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Heparanase: another renal player controlled by vitamin D
Author(s) -
Masola Valentina,
Zaza Gianluigi,
Onisto Maurizio,
Gambaro Giovanni
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.4639
Subject(s) - heparanase , vitamin d and neurology , medicine , chemistry , heparin , heparan sulfate
Abstract Vitamin D deficiency is inevitable in chronic kidney diseases. Clinical and experimental therapies with vitamin D supplements or analogues have demonstrated nephroprotective effects, which vitamin D exerts partly by controlling the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, but also by modulating other signalling pathways. In recent work published in the Journal of Pathology , Garsen and colleagues identified heparanase as a novel target of vitamin D and its antiproteinuric activity. Heparanase is an endoglycosidase with a role in remodelling the extracellular matrix through its ability to degrade heparan sulphate, and is involved in the pathogenesis of several proteinuric and fibrotic renal diseases. The new evidence that vitamin D inhibits heparanase expression sets the stage for a better understanding of the vitamin's kidney‐protecting effects and its possible application to proteinuric and non‐proteinuric chronic kidney diseases. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.