Mesangial cells and podocytes express integrins α1β1 and α2β1, which are the two major
collagen receptors that regulate multiple cellular functions, including extracellular matrix
homeostasis. Integrin α1β1 protects from glomerular injury by negatively regulating collagen
production, but the role of integrin α2β1 in renal injury is unclear. Here, we subjected wild-
type and integrin α2-null mice to injury with adriamycin or partial renal ablation. In both of
these models, integrin α2-null mice developed significantly less proteinuria and …