Physiological functions of ERM proteins in the glomerular foot process formation

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860693
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Kidney internal medicine
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: Hatano Ryo 立命館大学, 薬学部, 助教 (60521713)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): ASANO Shinji 立命館大学, 薬学部, 教授 (90167891)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 糸球体足細胞 / ERMタンパク質 / Rhoシグナル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Ezrin is the most abundantly expressed ERM (ezrin, radixin, moesin) protein in the glomerular podocytes, and is also reported to form multi-protein complex with several membrane proteins and other scaffold proteins whereas the physiological roles still remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the physiological importance of ezrin in the regulation of glomerular podocyte function by using ezrin knockdown mice. Ezrin deficient mice did not exhibit apparent glomerular dysfunction. However, loss of ezrin protected podocytes from drug-induced morphological changes in ezrin knockdown mice. Our results suggest that ezrin is involved in the regulation of cell motility in the glomerular podocytes.

Free Research Field

腎臓生理学