Abstract
The kidney is a complex organ populated by a variety of unique, specialized cells that function in a coordinated fashion to maintain homeostasis in the body. Diseases affecting the kidney are numerous, and their clinical manifestations are dependent on specific cellular, molecular, and immunological abnormalities. Current research has revealed much about the molecular pathology underlying diabetic nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, IgA nephropathy, acute tubular necrosis/acute kidney injury, and interstitial nephritis, among many others. The final common pathway of all progressive kidney diseases leading to renal failure is tubulointerstitial fibrosis, characterized by the replacement of normal kidney with scar tissue. Inflammation, myofibroblast activation, matrix accumulation, and tubular and vascular atrophy and dysfunction are all involved in this fibrotic response. This chapter correlates common clinical symptoms and histopathologic findings with our current molecular understanding of kidney disease.
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