Using the Drosophila Nephrocyte to Model Podocyte Function and Disease

Abstract excerpt

Glomerular disorders are a major cause of end-stage renal disease and effective therapies are often lacking. Nephrocytes are considered to be part of the Drosophila excretory system and form slit diaphragms across cellular membrane invaginations. Nehphrocytes have been shown to share functional, morphological and molecular features with podocytes, which form the glomerular filter in vertebrates. Here, we report...