Kidney Int. 2012 Sep;82(5):509-11. doi: 10.1038/ki.2012.155.
Using conditional knockout models, Zhou et al. firmly establish a renoprotective role of β-catenin in acute kidney injury. Although β-catenin is protective at the injury phase, whether it helps kidney repair remains in question. In a renal cell scratch model, β-catenin suppresses wound healing. Moreover, continuous activation of β-catenin may lead to renal fibrosis. Further investigation should elucidate the distinct roles played by β-catenin and related signaling in kidney injury, repair, and fibrosis.
使用条件性基因敲除模型，Zhou 等人明确证实了β-catenin 在急性肾损伤中的保护作用。虽然在损伤阶段β-catenin 具有保护作用，但它是否有助于肾脏修复仍存在疑问。在肾小管上皮细胞划痕模型中，β-catenin 抑制了伤口愈合。此外，β-catenin 的持续激活可能导致肾脏纤维化。进一步的研究应阐明β-catenin 及其相关信号通路在肾脏损伤、修复和纤维化中的不同作用。
