biostudies-literatureUnknownWen DNIDDK NIH HHSNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases<h4>Background</h4>Testican-2 is a podocyte-derived glycoprotein encoded by SPOCK2. Circulating levels of testican-2 are associated with less glomerulosclerosis and better kidney prognosis, but its biological function in the podocyte is unknown.<h4>Methods</h4>We studied the protective effect of testican-2 on immortalized cultured human podocytes and in mice treated with adriamycin. We used immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry to identify binding partners of testican-2 and Bio-Layer Interferometry to characterize these protein-protein interactions. Using global and podocyte-specific Spock2 knockout mice, we assessed the impact of testican-2 deficiency in models of podocyte injury and also tested whether exogenous testican-2 confers podocyte protection in testican-2 deficient mice. FinallyJournal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASNhttps://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12776367biostudies-literatureTestican-2 Interaction with the Extracellular Matrix and Podocyte Protection.PMC12776367R01 DK108803R01DK108803R01DK088327K08 DK132411P30 DK057521K08DK132411R01 DK088327P30 DK043351Waikar SSRhee EPPollak MRArnaout MAGrams MEZhou WSchmidt IMRosales IAZhang QParada XVKim Tvan Agthoven JWeins AColvin RBWen DfalseTestican-2 Interaction with the Extracellular Matrix and Podocyte Protection.<h4>Background</h4>Testican-2 is a podocyte-derived glycoprotein encoded by SPOCK2. Circulating levels of testican-2 are associated with less glomerulosclerosis and better kidney prognosis, but its biological function in the podocyte is unknown.<h4>Methods</h4>We studied the protective effect of testican-2 on immortalized cultured human podocytes and in mice treated with adriamycin. We used immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry to identify binding partners of testican-2 and Bio-Layer Interferometry to characterize these protein-protein interactions. Using global and podocyte-specific Spock2 knockout mice, we assessed the impact of testican-2 deficiency in models of podocyte injury and also tested whether exogenous testican-2 confers podocyte protection in testican-2 deficient mice. Finally2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Oct2026-06-06T12:32:08.681Z2026-05-30T03:11:40.35ZS-EPMC127763674117753010.1681/asn.000000091510.1681/ASN.0000000915