Foreseeing the future of glomerular disease through slits: miR-NPNT axis

Podocyte biology is an important key factor for the maintenance of glomerular function and structure. Nephronectin is a podocyte-derived extracellular matrix protein in the glomerular basement membrane. Suppression of nephronectin expression by microRNA-378a-3p significantly induced proteinuria due to loss of integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier in zebrafish and mice, demonstrating the relevance of the microRNA-nephronectin axis in regulation of the podocyte–glomerular basement membrane interaction and integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier.