AMPK signalling: Implications for podocyte biology in diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is a major long-term complication of diabetes mellitus and one of the most common causes of end-stage renal disease. Thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, glomerular cell hypertrophy and podocyte loss are among the main pathological changes that occur during diabetic nephropathy, resulting in proteinuria. Injury to podocytes, which are a crucial component of the glomerular filtration barrier, seems to play a key role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Recent studies have suggested that dysregulation of AMP-activated kinase protein, which is an essential cellular energy sensor, may play a fundamental role in this process. The purpose of this review is to highlight the molecular mechanisms associated with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in podocytes that are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.