title: Vascular growth factors play critical roles in kidney glomeruli.
abstract: Kidney glomeruli ultrafilter blood to generate urine and they are dysfunctional in a variety of kidney diseases. There are two key vascular growth factor families implicated in glomerular biology and function, namely the vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and the angiopoietins (Angpt). We present examples showing not only how these molecules help generate and maintain healthy glomeruli but also how they drive disease when their expression is dysregulated. Finally, we review how manipulating VEGF and Angpt signalling may be used to treat glomerular disease.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Unit for Metabolic Medicine, School of Life Science & Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, U.K. luigi.gnudi@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gnudi
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, U.K.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K.
authors.forename: Adrian S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Woolf
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, U.K.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D042682:Angiopoietins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042682:Angiopoietins; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
keywords: angiopoietins; endothelial cells; glomerulus; permeability; podocytes; vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)