整合素连接激酶在IgA肾病肾组织中的表达及其意义

目的探讨整合素连接激酶(ILK)在IgA肾病患者肾组织中的表达及其意义.方法采用间接免疫荧光双标记法检测不同病变程度IgA肾病患者肾组织ILK、纤维连接蛋白(Fn)和整合素(Integrin)的表达.结果在正常组肾组织,ILK主要表达于肾小球脏层上皮细胞.随着IgA肾病病变程度的加重,ILK的表达逐渐增强,Ⅳ级病变时,ILK的表达最强,正常组及IgA肾病Ⅰ-Ⅴ级的荧光强度分别为:11.67±4.82、12.39±7.71、19.50±7.79、26.26±9.27、35.83±7.01和15.40±5.80(P<0.01);Integrin的表达与ILK平行.Fn的表达随病变程度的加重进行性增强.双标记免疫荧光染色显示,Ⅰ-Ⅳ级,ILK与Fn的表达成正相关(r=0.85,P<0.01);ILK与Integrin的表达也呈正相关(r=0.89,P<0.01).结论 ILK可能通过介导Integrin参与IgA肾病的异常细胞外基质的沉积,尤其在IgA肾病早中期起着重要作用.     

原位杂交检测组织金属蛋白酶抑制因子-1mRNA在IgA肾病肾脏中的表达

为探讨组织蛋白酶抑制因子在 Ig A肾病肾小球硬化中的作用 ,本文用原位杂交法研究组织金属蛋白酶抑制因子 -1(TIMP- 1) m RNA在 3种类型 Ig A肾病 (轻度系膜增生型、中度系膜增生型及局灶型 )肾组织中的表达。结果表明 :TIMP-1m RNA原位杂交的阳性信号主要分布于部分肾小管上皮细胞内。在肾小球系膜细胞也可检测到 TIMP- 1m RNA阳性信号 ,但较肾小管弱。中度系膜增生型的 TIMP- 1m RNA阳性信号明显地较其他两型 Ig A肾病为强。以上结果表明 :由肾小管上皮细胞及系膜细胞合成的 TIMP- 1通过抑制基质金属蛋白酶的活性 ,可导致细胞外基质 (ECM)在肾小管间质及肾小球内过度沉积 ,从而对肾小球硬化有促进作用。     

原位杂交检测组织金属蛋白酶抑制因子—1 mRNA在IgA肾病肾脏中的表达

为探讨组织蛋白酶抑制因子在IgA肾病肾小球硬化中的作用。本文用原位杂交法研究组织金属蛋白酶抑制因子－1（TIMP－1）mRNA在3种类型IgA肾病（轻度系膜增生型、中度系膜增生型及局灶型）肾组织中的表达。结果表明：TIMP－1 mRNA原位杂匀的阳性信号主要分布于部分肾小管上皮细胞内。在肾小球系膜细胞也可检测到TIMP－1 mRNA阳性信号,但较肾小管弱,中度系膜增生型的TIMP－1 mRNA阳笥信号明显地较其他两型IgA肾病为强。以上结果表明：由肾小管上皮细胞及系膜细胞合成的TIMP－1通过抑制基质金属酶的活性,可导致细胞外基质（ECM）在肾小管间质及肾小球内过度沉积,从而对肾小球硬化有促进作用。     

实验性糖尿病大鼠肾组织内皮素-1的变化及意义

目的:测定实验性糖尿病大鼠肾组织中内皮素-1(ET-1)的含量,探讨其在糖尿病肾病(DN)发生发展中的作用.方法:应用链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导糖尿病(DM)大鼠,分别在成模后2周、4周、12周时处死,应用免疫组织化学法、放免法测定肾组织中ET-1含量.结果:糖尿病大鼠2周、4周、12周时,血糖、内生肌酐清除率、24 h尿蛋白量、肾重/体重比均明显高于正常对照组大鼠(P＜0.01).ET-1主要分布于肾小球内皮细胞、系膜细胞、血管平滑肌细胞及肾小管上皮细胞中,髓质高于皮质.糖尿病大鼠2周时肾组织中ET-1含量明显低于正常对照组大鼠(P＜0.01),并与内生肌酐清除率呈负相关(r:0.75,P＜0.05);而4周、12周时糖尿病大鼠肾组织中ET-1含量明显升高,并高于正常对照组大鼠(P＜0.01).结论:ET-1参与早期实验性糖尿病大鼠肾小球高灌注及肾小管间质损伤;糖尿病晚期时,可能参与肾小球硬化机制.     

Synaptopodin在肾小球病变中的表达研究

目的研究synaptopodin在肾小球病变中的表达变化,诣在探讨足细胞损伤在肾小球疾病进展过程中的作用.方法应用免疫组织化学方法检测synaptopodin在微小病变肾病(MCD)、系膜增殖性肾炎(MsPGN)、IgA肾病(IgAN)、局灶节段性肾小球硬化症(FSGS)中的表达,并对其表达进行定量分析.结果 synaptopodin沿肾小球毛细血管袢呈颗粒状、线状表达,在硬化区无表达.图像分析显示synaptopodin表达从正常人、MCD、IgAN、MsPGN到FSGS依次下降(P<0.01).结论 synaptopodin的变化影响足细胞的结构和功能,进而对肾小球疾病的进展发挥重要作用.     

过敏毒素受体(C3aR)在db/db糖尿病肾病小鼠肾脏中的表达及病理意义分析

利用半定量RT-PCR、免疫组化和Western blotting的方法,同时从mRNA水平和蛋白质水平对过敏毒素受体(C3aR)在不同病理阶段的2型糖尿病肾病模型小鼠——db/db小鼠肾脏中的表达情况进行了较为系统的分析．结果发现：a．在糖尿病前的db/db小鼠(4周龄的db/db小鼠),C3aR与作为正常对照的db/m小鼠相比没有明显差异．随着肥胖的加剧,高血糖、蛋白尿的发生和发展,C3aR在db/db小鼠肾脏中的表达显著升高．b．免疫组化分析显示,C3aR广泛地表达于db/m和db/db小鼠肾脏的皮质和髓质,分布于肾脏的上皮细胞中(包括肾小管上皮细胞、肾小球中的脏层上皮细胞(足细胞)和壁层上皮细胞)．从部位来看,皮髓交界处的肾小管中C3aR表达量明显要比其他部位的多．在肾小球,C3aR特异地存在于足细胞部位．在db/m小鼠,不同周龄小鼠肾脏中C3aR的表达量并没有明显变化,但在db/db小鼠,从8周龄开始,分布在db/db小鼠肾小管上皮细胞和小球足细胞中的C3aR均随小鼠周龄的增加而增加,至少在时间上,与小鼠糖尿病肾病的发生发展相关,其中尤以足细胞中和皮髓交界处肾小管上皮细胞中的变化最为明显． c．在糖尿病肾病小鼠中高表达C3aR的肾小管上皮细胞常有空泡变性的情况．上述工作印证了先前对2型糖尿病肾病患者肾小球基因表达谱的分析结果,更加明确了C3aR与糖尿病肾病的相关性,同时揭示了C3aR在正常小鼠和糖尿病肾病小鼠肾脏中的表达、分布和变化规律,有利于进一步揭示C3aR的功能及其在糖尿病肾病发生、发展过程中的可能作用,探讨糖尿病肾病的分子机制．     

长链非编码RNA 1500026H17Rik对高糖培养的肾小球系膜细胞增殖的影响

为了探讨长链非编码RNA 1500026H17Rik对小鼠肾小球系膜细胞增殖的影响,采用qRT-PCR(quantitative Real-time PCR)检测1500026H17Rik在糖尿病肾病小鼠肾脏组织及在高糖和低糖条件下培养的肾小球系膜细胞中的表达水平;扩增小鼠1500026H17Rik的全长序列,将其克隆到pcDNA3.1(+)载体上,构建pcDNA3.1(+)-1500026H17Rik过表达质粒,并设计合成si RNA;将1500026H17Rik-si RNA和pcDNA(+)-1500026H17Rik过表达质粒分别转染至高糖或低糖培养的肾小球系膜细胞中,通过5-乙基-2′-脱氧尿嘧啶核苷(5-ethyny1-2′-doexyuridine,Ed U)检测肾小球系膜细胞的增殖能力。结果表明,在糖尿病肾病小鼠肾脏组织和高糖培养的系膜细胞中1500026H17Rik表达水平显著提高。在低糖培养的系膜细胞中转染pcDNA3.1(+)-1500026H17Rik过表达质粒后与低糖培养的系膜细胞或空质粒转染对照组相比,低糖1500026H17Rik过表达的肾小球系膜细胞的增殖能力明显提高。同时,将通过qRT-PCR筛选出的一条敲低效率最佳的1500026H17Rik-si RNA转染至高糖培养的系膜细胞后,与高糖培养的系膜细胞或si RNA转染对照组相比,1500026H17Rik敲低的肾小球系膜细胞的增殖能力明显减弱。lnc RNA-1500026H17Rik在糖尿病肾病小鼠肾脏组织中呈高表达,且影响高低糖培养的肾小球系膜增殖,提示1500026H17Rik可能参与了糖尿病肾病的发生。     

转化生长因子-β蛋白及mRNA基因在人类系膜增生性肾小球肾炎中的表达

目的：探讨转化生长因子－β（TGF－β）蛋白及mRNA基因在系膜增生性肾小球肾炎中的表达及其在发病中的作用。方法：采用常规病理,免疫组织化学及原位杂交方法对人系膜增生性肾小球肾炎组织进行染色,并经医学图像分析系统进行分析,结果：在正常对照组,TGF－β蛋白及TGF－β1mRNA小肾小管上皮细胞呈极弱表达,肾小球内TGF－β蛋白及mRNA未见阳性表达,在系膜增生肾小球肾炎组织中,TGF－β蛋白在肾近曲小管上皮细胞胞浆内呈强阳性表达,肾小球球囊壁及系膜区呈阳性,肾小球与肾小管阳性表达与正常对照组相比均具有显性差异（P＜0．01）,TGF－β1mRNA阳性表达位于肾近曲小管上皮细胞胞浆内和肾小球系膜区,肾小球和肾小管上皮细胞TGF－β1mRNA阳性表达与正常对照组相比差异也有显性（P＜0．01）。结论：系膜增生性肾小球炎时TGF－β蛋白及TGF－β1mRNARNA阳性表达与正常对照组相比差异也有显性（P＜0．01）。结论：系膜增生性肾小球肾炎时TGF－β蛋白及TGF－β1mRNA在肾小球与肾小管表达均显增高,进一步显示TGF－β在肾小球系膜细胞增生及肾小管间质纤维化中所起的重要作用。     

阿霉素肾病大鼠表皮生长因子及其受体的表达

目的研究阿霉素肾病大鼠肾组织中表皮生长因子(EGF)及其受体EGFR的表达分布以及表达量与尿蛋白之间关系。方法选择第5天、14天、28天作为动态观察的时点,同期设立正常对照。采用荧光定量RT-PCR、免疫组织化学及计算机图像定量分析EGF mRNA以及EGF、EGFR蛋白在肾组织的表达,同时测定24 h尿蛋白定量。WT1和EGFR双重免疫组化确定EGFR在肾小球内确切细胞定位。结果阿霉素注射后第5天,EGFmRNA即较正常增高,28 d明显增高并高于5 d和14 d。正常对照组EGF阳性细胞主要分布于远曲小管和髓袢,阿霉素组EGF还在集合管和近曲小管上表达;EGF阳性表达范围和强度随尿蛋白增加而增加;EGFmRNA表达量以及EGF在肾小管中的表达强度与24 h尿蛋白量呈正相关。肾小管上皮细胞广泛表达EGFR,阿霉素组EGFR在小管表达均高于正常,但组间各时点差异无显著性;随尿蛋白增加EGFR在肾小球内表达逐渐增多。EGFR在肾小球和肾小管中的表达强度均与24 h尿蛋白量呈正相关。WT1和EGFR双重免疫组化显示阿霉素肾病组EGFR可在足突细胞上表达,正常组则无。结论阿霉素肾病大鼠的肾小球脏层上皮有EGFR的表达。EGF/EGFR可能参与了阿霉素肾病的发病过程以及蛋白尿的形成。     

HMGB1在狼疮性肾炎肾小球细胞外基质沉积中的作用及其可能机制

狼疮性肾炎(lupus nephritis,LN)的病理改变多种多样,硬化性肾小球肾炎是多数LN患者的终末阶段,因此,该研究探讨了肾小球硬化的原因及机制。该研究通过免疫组化技术检测发现,与癌旁远端正常组织相比,LN肾组织晚期糖基化终产物受体(receptor for advanced glycation end products,RAGE)与IV型胶原蛋白(collagen IV,Col IV)的表达水平均明显上调且二者呈明显正相关;ELISA技术检测结果发现,甘草酸及Box A均可抑制由狼疮性肾炎患者置换血浆所诱导的人系膜细胞培养上清中FN蛋白表达的上调;Western blot及IP检测显示,高迁移率组蛋白B1(high mobility group box 1,HMGB1)可与HMC表面的RAGE结合并上调其表达水平。综上所述,研究者推测,HMGB1可能先与系膜细胞表面的RAGE结合,继而诱导系膜细胞细胞外基质沉积,从而参与LN肾损伤的发生。     

Small proteoglycans in human diabetic nephropathy: discrepancy between glomerular expression and protein accumulation of decorin, biglycan, lumican, and fibromodulin.

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs), for example, decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin, and lumican, are extracellular matrix organizers and binding partners of TGF-b. Decorin is also involved in growth control and angiogenesis. Hence, these proteoglycans are likely of importance in the pathogenesis of diabetic glomerulosclerosis. In normal kidney, SLRPs were preferentially expressed in the tubulointerstitium. Weak expression occurred in the mesangial matrix. Biglycan was expressed by glomerular endothelial cells and, together with fibromodulin, by distal tubular cells and in collecting ducts. In all stages of diabetic nephropathy, there was a marked up-regulation of the proteoglycans in tubulointerstitium and glomeruli. Decorin and lumican became expressed in tubuli. However, in glomeruli, overexpression was not mirrored by local proteoglycan accumulation except in advanced nephropathy. In severe glomerulosclerosis, increased decorin concentrations were found in plasma and urine, and urinary TGF-b/decorin complexes could be demonstrated indirectly. The failure to detect an increased glomerular proteoglycan quantity during the development of nephropathy could be explained by assuming that they are secreted into the mesangial matrix, but cleared via the vasculature or the urinary tract, in part as complexes with TGF-b. They could thereby counteract the vicious circle being characterized by increased TGF-b production and increased matrix deposition in diabetic nephropathy.     

Advances in pathogenetic mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy.

The diabetic epidemic that is being experienced around the world has many ramifications. Since diabetes is the most common cause of end stage renal disease in the United States and the Western world, we can expect the increase in prevalence to continue. Minority individuals with diabetes suffer a disproportionately high incidence of diabetic nephropathy leading to end stage renal disease. The data suggest that aggressive medical management should be their mainstay of therapy. In the past five years, our knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the pathology of diabetic glomerulosclerosis has greatly expanded. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta still maintains a key role in the pathogenesis. However, many of the signaling mechanisms have now been described. Furthermore, TGF-beta may also function to damage glomerular epithelial cells or podocytes, resulting in podocyteuria and proteinuria that worsen with progressive diabetic nephropathy. Additionally, TGF-beta upregulation in diabetes may cause injury or transformation of tubular epithelial cells that contribute to interstitial fibrosis. The use of thiazolidinediones in type 2 diabetes is associated with improvement in insulin sensitivity, as well as improvement in albuminuria. The mechanisms by which these ligands function remain unclear, but there may be several targets that could include mesangial cells and podocytes.     

Up-regulation of integrin-linked kinase activity in rat mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis

This study investigated whether integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) by analyzing the expression and activity of glomerular ILK in a chronic rat model of mesangioproliferative GN. Double immunostaining of kidneys obtained at different time points with glomerular cell-specific markers revealed that ILK was primarily expressed by glomerular epithelial cells, and weakly by mesangial cells (MCs) and endothelial cells in control rats, but dramatically increased in a typical mesangial pattern at days 21 and 28 of GN. Semiquantitative assessment indicated that the level of glomerular ILK expression closely parallels the level of accumulation of glomerular extracellular matrix (ECM) as well as fibronectin (FN). Immunoprecipitation and kinase activity assays using isolated nephritic glomeruli indicated a striking increase of ILK activity on days 21 and 28 of GN. Further, cultured rat MCs overexpressing kinase-deficient ILK diminished FN assembly and collagen matrix remodeling as compared with control transfectants. The results showed that glomerular ILK expression and activity are markedly increased in an experimental model of chronic GN. Increased activity of ILK in MCs may contribute to the development of chronic mesangial alterations leading to glomerular scarring.     

Distribution of alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 integrins and the integrin associated protein--IAP (CD47) in human glomerular diseases

The alphav integrins present on the membrane of numerous cells, mediate attachment to matrix proteins, cell proliferation, migration and survival. We studied the expression of alphav integrinis and CD47 (a beta3 chain integrin associated protein) in various forms of glomerulonephritis (GN) characterized by mesangial proliferation and/or increased mesangial matrix. In normal glomeruli, epithelial cells expressed alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 and CD47; endothelial cells expressed alpha5beta1 and CD47; mesangial cells expressed alphavbeta5, CD47, and to a less extent alphavbeta3. In acute post infectious GN (APIGN), membrano-proliferative GN (MPGN) and diabetic nephropathy(DN), we observed that the beta3 chain, normally expressed by mesangial cells, was not detectable in the mesangium while its expression by epithelial cells was not modified. Parallel to the disappearance of alphavbeta3, the CD47 expression was decreased on the mesangial cells in MPGN, APIGN and DN. The expression of alphavbeta5 was clearly increased on podocytes and on proliferating mesangial cells in APIGN. By contrast, the mesangial expression of alphavbeta was normal or decreased in DN. The alpha5 chain of integrin, absent on normal mesangial cell, was expressed on proliferating mesangial cells in MPGN and APIGN. Thus, we observed modifications of alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 expression during human GN. The modulations of alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 expression differed according to the different glomerular cell types and were not parallel in glomerular cells: alphavbeta3 was decreased (and alphavbeta5 unchanged) on proliferating mesangial cells and alphavbeta5 was increased (and alphavbeta3 unchanged) in podocytes. This may reflect the existence of two distinct regulatory pathways.     

Distribution of αvβT3, αvβTB5 Integrins and the Integrin Associated Protein — IAP (CD47) in Human Glomerular Diseases

The av integrins present on the membrane of numerous cells, mediate attachment to matrix proteins, cell proliferation, migration and survival. We studied the expression of av integrins and CD47 (a 03 chain integrin associated protein) in various forms of glomerulonephritis (GN) characterized by mesangial proliferation and/or increased mesangial matrix. In normal glomeruli, epithelial cells expressed αvβT3, αvβT5 and CD47; endothelial cells expressed α5βT1 and CD47; mesangial cells expressed αvβT5, CD47, and to a less extent αvβT3. In acute post infectious GN (APIGN), membranoproliferative GN (MPGN) and diabetic nephropathy (DN), we observed that the βT3 chain, normally expressed by mesangial cells, was not detectable in the mesangium while its expression by epithelial cells was not modified. Parallel to the disappearance of αvβT3, the CD47 expression was decreased on the mesangial cells in MPGN, APIGN and DN. The expression of αvβT5 was clearly increased on podocytes and on proliferating mesangial cells in APIGN. By contrast, the mesangial expression of αvβT5 normal or decreased in DN. The α5 chain of integrin, absent on normal mesangial cell, was expressed on proliferating mesangial cells in MPGN and APIGN.

Thus, we observed modifications of avp3 and avp5 expression during human GN. The modulations of αvβT3 and αvβT5 expression differed according to the different glomerular cell types and were not parallel in glomerular cells: avp3 was decreased (and αvβT5 unchanged) on proliferating mesangial cells and αvβT5 was increased (and αvβT3 unchanged) in podocytes. This may reflect the existence of two distinct regulatory pathways.     

NG2 proteoglycan increases mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix production

As a membrane-spanning protein, NG2 chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan interacts with molecules on both sides of plasma membrane. The present study explored the role of NG2 in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In the normal kidneys, NG2 was observed predominantly in glomerular mesangium, Bowman's capsule and interstitial vessels. Both mRNA and protein expression in kidneys was significantly higher in strepozotocin-induced diabetic rats than that in normal rats. In the cultured rat mesangial cell line HBZY-1, overexpression of NG2 promoted mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) production, such as type VI collagen and laminin. Furthermore, target knockdown of NG2 resulted in decreased cell proliferation and ECM formation. The observations suggest that NG2 is up-regulated in diabetic nephropathy. It actively participates in the development and progression of glomerulosclerosis by stimulating proliferation of mesangial cells and deposition of ECM.     

The renal expression of heat shock protein 47 and collagens in acute and chronic experimental diabetes in rats

Glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis are the main structural changes found in the later stages of diabetic nephropathy, which is clinically characterized by proteinuria, and progressive renal insufficiency. Heat shock protein (HSP) 47, a collagen-binding stress protein, has a specific role in the intracellular processing of procollagen molecules during collagen synthesis. It is implicated in the pathogenesis of various fibrotic diseases. However, the expression and significance of HSP47 in acute and chronic phases of diabetic nephropathy is not yet known. In this study, we studied the expression of HSP47 in the kidneys obtained from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, in both short- and long-term diabetes. To determine the renal expression of HSP47, and collagens (type III and IV) in acute (days 1, 3 and 14) and chronic (weeks 4, 12 and 24) diabetes, we have performed a time-course study using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The expression pattern of alpha-smooth muscle actin (to identify mesangial cell damage), vimentin (to identify tubular epithelial cell damage), and desmin (to identify glomerular epithelial cell damage) was also determined in kidneys of these diabetic rats. Antibodies specific for HSP47, type III and type IV collagens, alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and desmin were used to assess the relative expression of their proteins in paraffin-embedded kidney sections by immunohistochemistry. Compared to control rat kidneys, no significant changes in the expression of HSP47 was found in the kidneys of acute diabetic rats. However a significant increase in the expression of HSP47 was noted in the kidneys of chronic diabetic rats; increased expression of HSP47 correlated with an increased renal deposition of types III and IV collagens. Similarly, compared to kidneys of control and acute diabetic rats, an increased expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (in mesangial cells), vimentin (in tubular epithelial cells), and desmin (in glomerular epithelial cells) was detected in the kidneys of chronic diabetic rats; by dual immunostaining, these phenotypically-altered renal cells in kidneys of chronic diabetic rats were found to be HSP47-producing cells. Importantly, HSP47 up-regulation coincided with the initiation and progression of renal fibrosis, as determined by the expression and deposition of collagens. Our results strongly support a pathological role for HSP47 in the later stages (sclerotic phase) of streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy, which is associated with glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis.     

Expression of Focal Adhesion Proteins in the Developing Rat Kidney

Focal adhesions play a critical role as centers that transduce signals by cell-matrix interactions and regulate fundamental processes such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), paxillin, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), and hydrogen peroxide–inducible clone-5 (Hic-5) are major proteins that contribute to these events. In this study, we investigated the expression of focal adhesion proteins in the developing rat kidney. Western blotting analysis revealed that the protein levels of FAK, p-FAK³⁹⁷, paxillin, p-paxillin¹¹⁸, and Hic-5 were high in embryonic kidneys, while ILK expression persisted from the embryonic to the mature stage. Immunohistochemistry revealed that FAK, p-FAK³⁹⁷, paxillin, and p-paxillin¹¹⁸ were strongly expressed in condensed mesenchymal cells and the ureteric bud. They were detected in elongating tubules and immature glomerular cells in the nephrogenic zone. Hic-5 was predominantly expressed in mesenchymal cells as well as immature glomerular endothelial and mesangial cells, suggesting that Hic-5 might be involved in mesenchymal cell development. ILK expression was similar to that of FAK in the developmental stages. Interestingly, ILK was strongly expressed in podocytes in mature glomeruli. ILK might play a role in epithelial cell differentiation as well as kidney growth and morphogenesis. In conclusion, the temporospatially regulated expression of focal adhesion proteins during kidney development might play a role in morphogenesis and cell differentiation.