Renal handling of Ca2+ in diabetes.

Ca2+ transport in kidney has gained considerable attention in the recent past. Our laboratory has been involved in understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying Ca2+ transport in the kidney across the renal basolateral membrane. We have shown that ANP, a cardiac hormone, mediates its biological functions by acting on its receptors in the kidney basolateral membrane. Furthermore, it has been established that ANP receptors are coupled with Ca2+ ATPase, the enzyme that participates in the vectorial translocation of Ca2+ from the tubular lumen to the plasma. It is possible that a defect in the ANP-receptor-effector system in diabetes (under certain conditions such as hypertension) may be associated with abnormal Ca2+ homeostasis and the development of nephropathy. Accordingly, future studies are needed to establish this hypothesis.