What causes podocyte injury?

The major causes (genetic or acquired) of foot processes effacement are impaired formation of the slit diaphragm complex, abnormality of the GBM or adhesion of podocytes to the GBM, abnormalities in the cytoskeleton or associated proteins, and alterations in the apical membrane domain of the podocyte.

What is podocyte injury?

Podocyte injury causes proteinuria and detachment from the glomerular basement membrane. In addition to “sick” podocytes and their detachment, our understanding of glomerular responses following podocyte loss needs to address the pathways from podocyte injury to sclerosis.

What are podocyte cells?

Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells that cover the outer surfaces of glomerular capillaries. Unique cell junctions, known as slit diaphragms, which feature nephrin and Neph family proteins in addition to components of adherens, tight, and gap junctions, connect adjacent podocyte foot processes.

What are the foot processes on podocytes?

The podocytes have long foot processes called pedicels, for which the cells are named (podo- + -cyte). The pedicels wrap around the capillaries and leave slits between them. Blood is filtered through these slits, each known as a filtration slit or slit diaphragm or slit pore.

What happens when podocytes are damaged?

Podocyte response to injury. Podocytes are injured by immune- and non-immune-mediated disease, resulting in damage to the glomerular filtration barrier. This typically results in proteinuria and effacement.

What happens if podocytes are damaged?

Summary: Podocytes are key cells in the glomerulus, and their damage inevitably leads to proteinuria and glomerular dysfunction. The more is known about the causes and mechanisms of podocyte damage, the more it will be possible to find new cures for glomerular diseases of the kidney.

What is the function of podocyte cells?

Podocytes play an important role in glomerular function. Together with endothelial cells of the glomerular capillary loop and the glomerular basement membrane they form a filtration barrier. Podocytes cooperate with mesangial cells to support the structure and function of the glomerulus.

What do mesangial cells do?

Mesangial cells provide structural support to the glomerular tuft, produce and maintain mesangial matrix, communicate with other glomerular cells by secreting soluble factors, and may contribute to the glomerular capillary flow via their contractile properties.

What is the importance of podocytes?

What podocytes are and their function?