Autocrine and paracrine effects of a novel podocyte gene, RARRES1

Retinoic acid receptor responder protein 1 (RARRES1) has been identified as a novel gene for the regulation of podocyte function, and its expression is increased in glomerular disease and associated with disease progression. Increased expression of RARRES1 in podocytes leads to apoptosis through an autocrine effect. Moller-Hackbarth et al. recently found that RARRES1 expression is increased in the endothelial cells in some diseased kidneys to promote podocyte injury, likely through a paracrine effect.