Figure 1.

Podocytes: key element of the glomerular filtration barrier. Podocytes are highly differentiated cells with a specific cellular architecture, comprising primary and secondary foot processes that wrap around the glomerular capillaries, and express essential proteins that define the slit diaphragm and permselectivity of the glomerular filtration barrier. Kidney diseases affecting the podocytes (podocytopathies) can be characterized by the loss of the slit diaphragm, podocyte foot process effacement and detachment, which clinically manifests as glomerular proteinuria.