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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Imaging of Podocytic Proteins Nephrin, Actin, and Podocin with Expansion Microscopy
Published on: April 23, 2021
Nephrin AKTs on actin: The slit diaphragm-actin cytoskeleton signaling network expands
1Department of Medicine, Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. jschlondorff@partners.org
Abstract:
Regulation and maintenance of the actin cytoskeleton of podocytes has emerged as a critical process for preserving glomerular permselectivity. Signaling through nephrin, a crucial component of the slit diaphragm, can lead to rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. Zhu et al. identify phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent activation of Akt and Rac as mediators of nephrin-induced actin reorganization, expanding the signaling network linking two of the podocyte's unique structures, its actin cytoskeleton and the slit diaphragm.
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