Abstract:

Podocytes are terminally differentiated cells that reside on the outer surface of the glomerular basement membrane and play a key role in maintaining the structure and function of the glomerular filtration barrier.Podocyte dysfunction,injury or loss is a common and decisive cause of various glomerular diseases.Minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are the major podocytopathies.This review is focus on recent studies on the mRNA prole of podocyte and genetic mutations on structural and functional molecules in podocyte.We will highlight advances in the understanding of novel molecular mechanisms of podocyte damage.

Key words: glomerulus, podocyte, pathogenesis, molecular genetics