Nuclear hormone receptors in podocytes
1 Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and the Comprehensive Cancer Center of CWRU, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
2 Rammelkamp Center for Education and Research and Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Cell & Bioscience 2012, 2:33 doi:10.1186/2045-3701-2-33Published: 20 September 2012
Nuclear receptors are a family of ligand-activated, DNA sequence-specific transcription factors that regulate various aspects of animal development, cell proliferation, differentiation, and homeostasis. The physiological roles of nuclear receptors and their ligands have been intensively studied in cancer and metabolic syndrome. However, their role in kidney diseases is still evolving, despite their ligands being used clinically to treat renal diseases for decades. This review will discuss the progress of our understanding of the role of nuclear receptors and their ligands in kidney physiology with emphasis on their roles in treating glomerular disorders and podocyte injury repair responses.