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Tomas et  al. developed a mouse that expresses a chimeric human/murine phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) in podocytes. This chimeric receptor incorporates 3 key regions (fibronectin type II, cysteine rich, and C-type lectin domain-1) of human PLA2R1 with 7 murine domains. Although the mice are healthy at birth, if they are immunized with human PLA2R1, they develop antibodies to the receptor and subsequently nephrotic syndrome with typical membranous nephropathy (MN) histology. Using this model, the investigators determined that in the absence of complement component C3, PLA2R1-immunized chimeric mi ce developed an attenuated MN, suggesting that complement plays a role in the kidney injury that develops during MN.
Source: Kidney International - Category: Urology & Nephrology Tags: In This Issue Source Type: research