Developmental Biology of the Kidney: From Molecular Mechanisms to Congenital Disorders

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 229

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, 21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: kidney development; congenital anomalies of the kidney; next-generation sequencing; chronic kidney diseases; precision medicine; diabetic nephropathy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia
2. Center for Translational Research in Biomedicine, University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: kidney; kidney development; mouse knockout models; kidney diseases; CAKUT
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce a Special Issue entitled “Developmental Biology of the Kidney: From Molecular Mechanisms to Congenital Disorders”, to be published in Biomolecules. This Special Issue will highlight cutting-edge research uncovering the molecular mechanisms that drive kidney function, development, and pathologies. Kidney physiology, development, and diseases encompass a vast array of molecular processes, from cellular signaling and gene regulation to system-level analyses. Understanding these processes is crucial in advancing our knowledge of renal biology and developing innovative therapeutic strategies. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Molecular mechanisms underlying normal renal physiology;
  • The developmental biology of the kidney, including nephrogenesis and organogenesis;
  • The genetic and epigenetic regulation of kidney development;
  • Pathophysiological processes in kidney diseases;
  • Biomarkers and diagnostic tools in renal disorders;
  • Insights from omics technologies (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) in nephrology;
  • Emerging therapeutic targets and precision medicine approaches.

We invite the submission of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that provide novel insights into these areas. This Special Issue represents an excellent opportunity to showcase your work to a global audience and contribute to the growing body of knowledge in renal science.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Journal of Developmental Biology.

Prof. Dr. Katarina Vukojević
Dr. Anita Racetin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • kidney development
  • renal physiology
  • kidney disease
  • molecular mechanisms
  • cellular signaling
  • gene expression
  • biomarkers
  • renal pathophysiology
  • therapeutic targets

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 2708 KiB  
Article
Expression of FGF23 and α-KLOTHO in Normal Human Kidney Development and Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT)
by Patricija Bajt, Anita Racetin, Nela Kelam, Nikola Pavlović, Petar Todorović, Marinela Jelinčić Korčulanin, Natalija Filipović, Ivana Kuzmić Prusac, Fila Raguž and Katarina Vukojević
Biomolecules 2025, 15(6), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15060811 - 4 Jun 2025
Viewed by 57
Abstract
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are a major cause of pediatric renal failure, but the molecular mechanisms driving these conditions are not yet fully understood. Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) and its co-receptor α-KLOTHO play crucial roles in regulating [...] Read more.
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are a major cause of pediatric renal failure, but the molecular mechanisms driving these conditions are not yet fully understood. Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) and its co-receptor α-KLOTHO play crucial roles in regulating calcium and phosphate homeostasis in adult kidneys, but their roles in kidney development and the pathogenesis of CAKUT remain unclear. Because of that, we analyzed the spatial and temporal expression of FGF23 and α-KLOTHO in normal fetal kidney development and CAKUT using an immunofluorescence technique. Our results demonstrate a dynamic pattern of FGF23 and α-KLOTHO expression in healthy kidney development, with FGF23 levels decreasing and α-KLOTHO levels increasing with gestational age. Also, we showed that FGF23 expression was significantly reduced in horseshoe (HKs) and duplex kidneys (DKs), while α-KLOTHO expression remained unchanged across all CAKUT conditions. Based on our results, we suggest that altered FGF23 expression in CAKUT contributes to disease pathogenesis and may represent a potential therapeutic target. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop