BACKGROUND Podocyte injury and subsequent excretion in urine play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Quantification of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in urinary sediment by real-time PCR is emerging as a noninvasive method of screening DN-associated biomarkers. We hypothesized that the urinary mRNA profile of podocyte-associated molecules may provi...

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a kidney histologic lesion that may be caused by multiple aetiologies and pathophysiological mechanisms, with podocyte injury depletion as the common denominator. FSGS subdivided into different subclasses: primary, secondary, genetic unknown forms. Notwithstanding overlapping clinical histological characteristics across forms of FSGS, their managemen...

We used a rat model to assess the role of nephrin, podocin, and desmin in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). A rat IgAN model was established by administration of BSA, CCl(4), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and compared with healthy control rats. Urinary protein, urine red blood cells, and biochemical parameters were measured for 12 weeks. Renal morphology and ultrastructure were examine...

OBJECTIVE Recent studies have shown a beneficial effect of rapamycin in passive and active Heymann Nephritis (HN). However, the mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect have not been elucidated. METHODS Passive Heymann Nephritis (PHN) was induced by a single intravenous infusion of anti-Fx1 in 12 Sprague-Dawley male rats. One week later, six of these rats were commenced on daily treatment...

podocin facilitates nephrin signaling. J Biol Chem 276: 41543–41546, 2001 7. Huber TB, Simons M, Hartleben B, Sernetz L, Schmidts M, Gundlach E, Saleem MA, Walz G, Benzing T: Molecular basis of the functional podocin-nephrin complex: Mutations in the NPHS2 gene disrupt nephrin targeting to lipid raft microdomains. Hum Mol Genet 12: 3397–3405, 2003 8. Huber TB, Schermer B, Muller RU, Hohne M, Ba...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The increasing number of podocyte-expressed genes implicated in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS), the phenotypic variability, and the uncharacterized relative frequency of mutations in these genes in pediatric and adult patients with SRNS complicate their routine genetic analysis. Our aim was to compile the clinical and genetic data of eight podocyte genes a...

Mutations in the NPHS2 gene, encoding podocin, cause hereditary nephrotic syndrome. The most common podocin mutation, R138Q, is associated with early disease onset and rapid progression to end-stage renal disease. Knock-in mice carrying a R140Q mutation, the mouse analogue of human R138Q, show developmental arrest of podocytes and lethal renal failure at neonatal age. Here we created a conditio...

Linus A Völker ([email protected]) Eva-Maria Schurek ([email protected]) Judit Tax ([email protected]) Barbara A Schutte ([email protected]) Tobias Lamkemeyer ([email protected]) Denise Ungrue ([email protected]) Bernhard Schermer ([email protected]) Thomas Benzing ([email protected]) Martin Höhne (martin.hoehne@uk-koeln...