Podocytes

Podocytes are highly specialized epithelial cells in the Bowman's capsule of the kidney glomerulus. They wrap around capillaries with primary and secondary foot processes. The slits between these foot processes, covered by the slit diaphragm, form the final filtration barrier preventing proteins from entering the urine. Podocyte injury or loss leads to proteinuria and glomerular diseases like focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).