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Hereditas(Beijing) ›› 2018, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (2): 116-125.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.17-221

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Developmental disorder of podocytes and the related renal diseases

Zhu Ya'nan1(),Ying Ao1(),Bin Li1,2,Yang Wan1,Hui Wang1   

  1. 1. Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
    2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
  • Received:2017-10-11 Revised:2017-12-05 Online:2018-02-20 Published:2017-12-15
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81220108026, 81430089, 81001466);Hubei Province Health and Family Planning Scientific Research Project(WJ2017M002);the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(Nos. 81220108026, 81430089, 81001466)

Abstract:

Podocyte is one of the main components of glomerular filtration barrier in the kidney; the loss or dysfunction of podocyte could impair the functions of glomerular filtration barrier, leading to development of various renal diseases. Podocyte is a terminally differentiated cell, and thus does not possess any proliferative properties. Accordingly, its number and contribution to renal function are initially determined by its normal development. Information from the literature and results of our research indicate that genetic factors or prenatal adverse environment could cause developmental retardation of podocytes, thereby suggesting the potential fetal developmental origin(s) of kidney diseases, and involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of key genes in podocyte development. In this review, we provide a brief overview on the podocyte normal development; discussion on the potential pathogenic mechanisms for developmental disorders of podocytes; as well as renal diseases associated with podocyte developmental retardation. We aim to provide some insights in articulating the strategies for diagnosis and treatments of renal diseases associated with podocyte developmental abnormalities.

Key words: podocyte development, renal diseases, genetic factors, prenatal adverse environment, epigenetics