Diabetogenic transferrin damages podocytes in early human diabetic nephropathy

The exact mechanisms by which growth hormone (GH) damages the kidney inducing diabetic nephropathy has not yet been elucidated. Recently, it has been shown that transferrin has the same diabetogenic effects of GH, being its mediator. Transferrin was studied using immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy in cases of early diabetic nephropathy, and in controls. Transferrin was only found in diabetic cases in podocytes and Bowman's capsule cells, but also in the tubular cells of both diabetic and non-diabetic controls. Immuno-electron microscopy for the presence of transferrin showed positive signals in the cytoplasm of diabetic podocytes, but not in pedicels. This selective deposition was associated with signs of organelle and cytoskeleton damage. On the basis of previous evidence and present glomerular findings, these results suggest an indirect diabetogenic effect on the kidney by GH mediated through transferrin.