1+ cells have a 50-fold higher capacity than Lrig1- cells from organoids, which is considered a stem cell property in vitro. And High-dose folic acid induced acute renal failure model, The number of Lrig1 and their progeny cells increases after HDF injury. Our data show that Lrig1 marks a renal stem/progenitor cell population in the adult kidney contributes to homeostasis and regeneration.
