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Podocytes - PubMed

  • ️Fri Jan 01 2016

Review

Podocytes

Jochen Reiser et al. F1000Res. 2016.

Abstract

Podocytes are highly specialized cells of the kidney glomerulus that wrap around capillaries and that neighbor cells of the Bowman's capsule. When it comes to glomerular filtration, podocytes play an active role in preventing plasma proteins from entering the urinary ultrafiltrate by providing a barrier comprising filtration slits between foot processes, which in aggregate represent a dynamic network of cellular extensions. Foot processes interdigitate with foot processes from adjacent podocytes and form a network of narrow and rather uniform gaps. The fenestrated endothelial cells retain blood cells but permit passage of small solutes and an overlying basement membrane less permeable to macromolecules, in particular to albumin. The cytoskeletal dynamics and structural plasticity of podocytes as well as the signaling between each of these distinct layers are essential for an efficient glomerular filtration and thus for proper renal function. The genetic or acquired impairment of podocytes may lead to foot process effacement (podocyte fusion or retraction), a morphological hallmark of proteinuric renal diseases. Here, we briefly discuss aspects of a contemporary view of podocytes in glomerular filtration, the patterns of structural changes in podocytes associated with common glomerular diseases, and the current state of basic and clinical research.

Keywords: Podocytes; glomerular filtration; kidney glomerulus; urinary ultrafiltrate.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: Jochen Reiser has pending and issued patents on novel strategies for kidney therapeutics and stands to gain royalties from their commercialization. He is co-founder of TRISAQ (Miami, FL, USA), a biotechnology company in which he has financial interest, including stock. MA declares that he has no competing interests.

No competing interests were disclosed.

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The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.

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