title: Recent advances in understanding the biochemical and molecular mechanism of diabetic nephropathy.
abstract: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a chronic disease characterized by proteinuria, glomerular hypertrophy, decreased glomerular filtration and renal fibrosis with loss of renal function. DN is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, accounting for millions of deaths worldwide. Hyperglycemia is the driving force for the development of diabetic nephropathy. The exact cause of diabetic nephropathy is unknown, but various postulated mechanisms are: hyperglycemia (causing hyperfiltration and renal injury), advanced glycosylation products, activation of cytokines. In this review article, we have discussed a number of diabetes-induced metabolites such as glucose, advanced glycation end products, protein kinase C and oxidative stress and other related factors that are implicated in the pathophysiology of the DN. An understanding of the biochemical and molecular changes especially early in the DN may lead to new and effective therapies towards prevention and amelioration of DN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lan-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D047495:PPAR gamma; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011493:Protein Kinase C