Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD） is a common complication of diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease. Its pathogenesis is complex， and it presents a significant challenge in treatment， gradually becoming a major global public health issue. One of the main pathological changes in DKD is tubulointerstitial fibrosis， clinically characterized by proteinuria and declining kidney function， which severely impacts the daily life of patients. Currently， western medicine commonly uses methods such as controlling blood sugar and blood pressure， and reducing proteinuria to treat DKD， but the efficacy is unsatisfactory， and there are many side effects. As reported， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment for DKD has many advantages， such as low cost， significant efficacy， and minimal adverse reactions. More researchers focusing on DKD are turning their attention to TCM， and progress has been made in related studies both in China and abroad. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is relatively evolutionarily conserved and plays a crucial role in normal biological development and the entire life process. Studies have demonstrated that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is related to renal fibrosis， which coincides with TCM theory of "collateral diseases". By reviewing relevant literature， this article reviewed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its role in DKD and summarized the research status of TCM monomers， single drug extracts， and TCM formulas in improving renal fibrosis and treating DKD through the improvement of glomerular mesangial cells， renal tubular epithelial cells， and podocyte injury， aiming to provide new ideas and directions for TCM treatment of DKD.