Podocyte-specific Translational Profiling In Vivo Uncovers Distinct Patterns in Trpc6-Deficient Podocytes

Canonical Transient Receptor Potential 6 (TRPC6) channels are key regulators of podocyte calcium signaling and cytoskeletal organization. While gain-of-function mutations are well-established drivers of primary podocytopathies, particularly focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), loss-of-function mutations are increasingly recognized as contributing factors as well. Intriguingly, TRPC6 deficiency does not result in an overt renal phenotype in mice and, in some models, even confers protection against kidney injury. The mechanisms through which TRPC6 loss either predisposes to podocyte damage or mediates renal protection remain poorly defined, and the molecular and cellular basis of a podocyte completely lacking TRPC6 function has yet to be fully elucidated.

To address this gap, we utilized podocyte-specific Translational Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP) and RNA sequencing to investigate differential gene expression profiles of Trpc6-/- podocytes in young (9-week-old) and aged (78-week-old) mice.

Trpc6-/- mice did not develop significant proteinuria, and comprehensive histological and ultrastructural analyses revealed no abnormalities-including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis or foot process effacement-even at very advanced age. However, RNA sequencing of polysomal mRNA identified distinct transcriptional alterations in podocytes from 9-week-old Trpc6-/- mice compared to wild-type controls. These changes included upregulation of genes linked to actin cytoskeleton and metabolism, together with downregulation of canonical podocyte markers, integrins, and immune-related genes. Notably, these transcriptional alterations were markedly attenuated in aged mice, with significantly fewer differences detected in podocytes from 78-week-old animals.

We show that, despite the absence of overt glomerular pathology, young Trpc6-/- podocytes exhibit distinct transcriptional signatures. These alterations may provide critical insights into whether TRPC6 deficiency confers protective potential or instead predisposes podocytes to maladaptive responses under stress. We further demonstrate that these changes are markedly attenuated in aged mice, indicating that TRPC6 deficiency exerts only a mild impact and that TRPC6 may play a diminished role in the aging podocyte population.