Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2025

Identification of the Source of Secreted Proteins in the Kidney by Brefeldin A Injection
Published on: November 10, 2021
Kidney immunology from pathophysiology to clinical translation
Christian Kurts1,2, Sibylle von Vietinghoff3, Christian F Krebs4,5,6
1Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany. ckurts@uni-bonn.de.
None:
Kidney diseases are widespread and represent a considerable medical, social and economic burden. However, there has been marked progress in understanding the immunological aspects of kidney disease. This includes the identification of distinct intrarenal immunological niches and characterization of kidney disease endotypes according to the underlying molecular immunopathology, as well as a better understanding of the pathological roles for T cells, mononuclear phagocytes and B cells and the renal elements they target. These insights have improved the diagnosis of kidney disease. Here, we discuss new developments in our understanding of kidney immunology, focusing on immune mechanisms of disease and their translational implications for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. We also describe the immune-mediated crosstalk between the kidney and other organs that influences kidney disease and extrarenal inflammation.
Related Concept Videos
Kidney Structure
Renal Corpuscle
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...
Internal Anatomy of the Kidney
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...
Nephrons
Filtration and Urine Formation
Drug Elimination by Renal Route: Glomerular Filtration

