Small Molecule Membrane Transporters in the Mammalian Podocyte: A Pathogenic and Therapeutic Target
1
Department of Medical, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34149, Italy
2
Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste 34149, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
â€
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2014, 15(11), 21366-21380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms151121366
Received: 24 September 2014 / Revised: 6 November 2014 / Accepted: 13 November 2014 / Published: 18 November 2014
(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry)
The intriguingly complex glomerular podocyte has been a recent object of intense study. Researchers have sought to understand its role in the pathogenesis of common proteinuric diseases such as minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. In particular, considerable effort has been directed towards the anatomic and functional barrier to macromolecular filtration provided by the secondary foot processes, but little attention has been paid to the potential of podocytes to handle plasma proteins beyond the specialization of the slit diaphragm. Renal membrane transporters in the proximal tubule have been extensively studied for decades, particularly in relation to drug metabolism and elimination. Recently, uptake and efflux transporters for small organic molecules have also been found in the glomerular podocyte, and we and others have found that these transporters can engage not only common pharmaceuticals but also injurious endogenous and exogenous agents. We have also found that the activity of podocyte transporters can be manipulated to inhibit pathogen uptake and efflux. It is conceivable that podocyte transporters may play a role in disease pathogenesis and may be a target for future drug development.
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Keywords:
transporters; podocyte; focal segmental glomerular sclerosis; penicillin G; P-glycoprotein; dexamethasone; cyclosporine; thiazolidinediones
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MDPI and ACS Style
Zennaro, C.; Artero, M.; Maso, V.D.; Carraro, M. Small Molecule Membrane Transporters in the Mammalian Podocyte: A Pathogenic and Therapeutic Target. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2014, 15, 21366-21380. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms151121366
AMA Style
Zennaro C, Artero M, Maso VD, Carraro M. Small Molecule Membrane Transporters in the Mammalian Podocyte: A Pathogenic and Therapeutic Target. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2014; 15(11):21366-21380. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms151121366
Chicago/Turabian StyleZennaro, Cristina; Artero, Mary; Maso, Vittorio D.; Carraro, Michele. 2014. "Small Molecule Membrane Transporters in the Mammalian Podocyte: A Pathogenic and Therapeutic Target" Int. J. Mol. Sci. 15, no. 11: 21366-21380. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms151121366
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