Nephrin is a protein necessary for the proper functioning of the renal filtration barrier. The renal filtration barrier consists of fenestrated endothelial cells, the glomerular basement membrane, and the podocytes of epithelial cells. Nephrin is a transmembrane protein that is a structural component of the slit diaphragm.[1] They are present on the tips of the podocytes and maintain the normal relationship between the basement membrane and the podocytes of the epithelial cells.
A defect in the gene for nephrin, NPHS1, is associated with congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type and causes massive amounts of protein to be leaked into the urine, or proteinuria. Nephrin is also required for cardiovascular development.[2]
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Aya K, Tanaka H, Seino Y (2000). "Novel mutation in the nephrin gene of a Japanese patient with congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type". Kidney Int. 57 (2): 401–4. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1755.2000.00859.x. PMID10652016.
Li C, Ruotsalainen V, Tryggvason K, Shaw AS, Miner JH (2000). "CD2AP is expressed with nephrin in developing podocytes and is found widely in mature kidney and elsewhere". Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 279 (4): F785–92. PMID10997929.
Huber TB, Kottgen M, Schilling B, Walz G, Benzing T (2001). "Interaction with podocin facilitates nephrin signaling". J. Biol. Chem. 276 (45): 41543–6. doi:10.1074/jbc.C100452200. PMID11562357.
Palmén T, Ahola H, Palgi J, Aaltonen P, Luimula P, Wang S, Jaakkola I, Knip M, Otonkoski T, Holthöfer H (2002). "Nephrin is expressed in the pancreatic beta cells". Diabetologia. 44 (10): 1274–80. doi:10.1007/s001250100641. PMID11692176.
Koziell A, Grech V, Hussain S, Lee G, Lenkkeri U, Tryggvason K, Scambler P (2002). "Genotype/phenotype correlations of NPHS1 and NPHS2 mutations in nephrotic syndrome advocate a functional inter-relationship in glomerular filtration". Hum. Mol. Genet. 11 (4): 379–88. doi:10.1093/hmg/11.4.379. PMID11854170.
Yan K, Khoshnoodi J, Ruotsalainen V, Tryggvason K (2002). "N-linked glycosylation is critical for the plasma membrane localization of nephrin". J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 13 (5): 1385–9. doi:10.1097/01.ASN.0000013297.11876.5B. PMID11961028.
Shimizu J, Tanaka H, Aya K, Ito S, Sado Y, Seino Y (2002). "A missense mutation in the nephrin gene impairs membrane targeting". Am. J. Kidney Dis. 40 (4): 697–703. doi:10.1053/ajkd.2002.35676. PMID12324903.
Kim BK, Hong HK, Kim JH, Lee HS (2002). "Differential expression of nephrin in acquired human proteinuric diseases". Am. J. Kidney Dis. 40 (5): 964–73. doi:10.1053/ajkd.2002.36328. PMID12407641.
Langham RG, Kelly DJ, Cox AJ, Thomson NM, Holthöfer H, Zaoui P, Pinel N, Cordonnier DJ, Gilbert RE (2003). "Proteinuria and the expression of the podocyte slit diaphragm protein, nephrin, in diabetic nephropathy: effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition". Diabetologia. 45 (11): 1572–6. doi:10.1007/s00125-002-0946-y. PMID12436341.
Gigante M, Monno F, Roberto R, Laforgia N, Assael MB, Livolti S, Caringella A, La Manna A, Masella L, Iolascon A (2003). "Congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type in Italy: a molecular approach". J. Nephrol. 15 (6): 696–702. PMID12495287.
Pettersson-Fernholm K, Forsblom C, Perola M, Groop PH (2003). "Polymorphisms in the nephrin gene and diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetic patients". Kidney Int. 63 (4): 1205–10. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1755.2003.00855.x. PMID12631336.
Kapodistria K, Tsilibary EP, Politis P, Moustardas P, Charonis A, Kitsiou P (2015). "Nephrin, a transmembrane protein, is involved in pancreatic beta-cell survival signaling". Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 400: 112–28. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2014.11.003. PMID25448064.