Research progress of natural active compounds on improving podocyte function to reduce proteinuria in diabetic kidney disease
Review published in Renal Failure (2023)
Abstract
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a primary cause of end-stage renal disease. Proteinuria is a clinical indicator of the different stages of DKD, and podocyte injury is a major cause of proteinuria. Podocyte-specific proteins (PSPs) play important roles in the normal filtration of podocytes. Studies have shown that natural active compounds (NACs) can ameliorate proteinuria; however, the mechanism related to PSPs needs to be explored. In this study, the five stages of DKD related to proteinuria and the functions of PSPs are displayed separately. Mechanisms for ameliorating proteinuria and improving the PSPs of the 15 NACs are summarized. The in vitro and in vivo mechanistic research showed that five compounds, astragaloside IV, ligustrazine, berberine, emodin and resveratrol, exerted renal protective effects via AMPK signaling, icariin and berberine via TLR4 signaling, hirudin and baicalin via MAPK signaling, curcumin and baicalin via NF-κB signaling, and emodin via protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase signaling. The 13 PSPs were divided into five categories: actin cytoskeleton, basal domain, apical domain, slit diaphragm, and others. In conclusion, anti-inflammatory effects, anti-oxidative stress, and enhanced autophagy are the main mechanisms underlying the ameliorative effects of NACs. Podocyte apoptosis is mainly related to nephrin and podocin, which are the most studied slit diaphragm PSPs.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Reviews natural compounds improving podocyte function in diabetic kidney disease — includes detailed analysis of leech-hirudin's podocyte-protective effects.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Esta revisión resume los mecanismos mediante los cuales los compuestos activos naturales (NACs) mejoran la función podocitaria y reducen la proteinuria en la enfermedad renal diabética, enumerando la hirudina entre 15 NACs e identificándola como aquella que actúa mediante señalización MAPK para ejercer efectos renales protectores. El resumen no aporta información sobre el origen de la hirudina ni sobre ninguna conexión con las sanguijuelas; la hirudina aparece únicamente como un compuesto más dentro de una encuesta farmacológica más amplia. La relevancia para el secretoma de la sanguijuela o la hirudoterapia es, por tanto, indirecta y no declarada por los autores. El resumen tampoco reporta datos de eficacia clínica para ninguno de los compuestos discutidos, incluida la hirudina, en la nefropatía diabética.
Citación
Research progress of natural active compounds on improving podocyte function to reduce proteinuria in diabetic kidney disease.
Gong L et al. · Renal failure, 2023
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026