Glomerular development--shaping the multi-cellular filtration unit.

ABSTRACT

The glomerulus represents a highly structured filtration unit, composed of glomerular endothelial cells, mesangial cells, podocytes and parietal epithelial cells. During glomerulogenesis an intricate network of signaling pathways involving transcription factors, secreted factors and cell-cell communication is required to guarantee accurate evolvement of a functional, complex 3-dimensional glomerular architecture. Here, we want to provide an overview on the critical steps and relevant signaling cascades of glomerular development.