Nephron progenitor cell commitment: Striking the right balance.

The filtering component of the kidney, the nephron, arises from a single progenitor population. These nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) both self-renew and differentiate throughout the course of kidney development ensuring sufficient nephron endowment. An appropriate balance of these processes must be struck as deficiencies in nephron numbers are associated with hypertension and kidney disease. This review will discuss the mechanisms and molecules supporting NPC maintenance and differentiation. A focus on recent work will highlight new molecular insights into NPC regulation and their dynamic behavior in both space and time.