Complexities of the glomerular basement membrane

Author(s)

Naylor, Richard W. ^[1] ; Morais, Mychel R. P. T. ^{[1, 2]} ; Lennon, Rachel ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Manchester, Manchester Acad Hlth Sci Ctr, Wellcome Ctr Cell Matrix Res, Fac Biol Med & Hlth, Div Cell Matrix Biol & Regenerat Med, Sch Biol Sci, Manchester, Lancs - England

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Lab Reprod & Extracellular Matrix Biol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Royal Manchester Childrens Hosp, Manchester Univ Hosp NHS Fdn Trust, Manchester Acad Hlth Sci Ctr, Dept Paediat Nephrol, Manchester, Lancs - England

• Document type: Review article
• Source: NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY; v. 17, n. 2 AUG 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is a key component of the glomerular capillary wall and is essential for kidney filtration. The major components of the GBM include laminins, type IV collagen, nidogens and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. In addition, the GBM harbours a number of other structural and regulatory components and provides a reservoir for growth factors. New technologies have improved our ability to study the composition and assembly of basement membranes. We now know that the GBM is a complex macromolecular structure that undergoes key transitions during glomerular development. Defects in GBM components are associated with a range of hereditary human diseases such as Alport syndrome, which is caused by defects in the genesCOL4A3,COL4A4andCOL4A5, and Pierson syndrome, which is caused by variants inLAMB2. In addition, the GBM is affected by acquired autoimmune disorders and metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Current treatments for diseases associated with GBM involvement aim to reduce intraglomerular pressure and to treat the underlying cause where possible. As our understanding about the maintenance and turnover of the GBM improves, therapies to replace GBM components or to stimulate GBM repair could translate into new therapies for patients with GBM-associated disease. The glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is essential for kidney filtration. This Review describes how studies of GBM composition and structure have provided insights into GBM assembly, its developmental transitions and its role in glomerular filtration. The authors also discuss GBM-associated diseases and current and potential future treatments for these disorders. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/03525-2 - Effects of the type 1 diabetes on the fetal reprogramming with focus on the glomerular extracellular matrix in mice model
• Grantee: Mychel Raony Paiva Teixeira Morais
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/26785-5 - Global analysis of enriched glomerular extracellular matrix of pre-term foetuses of normoglycemic and hyperglycaemic mothers using mass spectrometry-based proteomics
• Grantee: Mychel Raony Paiva Teixeira Morais
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate