FSGS: A novel finding

FSGS has been the most researched glomerular disease from a basic science perspective. A recent urge in studying micro RNAs has led to some interesting new findings re glomerular diseases. A recent Nature paper discuses microRNA-miR-193a as a potentially inducing FSGS with extensive podocyte foot process effacement. This was elegantly done using transgenic mice of this expression of miRNA.

There has been data on wilm's tumor protein(WT-1) being central in podocyte integrity. It allows for differentiation of podocyte and classically this has been studied most in collapsing variant of FSGS where the podocytes are presumed to be dedifferentiated and loose that WT-1 marker. miR-193a inhibits the expression (WT1). Decreased expression levels of WT1 lead to downregulation of its target genes podocalyxin and nephrin leading to podocyte damage. The current study compared individuals with FSGS and normal kidneys and this expression of micro RNA. 

Check out the full study at Nature.