Loss of transcription factor ATOH8 activates TGF-β signaling and exacerbates glomerulosclerosis in podocytes

This study identifies atonal transcription factor 8 (ATOH8) as a previously unexplored regulator of podocyte function. We demonstrate that ATOH8 knockdown activates TGF-β signaling and increases extracellular matrix gene expression. Notably, ATOH8 deficiency alone does not cause renal injury but exacerbates glomerulosclerosis in an adriamycin-induced nephropathy model, accompanied by increased Tgfb1 mRNA expression in the renal cortex. These findings indicate that ATOH8 plays a protective role in podocyte function and limits glomerulosclerosis during kidney injury.