Actin up: regulation of podocyte structure and function by components of the actin cytoskeleton

Podocytes of the renal glomerulus are unique cells with a complex cellular organization consisting of a cell body, major processes and foot processes. Podocyte foot processes form a characteristic interdigitating pattern with foot processes of neighboring podocytes, leaving in between the filtration slits that are bridged by the glomerular slit diaphragm. The highly dynamic foot processes contain an actin-based contractile apparatus comparable to that of smooth muscle cells or pericytes. Mutations affecting several podocyte proteins lead to rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, disruption of the filtration barrier and subsequent renal disease. The fact that the dynamic regulation of the podocyte cytoskeleton is vital to kidney function has led to podocytes emerging as an excellent model system for studying actin cytoskeleton dynamics in a physiological context.     

Actin-associated Proteins in the Pathogenesis of Podocyte Injury

Podocytes have a complex cellular architecture with interdigitating processes maintained by a precise organization of actin filaments. The actin-based foot processes of podocytes and the interposed slit diaphragm form the final barrier to proteinuria. The function of podocytes is largely based on the maintenance of the normal foot process structure with actin cytoskeleton. Cytoskeletal dynamics play important roles during normal podocyte development, in maintenance of the healthy glomerular filtration barrier, and in the pathogenesis of glomerular diseases. In this review, we focused on recent findings on the mechanisms of organization and reorganization of these actin-related molecules in the pathogenesis of podocyte injury and potential therapeutics targeting the regulation of actin cytoskeleton in podocytopathies.     

Rho-family small GTPases are involved in forskolin-induced cell-cell contact formation of renal glomerular podocytes in vitro

Intercellular adhesions between renal glomerular epithelial cells (also called podocytes) are necessary for the proper function of the glomerular filtration barrier. Although our knowledge of the molecular composition of podocyte cell-cell contact sites has greatly progressed, the underlying molecular mechanism regulating the formation of these cell-cell contacts remains largely unknown. We have used forskolin, an activator of adenylyl cyclase that elevates the level of intracellular cAMP, to investigate the effect of cAMP and three Rho-family small GTPases (RhoA, Cdc42, and Rac1) on the regulation of cell-cell contact formation in a murine podocyte cell line. Transmission electron microscopy and the immunostaining of cell adhesion molecules and actin-associated proteins have revealed a structural change at the site of cell-cell contact following forskolin treatment. The activity of the Rho-family small GTPases before and after forskolin treatment has been evaluated with a glutathione-S-transferase pull-down assay. Forskolin reinforces the integrity of cell-cell contacts, resulting in the closure of an intercellular adhesion zipper, accompanied by a redistribution of cell adhesion molecules and actin-associated proteins in a continuous linear pattern at cell-cell contacts. The Rho-family small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 are activated during closure of the adhesion zipper, whereas RhoA is suppressed. Thus, cAMP promotes the assembly of cell-cell contacts between podocytes via a mechanism that probably involves Rho-family small GTPases. This study was supported in part by a grant-in-aid for scientific research from the Japanese Ministry for Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (to N. K., no. 14570015). S-Y.G. is a recipient of a grant awarded by the Japanese government to graduate students from foreign countries.     

The role of vasodilator‐stimulated phosphoprotein in podocyte functioning

Vasodilator‐stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) is a 39‐kDa protein belonging to the Ena/VASP protein family, which is involved in adhesion, migration, cell–cell interaction, and regulation of pathways connected with actin cytoskeleton remodeling. VASP is phosphorylated at Tyr39, Ser157, Ser239, Thr278, and Ser322 mainly by tyrosine kinase Abl, cAMP‐dependent protein kinase, protein kinase G, AMP‐activated protein kinase, and protein kinase D1, respectively. VASP phosphorylation, as a regulator of actin dynamics, may lead to impaired reorganization of the podocyte actin cytoskeleton not only by indirect interaction of VASP with actin but also by regulation of other signaling pathways. A few studies have shown that VASP participates in the development of renal diseases and mediates podocyte movement through its interaction with proteins of the slit diaphragm. VASP phosphorylation may cause reduced actin filament assembly in podocytes and mediate disturbances in regulation of filtration barrier permeability as a consequence of podocyte foot process effacement. In this paper, we describe the role of VASP in podocyte function, mainly in the context of actin dynamics and glomerular filtration barrier permeability. In addition, we discuss the involvement of VASP and its phosphorylated forms in the development of kidney diseases.     

