Epithelial cells are key components of the renal system and its physiology. Renal epithelial cells make up the outer layer of the tubules. Their physiological importance resides in their active role in vectorial transport of fluid and solutes which depends on the polarized expression of membrane solute transporters and channels at the apical and basolateral membranes of the epithelium.
Regulation of the magnitude of transport is under control of physiological stimuli through the interaction of transporters and channels with protein-trafficking complexes. Furthermore, renal epithelial cells have considerable bioenergetic needs because of their function to regulate fluid and solutes balance. Therefore, abnormalities in the regulation of subcellular distribution of membrane proteins and metabolic pathways supporting the cell bioenergetic needs may be contributing factors in generating disease states.
Conversely, renal epithelial cells play a crucial role to adequately respond to constant changes in the environment such as the occurrence of renal damage and repair in response to acute and chronic injury. Therapeutics that target the complete recovery of the epithelial function after injury have reno-protective potential.
This Research Topic welcomes basic, translational, clinical, and applied research that improves our understanding of the tubular epithelial cell mechanics in renal physiology. Potential areas of interest may include, but are not limited to:
- Transport and trafficking mechanisms in the renal epithelium.
- Renal epithelial cell derived exosomes.
- Role of renal epithelial cells in the immune-response.
- Renal epithelial cell senescence.
- Epithelial polarity in the kidney.
- Epithelial transport in polycystic kidney disease.
- Epithelial cell action in the development and progression of renal diseases.
- Therapeutics targeting renal epithelial cells and their function.
We welcome the submission of different article types to this collection, especially reviews, mini-reviews, and original research papers. For a complete list of article types that can be considered in the Renal and Epithelial Physiology section, please follow
this linkEven though abstract submission is not mandatory, we encourage all interested researchers to submit an abstract before submitting their manuscript. Abstracts do not have to coincide with the final abstract of the manuscripts.
