Unraveling the epigenetic landscape of glomerular cells in kidney disease

Author(s)

Pereira, Beatriz Maria Veloso ^[1] ; Katakia, Yash T. ^[2] ; Majumder, Syamantak ^[2] ; Thieme, Karina ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Fisiol & Biofis, Lab Bases Celulares & Mol Fisiol Renal, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Birla Inst Technol & Sci BITS Pilani, Dept Biol Sci, Pilani Campus, Pilani, Rajasthan - India

• Document type: Review article
• Source: JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE-JMM; v. 99, n. 6 MAR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health concern and its prevalence and incidence are rising quickly. It is a non-communicable disease primarily caused by diabetes and/or hypertension and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite decades of research efforts, the pathogenesis of CKD remains a puzzle with missing pieces. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern the loss of kidney function is crucial. Abrupt regulation of gene expression in kidney cells is apparent in CKD and shown to be responsible for disease onset and progression. Gene expression regulation extends beyond DNA sequence and involves epigenetic mechanisms including changes in DNA methylation and post-translational modifications of histones, driven by the activity of specific enzymes. Recent advances demonstrate the essential participation of epigenetics in kidney (patho)physiology, as its actions regulate both the integrity of cells but also triggers deleterious signaling pathways. Here, we review the known epigenetic processes regulating the complex filtration unit of the kidney, the glomeruli. The review will elaborate on novel insights into how epigenetics contributes to cell injury in the CKD setting majorly focusing on kidney glomerular cells: the glomerular endothelial cells, the mesangial cells, and the specialized and terminally differentiated podocyte cells. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/10583-0 - Epigenetic regulation of TET and Klotho proteins in Glomerular Disease
• Grantee: Beatriz Maria Veloso Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/00573-4 - The role of DNA (hydroxy)methylation in podocytes dysfunction: epigenetic perspectives for the treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease
• Grantee: Karina Thieme
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants