The role of cellular crosstalk in the progression of diabetic nephropathy

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Jul 17:14:1173933. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1173933. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes, and its main manifestations are progressive proteinuria and abnormal renal function, which eventually develops end stage renal disease (ESRD). The pathogenesis of DN is complex and involves many signaling pathways and molecules, including metabolic disorders, genetic factors, oxidative stress, inflammation, and microcirculatory abnormalities strategies. With the development of medical experimental techniques, such as single-cell transcriptome sequencing and single-cell proteomics, the pathological alterations caused by kidney cell interactions have attracted more and more attention. Here, we reviewed the characteristics and related mechanisms of crosstalk among kidney cells podocytes, endothelial cells, mesangial cells, pericytes, and immune cells during the development and progression of DN and highlighted its potential therapeutic effects.

Keywords: cellular crosstalk; crosstalk; diabetic kidney disease; diabetic nephropathy; intercellular communication.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes Mellitus* / pathology
  • Diabetic Nephropathies* / pathology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Mesangial Cells / metabolism
  • Microcirculation

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO.82204744, 82270758 and 82070741) and National KeyResearch and Development Project (2018YFE0126600).