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New strategy may help prevent kidney failure in patients with diabetes

Investigational compound slows kidney disease progression in mice

Date:
September 8, 2016
Source:
American Society of Nephrology
Summary:
A new strategy may help halt the progression of kidney disease in patients with diabetes. The approach addresses a common and serious complication of diabetes.
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A new strategy may help halt the progression of kidney disease in patients with diabetes. The approach, which is highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), addresses a common and serious complication of diabetes.

Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, and approximately one-third of diabetic patients develop kidney disease, or diabetic nephropathy. Current diabetes therapies are often insufficient for preventing the progression of diabetic nephropathy to kidney failure, but a team led by Jesus Egido, MD, PhD and Carmen Gomez-Guerrero, PhD (Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital-Health Research Institute at the Autonomous University of Madrid, in Spain) has discovered a promising new strategy.

The approach targets a cellular pathway called JAK/STAT that is chronically activated in diabetes and mediates the damaging effects of high blood sugar on kidney cells. The researchers developed a compound that mimics a protein called Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 1 (SOCS1) that helps regulate JAK/STAT, and they found that it can enter cells, inhibit the deleterious effects of high blood sugar on kidney cells, and slow the progression of kidney disease in diabetic mice. In addition, it was able to protect the kidneys in both early and advanced phases of diabetes, it improved kidney function, and it reduced expression of genes associated with kidney inflammation and scarring. These effects occurred independently of blood glucose levels.

"Our goal is to develop the compound as a novel approach to combat chronic complications of diabetes," said Dr. Gomez-Guerrero. "We plan to initiate preclinical development to support early-phase clinical trials."


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Society of Nephrology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Jesus Egido, MD, PhD, Carmen Gomez-Guerrero, PhD et al. Suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) peptidomimetic limits progression of diabetic nephropathy. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, September 2016 DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2016020237

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American Society of Nephrology. "New strategy may help prevent kidney failure in patients with diabetes." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 September 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160908203859.htm>.
American Society of Nephrology. (2016, September 8). New strategy may help prevent kidney failure in patients with diabetes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160908203859.htm
American Society of Nephrology. "New strategy may help prevent kidney failure in patients with diabetes." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160908203859.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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