The protective effect of the EP2 receptor on TGF-β1 induced podocyte injury via the PI3K / Akt signaling pathway.

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) plays a central role in chronic kidney diseases. TGF-β1 induction causes podocyte injury, which results in proteinuria and renal failure. However, the effect of the prostaglandin E2 /E-prostanoid receptor (EP2) on TGF-β1-induced podocyte injury remains unknown.

SB-216763, a GSK-3β inhibitor, protects against aldosterone-induced cardiac, and renal injury by activating autophagy.

Cardiovascular and renal inflammation induced by Aldosterone (Aldo) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and renal fibrosis. GSK-3β contributes to inflammatory cardiovascular and renal diseases, but its role in Aldo-induced hypertension, and renal damage is not clear. In the present study, rats were treated with Aldo combined with SB-216763 (a GSK-3β inhibitor) for 4 weeks.