title: Podocytes: the Weakest Link in Diabetic Kidney Disease?
abstract: Diabetes is increasing in prevalence and is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the United States. Diabetic kidney disease is considered a proteinuric glomerular disease. Although the glomerulus is composed of various cell types, research suggests that podocytes are critical to overall glomerular health. Podocyte injury has been identified as a pivotal event resulting in proteinuric kidney disease, glomerulosclerosis, and loss of renal function. Thus, understanding the signaling mechanisms that trigger podocyte injury in diabetic kidney disease might allow for the development of targeted therapeutics to prevent or ameliorate progression to end-stage renal failure. This review focuses on the role of podocytes in diabetic kidney disease.
authors.affiliation: Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. ksusztak@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Susztak
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism; D050199:Podocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins
keywords: Albuminuria; Diabetes; Glomerulosclerosis; Notch; Podocytes