Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
Published on: May 2, 2025
Redistribution of integrins in tubular epithelial cells during diabetic glycogen nephrosis
Irene Londoño1, Saoussen Bamri-Ezzine, Diane Gingras
1Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Que, Canada.
Background/Aims:
Even though many aspects of glycogen nephrosis in diabetes have already been studied, adhesion interactions between the glycogen-accumulating clear cells and the tubular basement membranes have not been addressed. As integrins play key roles in cell-to-matrix interactions, we investigated the expression and distribution of alpha3-, alphaV-, beta1- and beta3-integrin subunits in renal tissues from streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats (3 months old) and their age-matched controls as well as from streptozotocin-injected normoglycemic animals.
Methods:
The levels and distribution of integrins were studied by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis.
Results:
Immunoblotting analysis of fractions enriched in glycogen-accumulating clear cells demonstrated enhanced expression of alpha3, alphaV and beta1 subunits while expression of beta3 did not differ from controls. The most striking cytochemical result was the redistribution of the alpha3-, alphaV-, and the beta1-integrin subunits to the apical plasma membrane of these cells. This was found by light and electron microscopy.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that the altered expression and distribution of integrins in clear cells of diabetic animals must have defined roles in the development of the renal tubulopathy.
Related Concept Videos
Diabetic Nephropathy
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Activation of Integrins
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Integrins
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...