Kidney Cells Show Memory-Like Abilities in Groundbreaking Study

Kidney cells, like neurons, may have the ability to store information and recognize patterns, though not in the way we traditionally think of memory. Researchers have discovered that kidney cells exhibit behaviors resembling memory mechanisms, offering intriguing insights into cellular processes outside the brain. This finding was published on November 7 in Nature Communications.

A New Perspective on Cellular Memory

The concept of memory has long been associated with neurons, the brain’s specialized cells. However, Nikolay Kukushkin, a neuroscientist at New York University, emphasizes that this research doesn’t redefine memory but expands its scope. “We’re not saying that this kind of memory helps you learn trigonometry or stores childhood memories,” Kukushkin explains. Instead, the findings highlight how nonneuronal cells use similar processes to track and respond to information.

Mimicking the Brain’s “Massed-Spaced Effect”

Experiments revealed that kidney cells exhibit a phenomenon known as the “massed-spaced effect,” a hallmark of memory formation in neurons. This process allows the storage of information more effectively when it’s introduced in smaller, spaced-out increments rather than in a single burst.

Cells outside the brain need mechanisms to monitor and respond to signals. A protein called CREB, central to memory formation in neurons, plays a key role in this process. CREB is activated by signals and initiates changes in gene expression, effectively creating a molecular memory.

Testing Memory in Kidney Cells

To test memory-like behavior, researchers inserted an artificial gene into human embryonic kidney cells. This gene included a DNA sequence that CREB could activate and instructions for producing a glowing protein. By observing the glowing response, researchers could measure how strongly the memory-like gene was activated.

When chemical signals mimicking neuronal memory triggers were applied in different patterns, the results were striking. Four three-minute pulses spaced 10 minutes apart led to a stronger response 24 hours later compared to a single 12-minute pulse. This demonstrated that kidney cells respond differently based on the timing of stimuli, a property previously thought exclusive to neurons.

Broader Implications for Health and Disease

“This [massed-spaced] effect has never been seen outside a brain,” says Kukushkin. He suggests that nonneuronal cells could form “memories” when tasked with sufficiently complex challenges. Neuroscientist Ashok Hegde finds the study intriguing but notes it’s unclear how broadly these findings apply to other cell types.

The discovery may have practical implications for medicine. For instance, cancer cells could be considered as having memory-like properties. Understanding how they “learn” from treatment patterns could help refine chemotherapy schedules to enhance effectiveness. Similarly, the study offers potential avenues for developing treatments for diseases involving memory loss.

A Paradigm Shift in Understanding Cellular Behavior

The idea that kidney cells, and potentially other nonneuronal cells, can exhibit memory-like behaviors broadens our understanding of cellular biology. It suggests that timing patterns in drug delivery and other treatments might be as important as dosage, opening new pathways for medical innovation.