Organization of the pronephric filtration apparatus in zebrafish requires Nephrin, Podocin and the FERM domain protein Mosaic eyes

Podocytes are specialized cells of the kidney that form the blood filtration barrier in the kidney glomerulus. The barrier function of podocytes depends upon the development of specialized cell-cell adhesion complexes called slit-diaphragms that form between podocyte foot processes surrounding glomerular blood vessels. Failure of the slit-diaphragm to form results in leakage of high molecular weight proteins into the blood filtrate and urine, a condition called proteinuria. In this work, we test whether the zebrafish pronephros can be used as an assay system for the development of glomerular function with the goal of identifying novel components of the slit-diaphragm. We first characterized the function of the zebrafish homolog of Nephrin, the disease gene associated with the congenital nephritic syndrome of the Finnish type, and Podocin, the gene mutated in autosomal recessive steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Zebrafish nephrin and podocin were specifically expressed in pronephric podocytes and required for the development of pronephric podocyte cell structure. Ultrastructurally, disruption of nephrin or podocin expression resulted in a loss of slit-diaphragms at 72 and 96 h post-fertilization and failure to form normal podocyte foot processes. We also find that expression of the band 4.1/FERM domain gene mosaic eyes in podocytes is required for proper formation of slit-diaphragm cell-cell junctions. A functional assay of glomerular filtration barrier revealed that absence of normal nephrin, podocin or mosaic eyes expression results in loss of glomerular filtration discrimination and aberrant passage of high molecular weight substances into the glomerular filtrate.     

Renal Lipotoxicity-Associated Inflammation and Insulin Resistance Affects Actin Cytoskeleton Organization in Podocytes

In the last few decades a change in lifestyle has led to an alarming increase in the prevalence of obesity and obesity-associated complications. Obese patients are at increased risk of developing hypertension, heart disease, insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and renal disease. The excess calories are stored as triglycerides in adipose tissue, but also may accumulate ectopically in other organs, including the kidney, which contributes to the damage through a toxic process named lipotoxicity. Recently, the evidence suggests that renal lipid accumulation leads to glomerular damage and, more specifically, produces dysfunction in podocytes, key cells that compose and maintain the glomerular filtration barrier. Our aim was to analyze the early mechanisms underlying the development of renal disease associated with the process of lipotoxicity in podocytes. Our results show that treatment of podocytes with palmitic acid produced intracellular accumulation of lipid droplets and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. This was accompanied by the development of inflammation, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress and insulin resistance. We found specific rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton and slit diaphragm proteins (Nephrin, P-Cadherin, Vimentin) associated with this insulin resistance in palmitic-treated podocytes. We conclude that lipotoxicity accelerates glomerular disease through lipid accumulation and inflammation. Moreover, saturated fatty acids specifically promote insulin resistance by disturbing the cytoarchitecture of podocytes. These data suggest that renal lipid metabolism and cytoskeleton rearrangements may serve as a target for specific therapies aimed at slowing the progression of podocyte failure during metabolic syndrome.     

Morphology and migration of podocytes are affected by CD151 levels

CD151, a member of the tetraspanin family of membrane proteins, is crucially involved in the formation of the glomerular filtration barrier in humans and mice. However, the role of CD151 in podocytes has not been investigated so far. In the present study, we utilized a conditionally immortalized mouse podocyte cell line to characterize CD151 in podocytes and to examine the consequences of manipulating CD151 expression levels. Mouse podocytes endogenously express CD151 as determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. GFP-CD151 fusion protein localized to the cell membrane, to cell protrusions and cell-cell contacts, colocalizing with actin, β(1)-integrin, zonula occludens-1, and CD9. The expression of GFP-CD151 in cultured podocytes resulted in a marked increase in the presence of thin arborized protrusions (TAPs). TAPs are distinct from filopodia by increased length, protein composition, branched morphology, and slower dynamics. Furthermore, the migration rate of pEGFP-CD151-transfected podocytes was reduced in a wound assay. Fluorescence recovery after photo bleaching measurements revealed a half-time of 3 s for GFP-CD151 consistent with a high mobility of CD151 in the membrane and cytosol. CD151 knockdown in podocytes reduced β(1)-integrin expression and podocyte cell area, indicating diminished adherence and/or spreading. Our results indicate that CD151 importantly modulates podocyte function.     

