title: Apoptosis and glomerulonephritis.
abstract: Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a form of autoimmunity in which apoptosis may be a double-edged sword. Resolution of GN can be promoted by apoptosis of infiltrating leucocytes and excess resident glomerular cells, leading to efficient anti-inflammatory clearance by macrophages and mesangial cells. However, unscheduled apoptosis in glomerular cells, especially epithelial cells ('podocytes') may drive progression of GN to hypocellular, nonfunctional scar. Defects in clearance of apoptotic cells may also have deleterious local effects, in addition to promoting autoimmunity itself. Nevertheless, there is strong promise for novel therapies based on new knowledge of apoptosis in GN, especially in regulation of leucocyte clearance from the inflamed glomerulus.
authors.affiliation: Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh/MRC Center for Inflammation Research, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cailhier
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Savill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000473:pathology; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology; D010587:Phagocytosis
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin