Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

From Nephron Number to Global Health.

Valerie A Luyckx1

  • 1University Children's Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; European Kidney Health Alliance, Brussels, Belgium.

Seminars in Nephrology
|March 3, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Engaging Nephrologists in 'Green Kidney' Conversations - A technology-driven endeavour.

Nephron·2026
Same author

Towards Implementation of Equitable and Effective Non-Communicable Disease Policies Comment on "Barriers and Opportunities for WHO 'Best Buys' Non-Communicable Disease Policy Adoption and Implementation From a Political Economy Perspective: A Complexity Systematic Review".

International journal of health policy and management·2026
Same author

Little kidneys on the global agenda: leveraging the WHO Kidney Health Resolution and World Kidney Day for children.

The Lancet. Child & adolescent health·2026
Same author

Little kidneys amid large global inequities.

Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany)·2026
Same author

Acute kidney injury due to diarrhoeal diseases in children: a systematic review.

BMJ paediatrics open·2026
Same author

From the field to the assembly hall: the history of the kidney health resolution.

Kidney international·2025
Same journal

Proposed Role for Quantitative Podocyturia as a Clinical Marker of Systemic Endothelial Injury: Implications for Cardiovascular Disease and Longevity.

Seminars in nephrology·2026
Same journal

Kidney Protection Options in 2025: Are Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors Still Needed?

Seminars in nephrology·2026
Same journal

Chronic Kidney Disease Progression Mechanisms: Why They Matter in an Era of Novel Kidney Protective Therapies.

Seminars in nephrology·2026
Same journal

Of Diuretics, Transporters, and Mechanisms of Hypertension.

Seminars in nephrology·2026
Same journal

The Role of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Kidney Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis.

Seminars in nephrology·2026
Same journal

Kidney Transplants From Marginal Donors: From Brenner's Abstract to Double Kidney Transplantation in Humans.

Seminars in nephrology·2026
See all related articles

Fewer nephrons at birth may increase lifelong kidney disease risk. Optimizing maternal and child health can support healthy fetal kidney development, potentially reducing the global burden of kidney disease.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Brenner's 1988 hypothesis links in utero nephron endowment to lifelong kidney disease risk.
  • Reduced nephron number is associated with decreased filtration, impaired sodium excretion, and limited injury compensation.
  • Clinical markers like preterm birth and low birth weight correlate with lower nephron counts and increased kidney disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the link between nephron number and lifelong kidney health.
  • To highlight the role of maternal health and social determinants in fetal kidney development.
  • To propose strategies for mitigating global kidney disease burden through early life interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of seminal work and current understanding of nephron development and kidney disease risk.
Keywords:
birth weightchronic kidney diseasedevelopmental programmingnephron numberpreterm birthsmall and vulnerable neonate

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of associations between birth circumstances (preterm birth, SGA, low birth weight) and nephron endowment.
  • Examination of the influence of maternal health and social determinants on fetal kidney development.

    • Main Results:

    • Fewer nephrons acquired in utero may predispose individuals to hypertension and kidney dysfunction.
    • Birth factors such as preterm birth and low birth weight are recognized markers for kidney disease risk.
    • Maternal health and social determinants significantly impact fetal kidney development and subsequent kidney health.

    Conclusions:

    • Optimizing maternal, fetal, and child health is crucial for preventing kidney disease.
    • Achieving sustainable development goals can mitigate the global kidney disease burden by promoting healthy fetal kidney development.
    • Recognizing the importance of nephron number can inform strategies for enhancing global kidney health.