Adipose-Renal Axis in Diabetic Nephropathy

Long-term diabetes can lead to renal injury known as diabetic nephropathy (DN), which is a major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, its pathogenesis has not been well explained. Adipose tissue is recognized as an important energy storage device for the body. Interestingly, many studies have shown that adipose tissue can also act as an endocrine organ by secreting a variety of adipokines to maintain homeostasis. Here, we summarize some of the adipokines that have been identified so far to, more specifically, emphasize their role in DN progression and propose that the “adipose-renal axis” may be a potential target for treating DN.