Albuminuria and tubular atrophy are among the highest risks for CKD progression to ESRD.
A parsimonious mechanism involves leakage of albumin-bound nonesterified fatty acids
(NEFAs) across the damaged glomerular filtration barrier and subsequent reabsorption by
the downstream proximal tubule, causing lipoapoptosis. We sought to identify the apical
proximal tubule transporter that mediates NEFA uptake and cytotoxicity. We observed
transporter-mediated uptake of fluorescently labeled NEFA in cultured proximal tubule cells …