Molecular mechanisms of diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide and the single strongest predictor of mortality in patients with diabetes. DKD is a prototypical disease of gene and environmental interactions. Tight glucose control significantly decreases DKD incidence, indicating that hyperglycemia-induced metabolic alterations, including changes in energy utilization and mitochondrial dysfunction, play critical roles in disease initiation. Blood pressure control, especially with medications that inhibit the angiotensin system, is the only effective way to slow disease progression. While DKD is considered a microvascular complication of diabetes, growing evidence indicates that podocyte loss and…

• UO
  University of Pennsylvania
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: DK076077, R01 DK076077
• PS
  Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
• NI
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  Awards: R01 DK076077, DK076077