The Structural and Functional Organization of the Podocyte Filtration Slits Is Regulated by Tjp1/ZO-1

Blood filtration in the kidney glomerulus is essential for physiological homeostasis. The filtration apparatus of the kidney glomerulus is composed of three distinct components: the fenestrated endothelial cells, the glomerular basement membrane, and interdigitating foot processes of podocytes that form the slit diaphragm. Recent studies have demonstrated that podocytes play a crucial role in blood filtration and in the pathogenesis of proteinuria and glomerular sclerosis; however, the molecular mechanisms that organize the podocyte filtration barrier are not fully understood. In this study, we suggest that tight junction protein 1 (Tjp1 or ZO-1), which is encoded by Tjp1 gene, plays an essential role in establishing the podocyte filtration barrier. The podocyte-specific deletion of Tjp1 down-regulated the expression of podocyte membrane proteins, impaired the interdigitation of the foot processes and the formation of the slit diaphragm, resulting in glomerular dysfunction. We found the possibility that podocyte filtration barrier requires the integration of two independent units, the pre-existing epithelial junction components and the newly synthesized podocyte-specific components, at the final stage in glomerular morphogenesis, for which Tjp1 is indispensable. Together with previous findings that Tjp1 expression was decreased in glomerular diseases in human and animal models, our results indicate that the suppression of Tjp1 could directly aggravate glomerular disorders, highlights Tjp1 as a potential therapeutic target.     

Cofilin-1 Inactivation Leads to Proteinuria – Studies in Zebrafish,Mice and Humans

Background

Podocytes are highly specialized epithelial cells on the visceral side of the glomerulus. Their interdigitating primary and secondary foot processes contain an actin based contractile apparatus that can adjust to changes in the glomerular perfusion pressure. Thus, the dynamic regulation of actin bundles in the foot processes is critical for maintenance of a well functioning glomerular filtration barrier. Since the actin binding protein, cofilin-1, plays a significant role in the regulation of actin dynamics, we examined its role in podocytes to determine the impact of cofilin-1 dysfunction on glomerular filtration.

Methods and Findings

We evaluated zebrafish pronephros function by dextran clearance and structure by TEM in cofilin-1 morphant and mutant zebrafish and we found that cofilin-1 deficiency led to foot process effacement and proteinuria. In vitro studies in murine and human podocytes revealed that PMA stimulation induced activation of cofilin-1, whereas treatment with TGF-β resulted in cofilin-1 inactivation. Silencing of cofilin-1 led to an accumulation of F-actin fibers and significantly decreased podocyte migration ability. When we analyzed normal and diseased murine and human glomerular tissues to determine cofilin-1 localization and activity in podocytes, we found that in normal kidney tissues unphosphorylated, active cofilin-1 was distributed throughout the cell. However, in glomerular diseases that affect podocytes, cofilin-1 was inactivated by phosphorylation and observed in the nucleus.

Conclusions

Based on these in vitro and in vivo studies we concluded cofilin-1 is an essential regulator for actin filament recycling that is required for the dynamic nature of podocyte foot processes. Therefore, we describe a novel pathomechanism of proteinuria development.     

Insulin increases glomerular filtration barrier permeability through dimerization of protein kinase G type Iα subunits

