Glomerular basement membrane

The glomerular basement membrane (GBR) is the basal laminal portion of the glomerulus. The Glomerular capillary endothelial cells, the GBR and the filtration slits between the podocytes perform the filtration function of the glomerulus, separating the blood in the capillaries from the filtrate that forms in Bowman's capsule. The GBR is a fusion of the endothelial cell and podocyte basal laminas.

Layers
The GBM contains three layers:

Pathology

 * Goodpasture's syndrome is also known as "anti-glomerular basement membrane disease". Capillaries become inflamed as a result of damage to the basement membrane by antibodies to type 4 collagen.


 * Nephrotic syndrome is a change in the structure of the glomerular filtration mechanism usually in the glomerular basement membrane. Some symptoms include proteinuria, hypoalbuminaemia, oedema, and hyperlipidemia.


 * Diabetic glomerulosclerosis is a thickening of the basement membrane, which can become up to 4-5 times thicker than normal. Can be caused by insulin deficiency or resultant hyperglycemia.