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A recent study published in the journal Diabetes suggests that a polymorphism in the AKR1A1 gene may be associated with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The study used transcriptomics and proteomics data to identify concordant gene-protein pairs that were changed in a similar direction with DKD. However, it is unclear whether altered protein expression is a cause or effect of DKD. The study also found that the AKR1A1 polymorphism is associated with increased serum cystatin C, a marker of glomerular filtration rate. Further research is needed to understand the role of AKR1A1 in DKD and identify potential therapeutic targets. [Extracted from the article]

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear transcription factors and play a central role in insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and inflammation. Both PPARα and -γ are expressed in the kidney, and their agonists exhibit renoprotective effects in type 2 diabetes. In the present studies, we investigated the effect of the PPARα/γ dual agonist tesaglitazar on diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Treatment of db/db mice with tesaglitazar for 3 months significantly lowered fasting plasma glucose and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance levels but had little effect on body weight, adiposity, or cardiac function. Treatment with tesaglitazar was associated with reduced plasma insulin and total triglyceride levels and increased plasma adiponectin levels. Notably, tesaglitazar markedly attenuated albuminuria and significantly lowered glomerulofibrosis, collagen deposition, and transforming growth factor-β1 expression in renal tissues of db/db mice. In cultured mesangial cells and proximal tubule cells, where both PPARα and -γ were expressed, tesaglitazar treatment abolished high glucoseinduced total collagen protein production and type I and IV collagen gene expression. Collectively, tesaglitazar treatment not only improved insulin resistance, glycemic control, and lipid profile but also markedly attenuated albuminuria and renal glomerular fibrosis in db/db mice. These findings support the utility of dual PPARα/γ agonists in treating type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes 56:2036-2045, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Profibrotic Circulating Proteins and Risk of Early Progressive Renal Decline in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes With and Without Albuminuria" is presented.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear transcription factors and play a central role in insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and inflammation. Both PPARalpha and -gamma are expressed in the kidney, and their agonists exhibit renoprotective effects in type 2 diabetes. In the present studies, we investigated the effect of the PPARalpha/gamma dual agonist tesaglitazar on diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Treatment of db/db mice with tesaglitazar for 3 months significantly lowered fasting plasma glucose and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance levels but had little effect on body weight, adiposity, or cardiac function. Treatment with tesaglitazar was associated with reduced plasma insulin and total triglyceride levels and increased plasma adiponectin levels. Notably, tesaglitazar markedly attenuated albuminuria and significantly lowered glomerulofibrosis, collagen deposition, and transforming growth factor-beta1 expression in renal tissues of db/db mice. In cultured mesangial cells and proximal tubule cells, where both PPARalpha and -gamma were expressed, tesaglitazar treatment abolished high glucose-induced total collagen protein production and type I and IV collagen gene expression. Collectively, tesaglitazar treatment not only improved insulin resistance, glycemic control, and lipid profile but also markedly attenuated albuminuria and renal glomerular fibrosis in db/db mice. These findings support the utility of dual PPARalpha/gamma agonists in treating type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy.