Receptor protein appears to be key in breakdown of kidney filtration

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have identified a new molecular pathway that appears to be involved in urinary protein loss (proteinuria). This early-stage kidney disease affects 100 million people around the world and is caused by a breakdown in the kidney’s filtering structures. Blocking this pathway could be a treatment for the condition and might significantly slow the process of kidney failure. The research team’s findings will appear in Nature Medicine and have been released online.