Could the Notch signaling pathway be a potential therapeutic option in renal diseases

Abstract The Notch pathway regulates key processes in the kidney involved in embryonic development and tissue damage. Local activation of the Notch pathway has been described in many human chronic renal diseases, and has been suggested that several Notch pathway components could be considered as biomarkers of renal damage. Experimental studies done using Notch-components genetic modified mice as well as pharmacological approaches, such as γ-secretase inhibitors that block Notch pathway activation, have demonstrated the role of this pathway in renal regeneration, podocyte apoptosis, proliferation and fibroblasts activation, and induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition of tubular epithelial cells. Recent studies suggest an interaction between Notch and NF-κB pathways in the regulation of the renal inflammatory process. Additionally, some miRNAs could regulate Notch components and down-stream responses. All these data suggest that blockade of the Notch signaling pathway could be a novel therapeutic option for renal diseases.