Effect of knockdown of <i>MYH9</i> expression on podocytes.

<p>Human conditionally immortalized podocytes were transfected with shRNA-2 to reduce <i>MYH9</i> expression or shRNA-NC as negative control. Following transfection, podocytes were grown at GR conditions to allow differentiation. Analysis by Real Time-PCR (A) and western blot (B) confirmed knockdown of expression. Podocytes were stained with phalloidin (red) to visualize the actin cytoskeleton and DAPI counterstain. Control podocytes exhibited large cell bodies, with stress fibers typical of differentiated cells (C). Podocytes with reduced <i>MYH9</i> expression demonstrated smaller cell size with rarefied actin cytoskeleton, and lacking stress fibers typical of differentiation (D).