Zebrafish as a model for podocyte research

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2024 Jan 11. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00335.2023. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPodocytes, specialized postmitotic cells, are central players in various kidney-related diseases. Zebrafish have become a valuable model system for studying podocyte biology because they are genetically easy to manipulate, transparent and their glomerular structure is similar to that of mammals. This review provides an overview of the knowledge of podocyte biology in zebrafish larvae, with particular focus on their essential contribution to understanding the mechanisms that underlie kidney diseases as well as supporting drug development. Additionally, special attention is given to advances in live imaging techniques allowing the observation of dynamic processes, including podocyte motility, podocyte process behavior, and glomerulus maturation. The review further addresses the functional aspects of podocytes in zebrafish larvae. This includes topics such as glomerular filtration, ultrastructural analyses and evaluation of podocyte response to nephrotoxic insults. Studies presented in this context have provided important insights into the maintenance and resistance of the glomerular filtration barrier in zebrafish larvae and explored the potential transferability of these findings to mammals such as mice, rats, and most importantly, humans. The recent ability to identify potential therapeutic targets represents a promising new way to identify drugs that could effectively tre...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Source Type: research