The University of Bristol-led breakthrough, involving scientists from the UK, Europe and USA, discovered specific cell changes in the kidney caused by insulin resistance – a major driver of diabetic kidney disease.
Despite its prevalence, the molecular mechanisms underlying DKD development remain poorly understood. Researchers sought to understand the cellular and molecular changes occurring in the kidney (specifically the glomerulus and proximal tubule) which is key to understanding the mechanisms underlying the disease, identifying therapeutic targets and biomarker candidates.
Building on the team’s previous work in this area, the team examined the changes caused by insulin-resistance in four types of kidney cells, and then compared these changes with kidney biopsies from patients with early and late diabetic kidney disease.
The study revealed multiple ‘common’ and ‘cell specific’ changes caused by insulin-resistance representing new targets for pharmacological or targeted gene therapy approaches.
Paper: ‘Profiling of insulin-resistant kidney models and human biopsies reveals common and cell-type-specific mechanisms underpinning diabetic kidney disease’ by Abigail C. Lay et al. in Nature Communications [open access]