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Updated: May 8, 2026
Assessment of Kidney Function in Mouse Models of Glomerular Disease
Published on: June 30, 2018
Animal models of membranous nephropathy: more choices and higher similarity
1Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Abstract:
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune glomerular disease in which PLA2R1 is the main autoantibody. It has become the most common cause of adult nephrotic syndrome, and about one-third of patients can progress to end-stage kidney disease, but its pathogenesis is still unclear. Animal models can be used as suitable tools to study the pathogenesis and treatment of MN. The previous Heymann nephritis rat model and C-BSA animal model are widely used to study the pathogenesis of MN. However, the lack of target antigen expression in podocytes of model animals (especially rodents) restricts the application. In recent years, researchers constructed animal models of antigen-specific MN, such as THSD7A, PLA2R1, which more truly simulate the pathogenesis and pathological features of MN and provide more choices for the follow-up researchers. When selecting these MN models, we need to consider many aspects, including cost, difficulty of model preparation, labor force, and whether the final model can answer the research questions. This review is to comprehensively evaluate the mechanism, advantages and disadvantages and feasibility of existing animal models, and provide new reference for the pathogenesis and treatment of MN.
Insights
Membranous nephropathy (MN) research benefits from new antigen-specific animal models that better mimic human disease. This review evaluates existing models for studying MN pathogenesis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a leading cause of adult nephrotic syndrome, driven by autoantibodies like anti-PLA2R1.
- Its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood, hindering effective treatment development.
- A significant portion of patients progress to end-stage kidney disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review and evaluate existing animal models for membranous nephropathy (MN).
- To assess the mechanisms, advantages, disadvantages, and feasibility of various MN models.
- To provide references for future research on MN pathogenesis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on animal models for membranous nephropathy.
- Analysis of traditional models (Heymann nephritis, C-BSA) and newer antigen-specific models (e.g., THSD7A, PLA2R1).
- Evaluation based on cost, preparation difficulty, labor, and research question alignment.
Main Results:
- Traditional models have limitations, particularly the lack of specific podocyte antigen expression.
- Antigen-specific MN models more accurately simulate human disease pathogenesis and pathology.
- Model selection requires careful consideration of practical and scientific factors.
Conclusions:
- Antigen-specific animal models offer improved tools for studying membranous nephropathy.
- Evaluating model suitability is crucial for advancing research into MN pathogenesis and therapeutics.
- This review provides a framework for selecting appropriate MN models.
