Evaluating the mRNA profile of podocytes in the diabetic kidney may indicate genes
involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. To determine if the podocyte-specific
gene information contained in mRNA profiles of the whole glomerulus of the diabetic kidney
accurately reflects gene expression in the isolated podocytes, we crossed Nos3−/− IRG mice
with podocin-rtTA and TetON-Cre mice for enhanced green fluorescent protein labeling of
podocytes before diabetic injury. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin, and mRNA …