Overexpression of Circulating Soluble Nogo-B Improves Diabetic Kidney Disease by Protecting the Vasculature.

Damage to the vasculature is the primary mechanism driving chronic diabetic microvascular complications such as diabetic nephropathy, which manifests as albuminuria. Therefore, treatments that protect the diabetic vasculature have significant therapeutic potential. Soluble neurite outgrowth inhibitor-B (sNogo-B) is a circulating N-terminus isoform of full-length Nogo-B, which plays a key role in vascular remodeling following injury.

The Future: Experimental Therapies for Renal Disease in Diabetes.

Diabetic nephropathy is the commonest cause of end-stage renal disease and affects between 30 and 45% of patients with diabetes mellitus. There is no cure for diabetic nephropathy and the current management of this condition includes glycaemic control, blockade of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system and lifestyle changes. However, many patients eventually progress to end-stage renal disease.