[Advances in research on gene and cell therapy for type IV collagen related hereditary kidney diseases].

Type IV collagen is a component of the extracellular matrix in the basement membrane. Abnormal secretion or assembly of type IV collagen may lead to kidney lesions resulting in numerous nephropathy symptoms, e.g., Alport syndrome, thin basement membrane nephropathy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Treatment for type IV collagen-related nephropathy includes drugs, kidney transplantation, gene and cell therapy. However, drugs are not always effective, and kidney transplantation is hindered by the shortage of donors. Moreover, basement membrane nephritis often occurs after kidney transplantation. Therefore, gene and cell therapy probably is the most promising treatment for type IV collagen related nephropathies.