Table 3.

Small molecules and their specific roles in the podocyte differentiation

Small molecules	Cellular functions	References
CHIR99021	•1GSK3β1 inhibitor	[9,16]
	•Wnt agonist
Activin A (AA)	•Cellular homeostasis	[8-12,14,16-18,20]
	•Inducer of differentiation
	•Activator of cell differentiation and inhibitor of cell growth and proliferation
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)	•Cellular homeostasis	[8,10-12,14-18,20]
	•Inducer of differentiation
	•Bind to 2CRABP2 in the nucleus
	•Activate transcription of RA primary response genes
Chordin	•3BMP antagonist	[7]
	•Development of the vertebrate gastrula
Valproic acid (VPA)	•4HDAC inhibitor	[22]
CP21R7	•1GSK3β1 inhibitor	[15]
	•Activate canonical 5Wnt signaling.
Y27632	•6RHO/ROCK pathway inhibitor	[16,17]
CCG1423	•A potent and specific inhibitor of Rho pathway signaling	[14]
LY294002	•Inhibitor of 7PI3Ks	[14]

¹Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta1;

²Cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2;

³Bone morphogenic protein;

⁴Histone deacetylase;

⁵Wingless/Integrated;

⁶Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein serine/threonine kinase;

⁷Phosphoinositide 3-kinases.