About this Research Topic
The complex mechanism by which kidneys fail and progress to end stage disease (ESRD) involves renal hemodynamics, glomerular function, and tubular function. A progressive decline in glomerular filtration (GFR) to ESRD is the final outcome of progressive renal disease. All types of glomerular cells contribute to the progression of glomerular injury and renal disease. Glomerular cell types include; podocytes that maintain the filtration barrier, mesangial cells that have contractile properties, parietal epithelial cells that serve as podocyte progenitors and glomerular endothelial cells that respond to changes in shear stress and plasma constituents. The contribution for these glomerular cells and cell interactions to glomerular diseases is an area of intense investigation.
Glomerular diseases are common and include minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, and lupus nephritis. Inflammation and immune system activation are a common underlying mechanism to glomerular diseases. Different glomerular cell types are in close proximity, interdependent functions, and interactions that become dysfunctional in response to inflammatory glomerular diseases.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to cover the impact of inflammation to glomerular cell types resulting in progressive decline in GFR to ESRD. Research publications will span cell signaling, animal studies, disease pathology studies, renal hemodynamics, and glomerular filtration. The Research Topic will have broad interest since glomerular disease occurs in diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.
Topic Editor John D Imig is a Co-founder of Diplos Therapeutics (Ann Arbor, MI) and Nephraegis (Milwaukee, WI). All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: glomerulus, inflammation, podocytes, mesangial cells, glomerular endothelial cells, glomerular parietal cells
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