Japanese Journal of Clinical Immunology
Online ISSN : 1349-7413
Print ISSN : 0911-4300
ISSN-L : 0911-4300
Review Articles
Podocyte research in rheumatic diseases
HIROSHI KAJIYAMA
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2011 Volume 34 Issue 1 Pages 40-48

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Abstract
  Podocytes are glomerular visceral epithelial cells, which function as molecular sieve with foot process (FT) and slit diaphragm (SD) spanning FT, not to allow high molecular weight protein to be filtrated through glomerular capillary loop. Pathological proteinuria is caused by discoordinated tertiary podocyte structure such as disappearance of FT and/or SD, and irreversible glomeular sclerosis is caused by podocyte loss due to cell death and/or detachment from capillary wall. With recent advance of nephrological research technology such as podocyte cell culture system, genetically engineered transgenic mice with podocyte-specific regulation of gene expression, podocyte-associated biomarkers, the new isolation method of glomeruli, laser capture microdissection, multiphoton imaging and extracellular flux analyzer, new findings of pathogenesis of glomerular lesions will be expected, not only in primary glomerulonephritis, but also in secondary glomerulonephritis or glomerulopathy due to rheumatic diseases.
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© 2011 The Japan Society for Clinical Immunology
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