Role of renal tubular programed cell death in diabetic kidney disease

Xiaojun Zhou1,2, Chunmei Xu3,4,5, Jianjun Dong6

  • 1Department of Endocrinology and Metabology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Institute of Nephrology, Jinan, China.

Insights

Diabetic kidney disease involves tubular damage and programmed cell death (PCD). Targeting tubular PCD pathways offers potential therapeutic strategies for diabetic kidney disease treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) pathogenesis is complex, with tubular damage being a key factor in early renal dysfunction.
  • Programmed cell death (PCD) abnormalities in renal tubules are increasingly recognized as crucial in DKD development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of DKD mechanisms, focusing on tubular PCD.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting tubular PCD pathways in DKD.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis in DKD.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the role of tubular cell death in DKD pathogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Tubular damage and altered PCD are central to early DKD.
  • Apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis are significant PCD pathways implicated in DKD.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding tubular PCD mechanisms is vital for DKD treatment.
  • Targeting specific PCD pathways presents a promising therapeutic avenue for managing diabetic kidney disease.

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the...
7.5K
Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction01:25

Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) arises when the kidneys progressively lose their ability to function, ultimately leading to end-stage renal disease. At this advanced stage, the kidneys can no longer filter waste or maintain essential body functions, requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) through dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.Early-stage chronic kidney disease and detection challengesIn CKD's early stages, symptoms often remain absent because healthy nephrons compensate for...
55
Nephrons01:10

Nephrons

The kidneys are intricate organs with millions of working units known as nephrons. Each nephron features two major structures: the renal corpuscle, which facilitates blood plasma filtration, and the renal tubule, which handles the glomerular filtrate. Blood supply is directly linked to the nephrons. The renal corpuscle consists of the glomerulus, a capillary network, and the Bowman's capsule, a double-walled epithelial structure that encases the glomerulus. The filtering of blood plasma...
3.2K
Renal Corpuscle01:20

Renal Corpuscle

The glomerulus and Bowman's capsule are two essential components of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidney. These microscopic structures play a critical role in the process of blood filtration to produce urine.
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous...
3.1K
Dialysis01:27

Dialysis

Renal failure occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste products from the blood effectively. It can be classified into two types: acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic renal failure (CRF).
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...
434
Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology01:29

Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology

Acute kidney injury (AKI) causes are categorized into three primary categories based on the location of the injury: prerenal, intrarenal (or intrinsic), and postrenal causes. This classification guides clinical management and illustrates how different pathways can impair kidney function.Etiology and Pathophysiology of Acute Kidney Injury1. Prerenal causesEtiology: Prerenal Acute Kidney Injury, the most common type, occurs when reduced blood flow to the kidneys decreases filtration capacity...
49