Development of Biomarkers and Molecular Therapy Based on Inflammatory Genes in Diabetic Nephropathy (original) (raw)

New perspectives on markers implicated in signalling pathways that advance diabetic nephropathy and its therapeutic approaches

International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 2025

Diabetic nephropathy is the chronic loss of kidney function occurring due to diabetes mellitus. Due to increased sugar levels, there is disfunctioning of glomeruli, loss of protein in urine, and decrease in the levels of serum albumin that mainly leads to edema. The progression of renal disfunctioning starts when glomerular filtration rate is greater than 90ml/min. A large body of evidence indicates that oxidative stress is the main attributor involved in the progression of macro-vascular complications of diabetes. (ROS), NAD(P)H oxidase, advanced glycation end products (AGE), polyol pathway, uncoupled nitric oxide synthase (NOS), mitochondrial respiratory chain via oxidative phosphorylation, protein kinase C, mitogen-activated protein kinases, cytokines and transcription factors eventually cause increased expression of extracellular matrix (EC) genes with progression to fibrosis and end stage renal disease. Apart from these well-established pathways, major markers in the kidney disease which could work as potential targets has been explored like MCP-1, BMP-7, p38 MAPK, MiR-130b, HSP-27, AKT which further needs more research as they have shown promising results in their early level of studies. The present review aims to investigate the molecular targets involved in diabetic nephropathy, and to comprehend the intricate signalling pathways, such as JAK/STAT, BMP-7–Smad1/5/8 pathway, RhoA/ROCK, caspases, to which the aforementioned markers have either an independent or dependent relationship. If these signalling pathways are properly studied, these markers may aid in the treatment of the disease and its associated secondary effects such as nephropathy.

Comprehensive genomic profiling in diabetic nephropathy reveals the predominance of proinflammatory pathways

Physiological Genomics, 2013

Despite advances in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN), currently available therapies have not prevented the epidemic of progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). The morbidity of CKD, and the inexorable increase in the prevalence of end-stage renal disease, demands more effective approaches to prevent and treat progressive CKD. We undertook next-generation sequencing in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy to study in depth the pathogenic alterations involved in DN with progressive CKD. We employed the obese, diabetic ZS rat, a model that develops diabetic nephropathy, characterized by progressive CKD, inflammation, and fibrosis, the hallmarks of human disease. We then used RNA-seq to examine the combined effects of renal cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells acting as a pathophysiological unit. The comprehensive systems biology analysis of progressive CKD revealed multiple interactions of altered genes that were integrated into morbid networks. These pathological gene a...

Pathogenic Pathways and Therapeutic Approaches Targeting Inflammation in Diabetic Nephropathy

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality, resulting in elevated cost for public health systems. DN is the main cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its incidence increases the number of patients that develop the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There are growing epidemiological and preclinical evidence about the close relationship between inflammatory response and the occurrence and progression of DN. Several anti-inflammatory strategies targeting specific inflammatory mediators (cell adhesion molecules, chemokines and cytokines) and intracellular signaling pathways have shown beneficial effects in experimental models of DN, decreasing proteinuria and renal lesions. A number of inflammatory molecules have been shown useful to identify diabetic patients at high risk of developing renal complications. In this review, we focus on the key role of inflammation in the genesis and progression of DN, with a special interest in effector molecules ...

Targeting inflammation in diabetic nephropathy: a tale of hope

Expert opinion on investigational drugs, 2018

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Beyond the new anti-diabetic drugs that possess markedly cardiovascular and renal protective effects, no novel direct therapies for DN have become available on the market in the last twenty years. Recently well-designed clinical trials for the treatment of DN, with attractive pathogenetic rationale, e.g. bardoxolone and atrasentan, were canceled or stopped because of safety concerns or lack of reaching the end points, respectively. Areas covered: In this review, we focus on the involvement of inflammation in the pathogenesis of DN. We update information from recent experimental and clinical studies that reported beneficial effects of several agents targeting chemokines, cytokines, transcription factors and kinases as well as several compounds with anti-inflammatory properties on DN. Expert opinion: Inflammation plays a key role in the DN progression. Preclinical studies...

Meta-analysis of diabetic nephropathy associated genetic variants in inflammation and angiogenesis involved in different biochemical pathways

BMC Medical Genetics, 2014

Background: Diabetes mellitus is the most common chronic endocrine disorder, affecting an estimated population of 382 million people worldwide. It is associated with microvascular and macrovascular complications, including diabetic nephropathy (DN); primary cause of end-stage renal disease. Different inflammatory and angiogenic molecules in various pathways are important modulators in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Differential disease risk in DN may be partly attributable to genetic susceptibility. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to determine which of the previously investigated genetic variants in these pathways are significantly associated with the development of DN and to examine the functional role of these genes. Methods: A systematic search was conducted to collect and analyze all studies published till June 2013; that investigated the association between genetic variants involved in inflammatory cytokines and angiogenesis and diabetic nephropathy. Genetic variants associated with DN were selected and analyzed by using Comprehensive Meta Analysis software. Pathway analysis of the genes with variants showing significant positive association with DN was performed using Genomatix Genome Analyzer (Genomatix, Munich, Germany). Results: After the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this analysis, 34 studies were included in this meta-analysis. 11 genetic variants showed significant positive association with DN in a random-effects meta-analysis. These included genetic variants within or near VEGFA, CCR5, CCL2, IL-1, MMP9, EPO, IL-8, ADIPOQ and IL-10. rs1800871 (T) genetic variant in IL-10 showed protective effect for DN. Most of these eleven genetic variants were involved in GPCR signaling and receptor binding pathways whereas four were involved in chronic kidney failure. rs833061 [OR 2.08 (95% CI 1.63-2.66)] in the VEGFA gene and rs3917887 [OR 2.04 (95% CI 1.64-2.54)] in the CCL2 gene showed the most significant association with the risk of diabetic nephropathy. Conclusions: Our results indicate that 11 genetic variants within or near VEGFA, CCR5, CCL2, IL-1, MMP9, EPO, IL-8, ADIPOQ and IL-10 showed significant positive association with diabetic nephropathy. Gene Ontology or pathway analysis showed that these genes may contribute to the pathophysiology of DN. The functional relevance of the variants and their pathways can lead to increased biological insights and development of new therapeutic targets.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of genetic association studies for the role of inflammation and the immune system in diabetic nephropathy

Clinical kidney journal, 2017

Background: Despite the certain contribution of metabolic and haemodynamic factors in diabetic nephropathy (DN), many lines of evidence highlight the role of immunologic and inflammatory mechanisms. To elucidate the contribution of the immune system in the development of DN, we explored the contribution of gene variants (polymorphisms) in relevant pathophysiologic pathways. Methods: We selected six major pathways related to immune response from the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes database and thereafter we traced all available genetic association studies (GASs) involving gene variants in these pathways from PubMed and HuGE Navigator. Finally, we used meta-analytic methods for synthesizing the results of the GASs. Results: One hundred three GASs were retrieved that included 443 variants from 75 genes. Of those variants, 138 were meta-analysed and 61 produced significant results; seven variants were investigated in single GASs and showed significant association. Variants in C...

Pathophysiological role and therapeutic implications of inflammation in diabetic nephropathy

World journal of diabetes, 2012

Diabetes mellitus and its complications are becoming one of the most important health problems in the world. Diabetic nephropathy is now the main cause of end-stage renal disease. The mechanisms leading to the development and progression of renal injury are not well known. Therefore, it is very important to find new pathogenic pathways to provide opportunities for early diagnosis and targets for novel treatments. At the present time, we know that activation of innate immunity with development of a chronic low grade inflammatory response is a recognized factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Numerous experimental and clinical studies have shown the participation of different inflammatory molecules and pathways in the pathophysiology of this complication.