Glomerular diseases articles from across Nature Portfolio

Several new drug classes have been demonstrated to improve kidney outcomes in people with diabetes mellitus. Here, the authors examine the evidence for the efficacy and safety of combination treatment to reduce the progression of diabetic kidney disease.

ROCK2 activation in podocytes contributes to FSGS. Disrupting ROCK2 in podocytes protects against damage, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.

In this Review, the authors examine the biophysical and biomechanical properties that influence podocyte physiology as they integrate and adapt to stimuli from their dynamic environment within the glomerular capillaries. The authors also discuss how dysregulation and loss of biomechanical resilience in podocytes can contribute to kidney disease.

Mitochondrial Ndufs4, a subunit of complex I, is a regulator of the electron transport chain. Here, the authors show that forced expression of Ndufs4 in podocytes improves the assembly of respiratory supercomplexes, maintains cristae integrity, and mitigates the progression of diabetic kidney disease

In the kidney, maintaining permeability of the filtration barrier is critical. Here, Sachs W. et al show that homeostasis of podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells relies on differing proteasome constitutions which orchestrate endocytic activity in addition to protein degradation.

Several successfully completed clinical trials of novel therapies in glomerular disease were reported in 2023. Building on important mechanistic discoveries about disease onset and progression over the past several years, these therapies raise hope that multiple options will be available to reduce the risk of kidney failure in glomerular disease.