Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
10:31
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
Published on: May 2, 2025
Notch signaling in diabetic nephropathy
Ramon Bonegio1, Katalin Susztak
1Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA. bonegio@bu.edu
Experimental Cell Research
|March 15, 2012
Summary
Notch signaling regulates kidney development and is reactivated in diabetic kidney disease, promoting its progression. Blocking this pathway may offer a new therapeutic strategy for managing diabetic nephropathy.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Nephrology
- Molecular Signaling
Background:
- Notch signaling is a conserved pathway crucial for cell fate determination during development.
- Dysregulation of Notch signaling is implicated in various diseases, including kidney disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of Notch signaling in kidney development and its influence on kidney disease susceptibility.
- To examine the reactivation of Notch signaling in diabetic kidney disease and its pathogenic mechanisms.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of blocking Notch signaling in diabetic nephropathy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on Notch signaling in kidney development and disease.
- Analysis of evidence linking Notch signaling to nephron number, segmentation, and diabetic nephropathy.
- Examination of data on the effects of Notch pathway blockade on diabetic nephropathy progression.
Main Results:
- Notch signaling controls nephron number and segmentation, impacting kidney disease susceptibility.
- Reactivated Notch signaling in diabetic kidney disease promotes glomerulopathy, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, arteriopathy, and inflammation.
- Blockade of pathogenic Notch signaling has shown potential to alter the course of diabetic nephropathy.
Conclusions:
- Notch signaling plays a dual role in kidney health, influencing development and disease pathogenesis.
- Targeting Notch signaling represents a promising therapeutic avenue for managing diabetic kidney disease.
Related Concept Videos
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
01:28Diabetic Nephropathy
Definition Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney complication that results from prolonged hyperglycemia.Prevalence It is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, affecting up to half of individuals with diabetes.Pathophysiology • Sustained hyperglycemia triggers multiple hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the kidney. • Early in the disease, increased renal blood flow and glomerular hyperfiltration occur due to afferent arteriolar...
01:12Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
01:22Diabetic Neuropathy
DefinitionDiabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by long-standing diabetes mellitus. It results directly from prolonged high blood sugar levels.PathophysiologyThe pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy involves both metabolic and vascular disturbances triggered by chronic hyperglycemia.Metabolic injury: Elevated glucose levels activate the polyol pathway within nerve cells, leading to the accumulation of sorbitol and fructose. This increases oxidative stress, disrupts normal nerve...
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy
DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...