Biology of the human podocyte.

The glomerulus is a complex physiological structure that, as well as maintaining a selective filtration barrier, participates in the control of renal blood flow and blood pressure. Recently there has been a surge of interest in the podocyte, as the main player in this functional unit, driven by key discoveries of genes mutated in hereditary conditions, that result in breakdown of barrier functions. This has been accompanied by the development of powerful new molecular, cellular and animal tools to enable study at a level of detail not previously possible. How this emerging information is shaping our understanding of glomerular biology, and ultimately our understanding of the pathophysiology of glomerular diseases, is outlined here.