Functional analysis of a novel glomerular specific gene and its application in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

我们鉴定了R3 h-结构域类似物（R3 h）作为足细胞特异性转录物。为了了解R3 h在体内的功能，建立了R3 h基因敲除小鼠。光学显微镜分析显示，R3 h敲除小鼠没有可观察到的肾小球发育缺陷。然而，电子显微镜研究显示肾小球基底膜（GBM）增厚和足细胞足突消失。当通过注射链脲佐菌素诱导糖尿病时，R3 h缺失小鼠比野生型对照产生更多的白蛋白尿和肾功能下降。我们发现R3 h是一个新的足细胞特异性基因，可能在糖尿病肾小球疾病的发生发展中发挥作用。

We identified R3h-domain containing like (R3h) as a podocyte-specific transcripts. The R3h knockout mice were created in order to know the function of R3h in vivo. Light microscopic analysis revealed that the R3h null mice had no observable glomerular developmental defects. However, an electron microscopic study revealed thickening of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and effacement of the podocyte foot processes. When they are induced diabetes by the injection of streptozotocin, R3h null mice produced more albuminuria and decreased renal functions than the wild type controls. We identified R3h as a novel podocyte's specific gene which might have a role in the development of diabetic glomerular disease.