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C3 Glomerulopathy: Novel Treatment Paradigms
Blanca Tarragon Estebanez1, Andrew S Bomback1
1Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Insights
C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a kidney disease driven by the alternative complement pathway. New therapies targeting this pathway show promise for treating C3G, unlike older, less effective treatments.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Immunology
- Complement System Biology
Background:
- C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is characterized by isolated or dominant C3 deposition in glomeruli.
- The alternative complement pathway hyperactivity is the primary cause of glomerular injury in C3G.
- Current treatment paradigms for C3G are evolving due to novel therapeutic developments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution of treatment strategies for C3 glomerulopathy.
- To assess the efficacy of non-complement targeting therapies.
- To highlight advancements in complement cascade-targeting agents for C3G.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on C3 glomerulopathy treatments.
- Analysis of clinical trial data for complement-targeting agents.
- Evaluation of pathogenetic mechanisms in C3G.
Main Results:
- Non-complement targeting therapies demonstrate limited efficacy in C3G.
- Emerging complement-targeting agents are under investigation.
- Disease-specific therapies are being developed to address the complement cascade.
Conclusions:
- Targeting the complement cascade offers a promising therapeutic avenue for C3G.
- Future treatments for C3G will likely focus on complement pathway modulation.
- Understanding the pathogenesis is key to developing effective C3G therapies.
Abstract:
C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is diagnosed by kidney biopsy, with immunofluorescence showing isolated or dominant C3 staining, indicating hyperactivity of the alternative complement pathway as the key driver of glomerular injury. Therefore, the lesion is defined by its complement-mediated pathogenesis as much as its histological pattern. As a bevy of complement-targeting agents are moving through development and clinical trials, we review the evolution in treatment paradigms for C3G. Here we survey the limited efficacy of noncomplement targeting therapy before focusing on the work being done on targeting various components of the complement cascade in aiming to provide disease-specific therapy.
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