SV2B is essential for the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier.

The glomerular visceral epithelial cell (podocyte) is characterized as a specialized structure of the interdigitating foot processes, covering the outer side of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). The neighboring foot processes are connected by a slit diaphragm, which is a key structure regulating the barrier function of the glomerular capillary wall to prevent proteinuria. We have previously reported that synaptic vesicle protein 2 B (SV2B) is expressed in the podocyte and that the expression is clearly decreased in nephrotic models.