Molecular cell biology of renal diseases.
Molecular biology and cell biology of the kidney have seen remarkable development in recent years. Three major cell lineages, endothelial, epithelial, and fibroblastic, can be traced in the kidney, with high degrees of functional specialization in the different nephron segments. Ischemic, toxic or immunological damage has varying impact on glomerular, tubular and interstitial cell populations, often with a major contribution from infiltrating leukocytes. Inflammatory, proliferative, repair and degenerative processes previously recognized and studied in renal biopsies are now interpreted at a molecular level, with implications for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. A host of cellular mediators have been identified, allowing preliminary testing of inhibitors, antagonists and novel pharmacological agents. Gene targeting and manipulation hold promise for the treatment of disorders until now believed to be relentlessly progressive, including new approaches to renal allograft and xenograft.
Mené
P
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Division of Nephrology, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. mene@axrma.uniroma1.it
D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology