A Glimpse of the Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Wntβ-Catenin Signaling in Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract EN

The Wnt family of proteins belongs to a group of secreted lipid-modified glycoproteins with highly conserved cysteine residues.

Prior results indicate that Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays a prominent role in cell differentiation, adhesion, survival, and apoptosis and is involved in organ development, tumorigenesis, and tissue fibrosis, among other functions.

Accumulating evidence has suggested that Wnt/β-catenin exhibits a pivotal function in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

In this review, we focused on discussing the dual role of Wnt/β-catenin in apoptosis and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) formation of mesangial cells.

Moreover, we also elucidated the effect of Wnt/β-catenin in podocyte dysfunction, tubular EMT formation, and renal fibrosis under DN conditions.

In addition, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process are introduced.

This information provides a novel molecular target of Wnt/β-catenin for the protection of kidney damage and in delay of the progression of DN.