Altering glomerular epithelial function in vitro using transient and stable transfection

Damage of the glomerular filtration barrier leads to proteinuria and progre ssive renal failure. Several independent lines of research have implicated the glomerular epithelial cell (GEC) as a key player in initiation and prop agation of pathways leading to glomerulosclerosis. A growing number of mole cules activated in this process have been identified. To further define the ir cellular function, manipulation of these molecules using pharmacological or genetic approaches in tissue culture systems are required. In this stud y, strategies for altering GEC gene expression by transient and stable tran sfection of fluorescence labeled proteins will be presented and discussed. The insight gained through these and comparable systems should allow a deta iled dissection of the molecular pathways active in GEC function and failur e.