Authors: Kawachi H, Han GD, Miyauchi N, Hashimoto T, Suzuki K, Shimizu F
Recent studies have demonstrated that the slit diaphragm of the glomerular epithelial cell (podocyte) is the structure likely to be the barrier in the glomerular capillary wall. Murine monoclonal antibody against nephrin, a molecule constituting the extracellular site of the slit diaphragm, caused severe proteinuria if injected into rats, in a complement- or inflammatory cell-independent manner. In this proteinuric state, not only nephrin but also other slit diaphragm-associated molecules are down-regulated. These observations suggest that the antibody alters the molecular composition of the slit diaphragm and, thereby, affects the glomerular permeability barrier. Recently, it was found that IP-10, SV2B, ephrin B1...