Crk1/2 and CrkL form a hetero-oligomer and functionally complement each other during podocyte

Glomerular visceral epithelial cells—also called podocytes— are essential for establishing the permeability characteristics of the kidney filtration barrier. Podocytes surround glomerular capillaries with cellular processes that interdigitate with those of neighboring podocytes. These interdigitating foot processes form a specialized intercellular junction termed the ‘slit diaphragm.’ In most forms of human glomerular disease, podocytes undergo actin cytoskeleton remodeling, resulting in foot process spreading and retraction, often described as foot process effacement. Foot process effacement appears to be a common reaction of podocytes to injury or disease stimuli