DNA methylation in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that affects people on a global scale. After various stages of progression, CKD is finally characterized by renal fibrosis. As the most pervasive and well-studied epigenetic modification, DNA methylation has recently been associated with the development of renal fibrosis. Gaining a better understanding of the link between DNA methylation and CKD would provide new targets or enable the development of epigenetic therapies for CKD. This review discusses the mechanisms by which DNA methylation regulates gene expression during the pathological process of CKD, including the role of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). This review summarizes DNA methylation in CKD, particularly its crucial role in CKD-related conditions, such as diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and chronic allograft injury. Conventional demethylating agents have been discussed as well as the need for less toxic demethylating agents for clinical applications. Finally, some of the problems and obstacles specified in previous DNA methylation studies have been considered. This information aims to promote further investigations into the role of DNA methylation in CKD by providing novel insights into the mechanism by which methylation affects the progression and regression of CKD, which would result in the development of alternate treatments.