The complex interactions of glomerular and tubular epithelial cells with the basal laminae
play a critical role in renal function. Disruption of these interactions has been widely
implicated in glomerular diseases and acute renal failure. MDC are a large family of
membrane-bound proteins containing metalloprotease, disintegrin (integrin interaction
sites), and cysteine-rich domains. Little information is available concerning the presence of
MDC in the kidney or their role in renal pathophysiology. Using degenerate PCR primers for …