EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX AND ITS INTERACTIONS IN THE DIABETIC KIDNEY - A MOLECULAR BIOLOGICAL APPROACH

Increased extracellular matrix (ECM) is the ultrastructural hallmark o f diabetic microangiopathy. Its accumulation within the kidney is dire ctly linked to the clinical manifestations of diabetic nephropathy, na mely proteinuria and declining renal function. The pathogenesis of ECM changes in diabetes is not well understood, but is likely to involve interaction between cells, growth factors, structural proteins, and ce ll receptors for these molecules. Molecular biological techniques may offer the necessary tools for gaining insight into the pathogenetic pr ocesses that eventually lead to renal failure in diabetes.