Abnormal lipid metabolism and renal disorders

Abnormal renal diseases including nephrotic syndrome and chronic renal failure are associated with hyperlipidemia, significance of abnormal lipid metabolism has been thought to be limited in some inherited renal diseases. However, recent studies have postulated that glomerulosclerosis is induced by hyperlipidemia and is in common with atherosclerosis. This involvement is found in the progressive renal disorders, e.g., focal glomerular sclerosis, diabetic nephropathy and glycogen storage disease. Interaction between macrophages and mesangial cells may play an important role in such conditions. This evidence is supported by experimental models with hyperlipidemia. On the other hand, discovery and new hereditary metabolic disorders, such as type III hyperlipoproteinemia and lipoprotein glomerulopathy, shows that apolipoprotein (apo) E abnormalities are responsible for the glomerular lesions. Especially, lipoprotein glomerulopathy has specific features different from those of lipid-induced renal diseases. In this disease, apo E Sendai which results from new substitution (Arginine 145-->Proline) may induce intraglomerular lipoprotein thrombi characteristic of lipoprotein glomerulopathy.