The increase in the permeability of the glomerular barrier filtration to albumin is a well-known feature of diabetic microvasculature and a negative prognostic factor for vascular complications. However, the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. We demonstrated recently that superoxide anion generation increases dimerization of protein kinase G type Iα (PKGIα) subunits, leading to podocyte dysfunction. Here we investigated whether high insulin concentration is involved in PKGI-dependent hyperpermeability of the diabetic glomerular filtration barrier. We assessed changes in insulin-induced glomerular permeability by measuring glomerular capillary permeability to albumin in isolated glomeruli from Wistar and obese and lean Zucker rats and transmembrane albumin flux in cultured rat podocytes. Expression of PKGIα and upstream proteins was confirmed in the podocytes using Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Insulin (300 nM, 5 min) increased NAD(P)H-dependent glomerular albumin permeability in Wistar rats and PKGI-dependent transmembrane albumin flux in cultured podocytes. Podocyte exposure to insulin in non-reducing conditions increased PKGIα interprotein disulfide bond formation, altered the phosphorylation of the PKG target proteins MYPT1 and MLC, and disrupted the actin cytoskeleton. The role of NADPH oxidase (NOX) in insulin-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and insulin-evoked increases in albumin permeability in podocytes was confirmed with NOX2 and NOX4 siRNA. Glomerular albumin permeability was increased in hyperinsulinemic Zucker obese rats with isolated glomeruli showing increased expression of PKGIα and NOX4. Taken together, these data demonstrate that insulin increases glomerular barrier albumin permeability via a PKGI-dependent mechanism involving NAD(P)H-dependent generation of superoxide anion. These findings reveal a role for insulin in the pathophysiology of diabetic glomerular nephropathy.     

Neph-Nephrin proteins bind the Par3-Par6-atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) complex to regulate podocyte cell polarity

The kidney filter represents a unique assembly of podocyte epithelial cells that tightly enwrap the glomerular capillaries with their foot processes and the interposed slit diaphragm. So far, very little is known about the guidance cues and polarity signals required to regulate proper development and maintenance of the glomerular filtration barrier. We now identify Par3, Par6, and atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) polarity proteins as novel Neph1-Nephrin-associated proteins. The interaction was mediated through the PDZ domain of Par3 and conserved carboxyl terminal residues in Neph1 and Nephrin. Par3, Par6, and aPKC localized to the slit diaphragm as shown in immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Consistent with a critical role for aPKC activity in podocytes, inhibition of glomerular aPKC activity with a pseudosubstrate inhibitor resulted in a loss of regular podocyte foot process architecture. These data provide an important link between cell recognition mediated through the Neph1-Nephrin complex and Par-dependent polarity signaling and suggest that this molecular interaction is essential for establishing the three-dimensional architecture of podocytes at the kidney filtration barrier.     

C3aR过度活化与糖尿病肾病肾组织损伤的关系

C3aR是补体C3裂解产物C3a的受体.最近的一些研究提示C3aR通路可能参与了糖尿病肾病(DN)的病理过程,但有关C3aR通路在DN中的确切病理作用及有关机制远未清楚.需要特别指出的是,现有的有关C3aR参与DN肾组织损伤的证据主要来自一些动物模型的研究,临床上尚缺乏较为系统全面的对DN患者肾组织C3aR通路与肾组织损伤关系的观察分析.为此,本文首次以较大的样本量分析了不同病理时期DN患者肾组织C3aR和C3a的表达变化情况及其与DN患者肾组织损伤的相关性.在此基础上,进而利用体外细胞模型,对高糖环境下C3aR活化致肾小球足细胞损伤的作用及机制进行了探讨.结果显示:a.与正常对照组相比,DN患者肾组织C3a和C3aR的表达水平随DN的进展而升高,C3aR在DN患者肾组织中的表达上调主要见于肾小管上皮细胞和肾小球足细胞;b.DN患者肾组织C3aR和C3a水平与患者肾组织损伤程度,特别是小管和小管间质损伤程度、肾小球足细胞损伤程度具有显著相关性;c.外加C3a激活C3aR可使高糖环境中的足细胞的细胞骨架发生明显改变、足细胞标记分子表达下调、足细胞通透性增加.这些结果说明:a.DN患者肾组织中确实存在C3a/C3aR轴过度活化的现象;b.C3a/C3aR轴的过度活化很可能在DN患者肾组织损伤,特别是小管和小管间质损伤、肾小球足细胞损伤中具有重要作用;c.可能通过破坏成熟足细胞特有的细胞骨架,改变足细胞标记分子表达,增加足细胞的通透性,C3a/C3aR轴过度活化参与DN足细胞损伤过程.本文不仅为C3a/C3aR通路参与DN病理过程提供了新的必不可少的临床证据,也增加了对C3a/C3aR通路过度活化致DN患者肾组织损伤机制,特别是肾小球足细胞损伤机制的了解,这对于拓展对DN病理机制的认识,发展DN防治新思路,无疑都是有益的.     

