New approaches for treatment of diabetic nephropathy: the endothelium as a target for drug discovery

Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2001 Oct;5(5):539-545. doi: 10.1517/14728222.5.5.539.

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There are currently no therapeutic Hyperlipidaemiants which directly intervene in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The mechanisms behind development of diabetic nephropathy are complex and not completely understood. The hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia and hyperinsulinaemia found in diabetics might all act on the kidney endothelium to induce expression of genes important in kidney dysfunction. We propose that targeting kidney endothelial gene expression may provide a new approach for control of kidney dysfunction.