Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026
10:14
An Efficient Sieving Method to Isolate Intact Glomeruli from Adult Rat Kidney
Published on: November 1, 2018
14.6K
Vinculin is required to maintain glomerular barrier integrity
Franziska Lausecker1, Xuefei Tian2, Kazunori Inoue2
1Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Kidney International
|December 16, 2017
Summary
Vinculin is crucial for maintaining kidney filtration. Podocyte-specific knockout of vinculin (a protein) led to kidney damage, highlighting its role in podocyte health and barrier integrity.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Podocyte intercellular junctions and cell-matrix interactions are vital for the glomerular filtration barrier.
- Vinculin is a key protein linking actin filaments to cell-matrix adhesions and intercellular junctions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of vinculin in podocytes.
- To determine vinculin's necessity for maintaining glomerular filtration barrier integrity.
Main Methods:
- Generated a podocyte-specific vinculin knockout mouse model.
- Analyzed primary podocytes for defects in cell protrusions, focal adhesions, and migration.
- Examined kidney sections from patients with various nephropathies.
Main Results:
- Mice lacking podocyte vinculin exhibited increased albuminuria and foot process effacement.
- Isolated podocytes showed impaired cell migration and altered focal adhesion signaling.
- Vinculin mislocalization was observed in intercellular junction proteins and in human kidney diseases.
Conclusions:
- Vinculin is essential for maintaining podocyte structure and function.
- Vinculin plays a critical role in stabilizing podocyte foot processes and intercellular junctions.
- Dysregulation of vinculin may contribute to the pathogenesis of glomerular diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Tight Junctions
7.4K
Tight junctions are molecular seals between cells that prevent the leaking of fluids, ions, and other small solutes across cavities and compartments in multicellular organisms. They are mainly composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, and other proteins such as tricellulin and JAM (junctional adhesion molecule). All these proteins are 4-pass transmembrane proteins, except JAM, which is a single-pass transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The...
7.4K
01:15Glomerular Filtration
5.7K
The filtration membrane in the renal system is a highly specialized structure essential for filtering blood. It consists of glomerular capillaries and podocytes, forming a selective barrier that permits the passage of water and small solutes while restricting most plasma proteins and blood cells.
Components of the Filtration Membrane
The filtration process involves three key layers: the glomerular endothelial cells, the basement membrane, and the podocyte-formed filtration slits.
Components of the Filtration Membrane
The filtration process involves three key layers: the glomerular endothelial cells, the basement membrane, and the podocyte-formed filtration slits.
5.7K
01:20Renal Corpuscle
7.7K
The glomerulus and Bowman's capsule are two essential components of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidney. These microscopic structures play a critical role in the process of blood filtration to produce urine.
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous...
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous...
7.7K
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
3.6K
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
3.6K
01:24Adherens Junctions
6.6K
Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types – adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
6.6K
01:56Structural Protein Function
30.1K
Structural proteins are a category of proteins responsible for functions ranging from cell shape and movement to providing support to major structures such as bones, cartilage, hair, and muscles. This group includes proteins such as collagen, actin, myosin, and keratin.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity. In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to...
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity. In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to...
30.1K