Podocytes: A new player for glutamate signaling

In the renal glomerulus, podocytes envelop the external side of the capillary basement membrane with their intertwining ramifications, and ensure elimination of metabolic waste within the urine, while proteins and important blood components are retained into the circulation.To preserve the integrity of the glomerular filter, which is constantly exposed to a high variety of stimuli, podocytes need to communicate by rapid and precise signaling, likely similar to that used by neuronal cells.In the last years, we and others have shown that podocytes are indeed molecularly equipped for communicating in a synaptic-like way, where glutamate and its receptors seem to have a pivotal role, because altering glutamatergic communication leads to podocyte damage and increased filter permeability. Major components of glutamatergic signaling are organized at foot process junctions by adhesion molecules, chiefly by nephrin, and are connected to the actin cytoskeleton, that governs the health of podocytes.Further advances in understanding podocyte physiological behavior and signaling properties have the potential to improve the knowledge of podocyte diseases, first among them idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis that still needs more precise molecular-based diagnosis and targeted treatment.     

Microtubule Associated Protein 1b (MAP1B) Is a Marker of the Microtubular Cytoskeleton in Podocytes but Is Not Essential for the Function of the Kidney Filtration Barrier in Mice

Podocytes are essential for the function of the kidney glomerular filter. A highly differentiated cytoskeleton is requisite for their integrity. Although much knowledge has been gained on the organization of cortical actin networks in podocyte’s foot processes, less is known about the molecular organization of the microtubular cytoskeleton in primary processes and the cell body. To gain an insight into the organization of the microtubular cytoskeleton of the podocyte, we systematically analyzed the expression of microtubule associated proteins (Maps), a family of microtubules interacting proteins with known functions as regulator, scaffold and guidance proteins. We identified microtubule associated protein 1b (MAP1B) to be specifically enriched in podocytes in human and rodent kidney. Using immunogold labeling in electron microscopy, we were able to demonstrate an enrichment of MAP1B in primary processes. A similar association of MAP1B with the microtubule cytoskeleton was detected in cultured podocytes. Subcellular distribution of MAP1B HC and LC1 was analyzed using a double fluorescent reporter MAP1B fusion protein. Subsequently we analyzed mice constitutively depleted of MAP1B. Interestingly, MAP1B KO was not associated with any functional or structural alterations pointing towards a redundancy of MAP proteins in podocytes. In summary, we established MAP1B as a specific marker protein of the podocyte microtubular cytoskeleton.     

Actin filament organization of foot processes in rat podocytes.

The foot processes of podocytes possess abundant microfilaments and modulate glomerular filtration. We investigated the actin filament organization of foot processes in adult rat podocytes and the formation of the actin cytoskeletal system of immature podocytes during glomerulogenesis. Electron microscopy revealed two populations of actin cytoskeletons in foot processes of adult podocytes. One is the actin bundle running above the level of slit diaphragms and the other is the cortical actin network located beneath the plasmalemma. Immunogold labeling for actin-binding proteins demonstrated that alpha-actinin and synaptopodin were localized in the actin bundle, whereas cortactin was in the cortical actin network. Immunofluorescence labeling for actin-binding proteins in immature podocyte showed that alpha-actinin was localized at the level of the junctional complex, whereas cortactin was distributed beneath the entire plasmalemma. Synaptopodin was first observed along the basal plasmalemma from the advanced S-shaped body to the capillary loop stage. We conclude that foot processes have specialized actin filamentous organization and that its establishment is associated with the expression and redistribution of actin-binding proteins during development.     

