Single-Cell RNA-Seq Datasets of Podocytopathy in Humans and Mice: Integrating GWAS Cohorts to Explore Potential Therapeutic Targets

Podocyte (POD) injury is a hallmark of glomerular diseases and a central cause of albuminuria and nephrotic syndrome. Despite the rapid advancements in single-cell sequencing technologies in recent years, POD capture remains limited, resulting in a lack of comprehensive single-cell datasets related to Podocytopathies (PCPs). In this study, we collected kidney tissues from patients with five types of PCP and established two mouse models of POD injury for single-nucleus RNA sequencing (sn-RNA seq). We successfully generated single-cell resolution kidney atlases of human and mouse PCPs and, in combination with microalbuminuria-associated genome wide association study dataset, identified potential therapeutic targets linked to POD injury. These findings provide valuable resources and a solid foundation for future research on PCPs, particularly on the molecular mechanisms underlying podocyte injury.