Xiao Li, Wang Ming, Yang Shikun, Liu Fuyou, Sun Lin
Department of Nephrology, 2nd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 415800, China.
Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:987064. doi: 10.1155/2013/987064. Epub 2013 Dec 25.
The Wnt family of proteins belongs to a group of secreted lipid-modified glycoproteins with highly conserved cysteine residues. Prior results indicate that Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays a prominent role in cell differentiation, adhesion, survival, and apoptosis and is involved in organ development, tumorigenesis, and tissue fibrosis, among other functions. Accumulating evidence has suggested that Wnt/β-catenin exhibits a pivotal function in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). In this review, we focused on discussing the dual role of Wnt/β-catenin in apoptosis and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) formation of mesangial cells. Moreover, we also elucidated the effect of Wnt/β-catenin in podocyte dysfunction, tubular EMT formation, and renal fibrosis under DN conditions. In addition, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process are introduced. This information provides a novel molecular target of Wnt/β-catenin for the protection of kidney damage and in delay of the progression of DN.
Wnt蛋白家族属于一组具有高度保守半胱氨酸残基的分泌型脂质修饰糖蛋白。先前的研究结果表明，Wnt/β-连环蛋白信号通路在细胞分化、黏附、存活和凋亡中发挥着重要作用，并参与器官发育、肿瘤发生和组织纤维化等多种功能。越来越多的证据表明，Wnt/β-连环蛋白在糖尿病肾病（DN）的进展中发挥着关键作用。在本综述中，我们重点讨论了Wnt/β-连环蛋白在系膜细胞凋亡和上皮-间质转化（EMT）形成中的双重作用。此外，我们还阐明了Wnt/β-连环蛋白在DN条件下对足细胞功能障碍、肾小管EMT形成和肾纤维化的影响。此外，还介绍了这一过程中涉及的分子机制。这些信息为保护肾脏损伤和延缓DN进展提供了一个新的Wnt/β-连环蛋白分子靶点。
