Glomerular podocytes in diabetic renal disease

• Published in: Advances in clinical and experimental medicine : official organ Wroclaw Medical University Vol. 28; no. 12; pp. 1711 - 1715
• Main Authors: Podgórski, Paweł, Konieczny, Andrzej, Lis, Łukasz, Witkiewicz, Wojciech, Hruby, Zbigniew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poland 01-12-2019
• Subjects: Albuminuria - metabolism; Albuminuria - pathology; Diabetic Nephropathies - metabolism; Diabetic Nephropathies - physiopathology; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Humans; Kidney Glomerulus; Podocytes - metabolism; Podocytes - pathology; diabetic kidney disease; pathogenesis; podocytes
• ISSN: 1899-5276
• DOI: 10.17219/acem/104534

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), both in the USA and in Europe; moreover, its incidence is rising worldwide. The main laboratory markers of DN progression are albuminuria and a reduction in glomerular filtration rates, although progression of the disease has been observed even in the absence of these biomarkers. Renal impairment, associated with diabetes, results from damage to the glomerular filtration barrier, at the level of highly differentiated glomerular epithelial cells: podocytes. These cells regulate glomerular filtration and many immunological processes occurring at this level. The earliest possible diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and implementation of intensive treatment offers the possibility of preventing or substantially delaying the onset of ESRD. In this article, we review various urinary biomarkers linked with glomerular podocyte cytophysiology as potentially sensitive diagnostic tools for the early detection of DKD. These biomarkers have predictive potential for assessing the progression toward end-stage nephropathy.