Glucocorticoid therapy regulates podocyte motility by inhibition of Rac1.

ABSTRACT: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) occurs when the glomerular filtration barrier becomes excessively permeable leading to massive proteinuria. In childhood NS, immune system dysregulation has been implicated and increasing evidence points to the central role of podocytes in the pathogenesis. Children with NS are typically treated with an empiric course of glucocorticoid (Gc) therapy; a class of steroids that are activating ligands for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transcription factor. Although Gc-therapy has been the cornerstone of NS management for decades, the mechanism of action, and target cell, remain poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that Gc acts directly on the podocyte to produce clinically useful effects without involvement of the immune system. In human podocytes, we demonstra

SUBMITTER: McCaffrey JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5532274 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature