3D morphological processes of slit diaphragm development and regeneration in podocytes

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K08521
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General anatomy (including histology/embryology)
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Ichimura Koichiro 順天堂大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10343485)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: ポドサイト / 足細胞 / 足突起消失 / ネフローゼ症候群 / FIB-SEM / 3D超微形態解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The slit diaphragms of podocytes function as a glomerular filtration barrier to prevent leakage of plasma proteins into the urine. The slit diaphragm is formed during podocyte development and disappears and regenerates during pathologic condition. These three morphological processes of the slit diaphragm alteration are only fragmentarily understood. In this study, we utilized volume electron microscopy (FIB/SEM tomography) to fully elucidate the 3D morphological processes of slit film formation, loss, and regeneration.

Free Research Field

解剖学、3D超微形態解析

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、これまで断片的にしか分かっていなかったスリット膜の形態変化を完全に解明できた。これらの成果は糸球体疾患の病態解明や診断を研究するうえで基礎的なデータとなる。さらに、FIB-SEMトモグラフィーによるポドサイト解析に関する詳細なプロトコル論文も数編出版でき、他のポドサイト研究者も本手法を活用できるようになった。