IQGAP1 interacts with components of the slit diaphragm complex in podocytes and is involved in podocyte migration and permeability in vitro

IQGAP1 is a scaffold protein that interacts with proteins of the cytoskeleton and the intercellular adhesion complex. In podocytes, IQGAP1 is associated with nephrin in the glomerular slit diaphragm (SD) complex, but its role remains ill-defined. In this work, we investigated the interaction of IQGAP1 with the cytoskeleton and SD proteins in podocytes in culture, and its role in podocyte migration and permeability. Expression, localization, and interactions between IQGAP1 and SD or cytoskeletal proteins were determined in cultured human podocytes by Western blot (WB), immunocytolocalization (IC), immunoprecipitation (IP), and In situ Proximity Ligation assay (IsPL). Involvement of IQGAP1 in migration and permeability was also assessed. IQGAP1 expression in normal kidney biopsies was studied by immunohistochemistry. IQGAP1 expression by podocytes increased during their in vitro differentiation. IC, IP, and IsPL experiments showed colocalizations and/or interactions between IQGAP1 and SD proteins (nephrin, MAGI-1, CD2AP, NCK 1/2, podocin), podocalyxin, and cytoskeletal proteins (α-actinin-4). IQGAP1 silencing decreased podocyte migration and increased the permeability of a podocyte layer. Immunohistochemistry on normal human kidney confirmed IQGAP1 expression in podocytes and distal tubular epithelial cells and also showed an expression in glomerular parietal epithelial cells. In summary, our results suggest that IQGAP1, through its interaction with components of SD and cytoskeletal proteins, is involved in podocyte barrier properties.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 direct interaction with nephrin links VEGF-A signals to actin in kidney podocytes

The transmembrane protein nephrin is an essential component of slit diaphragms, the specialized cell junctions that link podocyte foot processes. Podocytes are epithelial cells that surround the glomerular capillaries in the kidney and are necessary for the organ-filtering function. Nephrin signaling complex transduces extracellular cues to the podocyte cytoskeleton and regulates podocyte shape and function. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a required growth factor produced and secreted by podocytes. Accumulating evidence suggests a cross-talk between VEGF-A and nephrin signaling pathways. We previously showed that in vivo nephrin associates with VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2), the signaling receptor for VEGF-A. In the present work, we characterized the interaction between nephrin and VEGFR2 in cultured cells and in vitro. We demonstrate that nephrin-VEGFR2 interaction is direct using mass spectrometry, immunoprecipitation, GST-binding assays, and blot overlay experiments. This interaction occurs through VEGFR2 and nephrin cytoplasmic domains. Nephrin-VEGFR2 interaction is modulated by tyrosine phosphorylation of both cytoplasmic domains. Furthermore, the nephrin-VEGFR2 complex involves Nck and actin. VEGF-A signaling via this complex results in decreased cell size. We provide evidence that this multiprotein interaction occurs in cultured podocytes. We propose that the nephrin-VEGFR2 complex acts as a key mediator to transduce local VEGF-A signals to the podocyte actin cytoskeleton, regulating the foot process structure and glomerular filter integrity.     

Shp2 Associates with and Enhances Nephrin Tyrosine Phosphorylation and Is Necessary for Foot Process Spreading in Mouse Models of Podocyte Injury

In most forms of glomerular diseases, loss of size selectivity by the kidney filtration barrier is associated with changes in the morphology of podocytes. The kidney filtration barrier is comprised of the endothelial lining, the glomerular basement membrane, and the podocyte intercellular junction, or slit diaphragm. The cell adhesion proteins nephrin and neph1 localize to the slit diaphragm and transduce signals in a Src family kinase Fyn-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent manner. Studies in cell culture suggest nephrin phosphorylation-dependent signaling events are primarily involved in regulation of actin dynamics and lamellipodium formation. Nephrin phosphorylation is a proximal event that occurs both during development and following podocyte injury. We hypothesized that abrogation of nephrin phosphorylation following injury would prevent nephrin-dependent actin remodeling and foot process morphological changes. Utilizing a biased screening approach, we found nonreceptor Src homology 2 (sh2) domain-containing phosphatase Shp2 to be associated with phosphorylated nephrin. We observed an increase in nephrin tyrosine phosphorylation in the presence of Shp2 in cell culture studies. In the human glomerulopathies minimal-change nephrosis and membranous nephropathy, there is an increase in Shp2 phosphorylation, a marker of increased Shp2 activity. Mouse podocytes lacking Shp2 do not develop foot process spreading when subjected to podocyte injury in vivo using protamine sulfate or nephrotoxic serum (NTS). In the NTS model, we observed a lack of foot process spreading in mouse podocytes with Shp2 deleted and smaller amounts of proteinuria. Taken together, these results suggest that Shp2-dependent signaling events are necessary for changes in foot process structure and function following injury.