Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Podocyte-Like Cells as Models for Assessing Mechanisms Underlying Heritable Disease Phenotype: Initial Studies Using Two Alport Syndrome Patient Lines Indicate Impaired Potassium Channel Activity.

Renal podocyte survival depends upon the dynamic regulation of a complex cell architecture that links the glomerular basement membrane to integrins, ion channels, and receptors. Alport syndrome is a heritable chronic kidney disease where mutations in 3, 4, or 5 collagen genes promote podocyte death. In rodent models of renal failure, activation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) can protect podocytes from stress-related death.