Immunopathogenesis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome with relapse

Idiopathic change nephrotic syndrome (INS), the most frequent glomerular disease in children and young adults, is characterized by heavy proteinuria and a relapsing remitting course. Although the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of proteinuria remain unclear, clinical and experimental observations suggest that lymphocyte and podocyte disturbances are two sides of the disease. The current hypothesis suggests that immune cells release a putative factor, which alters podocyte function resulting in nephrotic proteinuria. Besides T-cell abnormalities, recent evidence of B-cell depletion efficacy in sustained remissions added a new challenge in understanding the immunological mechanisms of INS. In this review, we discuss recent insights related to podocyte disorders occurring in INS and their relevance in human diseases.