Washington University, Department of Internal Medicine details research in apoptosis.

Investigators publish new data in the report 'Ablation of developing podocytes disrupts cellular interactions and nephrogenesis both inside and outside the glomerulus.' "Podocyte loss in adults leads to glomerulosclerosis. However, the impact of podocyte loss on glomerulogenesis and the development of the kidney as a whole has not been directly studied," researchers in the United States report (see also Apoptosis).

"Here, we used a podocyte-specific Cre transgene to direct the production of diphtheria toxin (DTA) inside podocytes during nephrogenesis. Affected podocytes underwent translational arrest and apoptosis, leading to oliguria, proteinuria, hematuria, …