Path - Glomerular Structure and Mechanisms of Disease Flashcards
3 layers of Glomerulus?
Capillary to urinary space
- Fenestrated endothelium
- Glomerular basement membrane
- Pedicels (foot processes) on epithelium
Men or women have thicker glomerular basement membrane?
Men
glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease more common in men?
Anti-GBM disease
What % of capillary surface may correspond with fenestrations?
Up to 50%
Relationship between podocytes and foot processes (pedicels)?
Each adjacent pedicel belongs to a single podocyte. Therefore, there is an extensive network covering capillaries
3 layers of the basement membrane?
Endothelium (capillary space) to epithelium (urinary space)
- Lamina lucida (rara)
- Lamina densa
- Lamina rara externa
Thickest layer of GBM?
Lamina densa (double the thickness of lamina rara)
Minimal space between 2 pedicels = ?
Filtration slit
Slit pore diaphragm = ?
thin structure bridging the space between two pedicels
4 main slit pore diaphragm proteins?
Cadherin, FAT, Nephrin, Podocin
2 slit pore diaphragm proteins involved with binding adjacent pedicels?
Cadherin, FAT
2 main slit pore diaphragm proteins involved with filtration?
Nephrin, Podocin
Major component of the glomerular basement membrane?
Type IV collagen
4 major components of glomerular basement membrane?
(PELT) = Perlecan, Entactin, Laminin, & type IV collagen
Significant component of perlecan and function of this component?
Perlecan contains heparan sulfate, producing the main negative charge of the GBM. This negative charge prevents albumin (also negatively charged) from permeating through GBM.
Entactin binds what ion?
Calcium
Laminin is formed of how many different chains?
3
How many different alpha chains form Type IV collagen family? How many chains needed to form a collagen molecule? Conclusion based on these numbers?
6 numbered alpha chains. 3 needed to form a collagen molecule. Therefore, there is significant variability in the composition of individual molecules and basement membranes.
What is a “non-collagenous” domain?
Most of the alpha chains of type IV collagen are in the characteristic helical conformation; however, “non-collagenous” domain = non-helical globular domain
antibodies attack what in Goodpasture syndrome?
antibodies attack NC1 (non-collagenous 1) domain of the alpha3 chain of Type IV collagen, causing glomerulonephritis with hematuria AND pulmonary hemorrhage with hemoptysis.
2 main clinical findings leading to Goodpasture syndrome?
- Glomerulonephritis with hematuria
- Pulmonary hemorrhage with hemoptysis
Need both clinical findings to be considered Goodpasture syndrome
3 main functions of mesangial cells?
- Structural support to glomerulus
- Phagocytic properties
- Contractile properties
Describe phagocytic properties of mesangial cells?
Mesangial cells within the mesangial matrix will trap antibodies and Antigen-antibody complexes and eventually phagocytose them.
3 most common mechanisms of glomerular disease?
- Immune-mediated
- Metabolic
- Hemodynamic
Immune mediated glomerular disease are caused by?
- antibodies, 2. immune complexes
Immune complexes involved in glomerular diseases can be present in what 2 forms?
Can be 1) deposited from the circulation or 2)form in situ
In situ antibodies (related to immune complexes of glomerular diseases) can be against what 2 types of antigens?
Can be against 1) intrinsic (fixed) antigens in the glomerulus or 2) “planted” antigens originally found in the bloodstream
Mechanism of “planted” antigens
Antigens and antibodies are floating in circulation. Antigen gets to glomerulus 1st, then antibody gets there and recognizes “planted” antigen