Key result
VEGF-A and LRG1 mediate abnormal angiogenesis in diabetic nephropathy and represent promising therapeutic targets.
Why the study?
Angiogenesis contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain barely known.
This review highlights the critical roles of VEGF-A and LRG1 in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy through abnormal angiogenesis, identifying them as potential therapeutic targets.
Supports VEGF-A and LRG1 as targets in diabetic nephropathy; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before clinical consideration.
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is an important public health concern of increasing proportions and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in diabetic patients. It is one of the most common long-term microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus that is characterized by proteinuria and glomerular structural changes. Angiogenesis has long been considered to contribute to the pathogenesis of DN, whereas the molecular mechanisms of which are barely known. Angiogenic factors associated with angiogenesis are the major candidates to explain the microvascular and pathologic finds of DN. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein 1, angiopoietins and vasohibin family signal between the podocytes, endothelium, and mesangium have important roles in the maintenance of renal functions. An appropriate amount of VEGF-A is beneficial to maintaining glomerular structure, while excessive VEGF-A can lead to abnormal angiogenesis. LRG1 is a novel pro-angiogenic factors involved in the abnormal angiogenesis and renal fibrosis in DN. The imbalance of Ang1/Ang2 ratio has a role in leading to glomerular disease. Vasohibin-2 is recently shown to be in diabetes-induced glomerular alterations. This review will focus on current understanding of these angiogenic factors in angiogenesis and pathogenesis associated with the development of DN, with the aim of evaluating the potential of anti-angiogenesis therapy in patients with DN.
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Zhang et al. (2020) conducted a review in Diabetic Nephropathy. VEGF-A and LRG1 are important mediators involved in the abnormal angiogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, suggesting they are attractive therapeutic targets for preventing disease progression.
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