The insulin/IGF axis is critically important for controlling gene transcription in the podocyte.

Dual-receptor knockdown of insulin and IGF1 receptors in podocytes causes severe kidney disease and cell loss, highlighting their critical role in renal health.

• Why it matters: Podocyte integrity is essential for kidney function, yet the mechanisms linking insulin/IGF1 signalling to gene regulation in these cells are not fully understood, risking impaired treatment strategies.
• What they did: Using transgenic mice with podocyte-specific receptor reduction and cultured podocytes, the study employed proteomic and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the effects on RNA processing and cell viability.
• The result: Disruption of insulin/IGF1 signalling led to loss of spliceosomal proteins, widespread intron retention, and impaired gene transcription, revealing this pathway as vital for maintaining podocyte gene expression and function.