Induction of C1q expression in glomerular endothelium in a rat model with arterial hypertension and albuminuria

Increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE) represents an independent cardiovascular risk factor in the general population and particularly in patients with diabetes or arterial hypertension. It has been suggested that increased UAE may be related to a generalized endothelial dysfunction. We set out to identify candidate genes for increased UAE by glomerular transcriptome analysis in the Munich Wistar Frömter (MWF) genetic rat model with spontaneous hypertension and albuminuria.