Kidney Res Clin Pract.
2024 Jan;43(1):47-62. 10.23876/j.krcp.23.071.
Crosstalk mechanisms between glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes in renal diseases and kidney transplantation
- Li M
1,2 - Armelloni S1,2
- Mattinzoli D1,2
- Ikehata M1,2
- Chatziantoniou C3,4
- Alfieri C2,5
- Molinari P2
- Chadjichristos CE3,4
- Malvica S2
- Castellano G2,5
- Affiliations
-
- 1Renal Research Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- 2Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- 3Unité Mixte de Recherche Scientifique 1155, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France
- 4Faculty of Medicine, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- 5Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- KMID: 2552841
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.23876/j.krcp.23.071
Abstract
- The glomerular filtration barrier (GFB), composed of endothelial cells, glomerular basement membrane, and podocytes, is a unique structure for filtering blood while detaining plasma proteins according to size and charge selectivity. Structurally, the fenestrated endothelial cells, which align the capillary loops, are in close proximity to mesangial cells. Podocytes are connected by specialized intercellular junctions known as slit diaphragms and are separated from the endothelial compartment by the glomerular basement membrane. Podocyte-endothelial cell communication or crosstalk is required for the development and maintenance of an efficient filtration process in physiological conditions. In pathological situations, communication also has an essential role in promoting or delaying disease progression. Podocytes and endothelial cells can secrete signaling molecules, which act as crosstalk effectors and, through binding to their target receptors, can trigger bidirectional paracrine or autocrine signal transduction. Moreover, the emerging evidence of extracellular vesicles derived from various cell types engaging in cell communication has also been reported. In this review, we summarize the principal pathways involved in the development and maintenance of the GFB and the progression of kidney disease, particularly in kidney transplantation.
