Hypertrophy and loss of podocytes in diabetic nephropathy.
OBJECTIVE
The loss of podocytes has been reported to have a role in the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Although structural changes such as podocyte hypertrophy are considered to be associated with podocyte loss, the relationship has not been thoroughly investigated using human DN renal tissues.


METHODS
The subjects were 17 patients with DN diagnosed histopathologically by renal biopsy. Immunostaining was performed with antibodies for Wilm's tumor 1 (WT1) and synaptopodin (SPD), which are markers of podocytes, to determine the number of podocytes and assess podocyte hypertrophy.


RESULTS
The number of podocytes was decreased in DN patients compared with the controls. An inverse correlation was observed between the number of podocytes and both the urinary protein excretion and the extent of mesangial expansion. Podocyte hypertrophy was also more marked in DN patients compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these results, podocyte loss and hypertrophy were suggested to be involved in the development and progression of human DN.
Miyauchi
Masaaki
M
Division of Nephrology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Shimokasuya, Isehara, Japan.
Toyoda
Masao
M
Kobayashi
Keiko
K
Abe
Makiko
M
Kobayashi
Takako
T
Kato
Mayuko
M
Yamamoto
Naoyuki
N
Kimura
Moritsugu
M
Umezono
Tomoya
T
Suzuki
Daisuke
D
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D049108:Cell Enlargement; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D050199:Podocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C503967:SYNPO protein, human; D025721:WT1 Proteins