Properties of the Glomerular Barrier and Mechanisms of Proteinuria
Top Cited Papers
- 1 April 2008
- journal article
- review article
- Published by American Physiological Society in Physiological Reviews
- Vol. 88 (2), 451-487
- https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00055.2006
Abstract
This review focuses on the intricate properties of the glomerular barrier. Other reviews have focused on podocyte biology, mesangial cells, and the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). However, since all components of the glomerular membrane are important for its function, proteinuria will occur regardless of which layer is affected by disease. We review the properties of endothelial cells and their surface layer, the GBM, and podocytes, discuss various methods of studying glomerular permeability, and analyze data concerning the restriction of solutes by size, charge, and shape. We also review the physical principles of transport across biological or artificial membranes and various theoretical models used to predict the fluxes of solutes and water. The glomerular barrier is highly size and charge selective, in qualitative agreement with the classical studies performed 30 years ago. The small amounts of albumin filtered will be reabsorbed by the megalin-cubulin complex and degraded by the proximal tubular cells. At present, there is no unequivocal evidence for reuptake of intact albumin from urine. The cellular components are the key players in restricting solute transport, while the GBM is responsible for most of the resistance to water flow across the glomerular barrier.Keywords
This publication has 325 references indexed in Scilit:
- Podocyte cytoskeleton is connected to the integral membrane protein podocalyxin through Na + /H + -exchanger regulatory factor 2 and ezrinClinical and Experimental Nephrology, 2003
- Expression of nephrin, podocin, ?-actinin, and WT1 in children with nephrotic syndromePediatric Nephrology, 2003
- Positionally Cloned Gene for a Novel Glomerular Protein—Nephrin—Is Mutated in Congenital Nephrotic SyndromeMolecular Cell, 1998
- Size-selectivity of the glomerular barrier to high molecular weight proteins: Upper size limitations of shunt pathwaysKidney International, 1998
- Culture of endothelial cells from baboon and human glomeruliKidney International, 1992
- Glomerular permselectivity is dependent on adequate serum concentrations of orosomucoidKidney International, 1992
- Transport of charged macromolecules across a biological charged membraneComputer Programs in Biomedicine, 1985
- The primary glomerular filtration barrier—basement membrane or epithelial slits?Kidney International, 1975
- Absorption of I125-labeled homologous albumin by rat kidney proximal tubule cellsJournal of Ultrastructure Research, 1966
- AnnouncementJournal of Ultrastructure Research, 1966