Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease with Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition-related Pathways： A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20251498
- VernacularTitle:基于上皮-间充质转化相关通路探讨中医药治疗糖尿病肾脏疾病的研究进展
- Author:
Jintao SHI
1
;
Zhiyi ZHANG
1
;
Yushan GAO
1
;
Baicun GUO
1
;
Yifei HU
1
;
Jiarui HAN
1
Author Information
1. Second Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine，Zhengzhou 450002，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
diabetic kidney disease;
epithelial-mesenchymal transition;
signaling pathway;
traditional Chinese medicine;
mechanism research
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(24):288-298
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Diabetic kidney disease （DKD） stands as one of the most prevalent microvascular complications of diabetes，noted for its concealed onset and tendency to evolve into end-stage renal disease，profoundly impacting patients' life expectancy and quality of life. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition （EMT） is a central pathological process in the initiation and progression of DKD，facilitating disease advancement and renal fibrosis，thus representing a crucial focus of research into the pathological mechanisms of DKD. EMT is driven by the abnormal activation of signaling pathways，including transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）/Smad，secreted glycoprotein/β-catenin，Notch，tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB），and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin （PI3K/Akt/mTOR），leading to renal cellular injury and subsequently accelerating renal fibrosis and the progression of DKD. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM），characterized by its multi-target and multi-pathway therapeutic approach，demonstrates unique advantages in addressing DKD and EMT. Recent research has shown that active ingredients in TCM，including glycosides，flavonoids，and polyphenols，as well as TCM formulas，can precisely target these relevant signaling pathways，effectively inhibiting cellular injury in DKD and intervening in the EMT process. These findings not only underscore the potential of TCM monomers and formulas in treating DKD and EMT but also pave new directions for research in this field within TCM. This paper systematically reviewed the signaling pathways associated with EMT and provided an in-depth analysis of the research achievements and underlying mechanisms of TCM monomers and formulas in treating DKD and intervening in EMT，aiming to offer new insights and directions for TCM in the treatment of DKD and research on EMT，thereby further promoting the modernization and development of TCM.
