How many ways can a podocyte die?

• Published in: Seminars in nephrology Vol. 32; no. 4; p. 394
• Main Authors: Tharaux, Pierre-Louis, Huber, Tobias B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2012
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism; Cell Proliferation; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental - metabolism; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental - physiopathology; Humans; Mitochondria - ultrastructure; Necrosis; Podocytes - metabolism; Podocytes - physiology; Podocytes - ultrastructure; Signal Transduction

Podocytes are highly specialized epithelial cells that line the urinary surface of the glomerular capillary tuft. To maintain kidney filtration, podocytes oppose the high intraglomerular hydrostatic pressure, form a molecular sieve, secrete soluble factors to regulate other glomerular cell types, an...