title: Hypertrophy and loss of podocytes in diabetic nephropathy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Shimokasuya, Isehara, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Moritsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umezono
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C503967:SYNPO protein, human; D025721:WT1 Proteins