Molecular cell biology of renal diseases

Molecular biology and cell biology of the kidney have seen remarkable devel opment in recent years. Three major cell lineages, endothelial, epithelial, and fibroblastic, can be traced in the kidney, with high degrees of functi onal specialization in the different nephron segments. Ischemic, toxic or i mmunological damage has varying impact on glomerular, tubular and interstit ial cell populations, often with a major contribution from infiltrating leu kocytes. Inflammatory, proliferative, repair and degenerative processes pre viously recognized and studied in renal biopsies are now interpreted at a m olecular level, with implications for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. A host of cellular mediators have been identified, allowing prel iminary testing of inhibitors, antagonists and novel pharmacological agents . Gene targeting and manipulation hold promise for the treatment of disorde rs until now believed to be relentlessly progressive, including new approac hes to renal allograft and xenograft.