RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A protective role for Drosophila Filamin in nephrocytes via Yorkie mediated hypertrophy JF Life Science Alliance JO Life Sci. Alliance FD Life Science Alliance LLC SP e202101281 DO 10.26508/lsa.202101281 VO 5 IS 12 A1 Sybille Koehler A1 Tobias B Huber A1 Barry Denholm YR 2022 UL https://www.life-science-alliance.org/content/5/12/e202101281.abstract AB Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells of the kidney glomerulus and are an essential part of the filtration barrier. Because of their position, they are exposed to constant biomechanical forces such as shear stress and hydrostatic pressure. These forces increase during disease, resulting in podocyte injury. It is likely podocytes have adaptative responses to help buffer against deleterious mechanical force and thus reduce injury. However, these responses remain largely unknown. Here, using the Drosophila model, we show the mechanosensor Cheerio (dFilamin) provides a key protective role in nephrocytes. We found expression of an activated mechanosensitive variant of Cheerio rescued filtration function and induced compensatory and hypertrophic growth in nephrocytes depleted of the nephrocyte diaphragm proteins Sns or Duf. Delineating the protective pathway downstream of Cheerio we found repression of the Hippo pathway induces nephrocyte hypertrophy, whereas Hippo activation reversed the Cheerio-mediated hypertrophy. Furthermore, we find Yorkie was activated upon expression of active Cheerio. Taken together, our data suggest that Cheerio acts via the Hippo pathway to induce hypertrophic growth, as a protective response in abnormal nephrocytes.