Wnt/beta-catenin modulation: A promising frontier in chronic kidney disease management.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Being amongst the leading factors of death and distress, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has affected around 850 million people globally. The Wnt/ß-catenin axis is vital for maintaining kidney homeostasis, from nephron generation to overall management. The ß-catenin growth factor is typically not expressed in the adult kidney; however, its expression is found to increase under stress and injury conditions. It is categorised as canonical and non-canonical based on ß-catenin availability, which mounts promising targets for ameliorating CKD. Hence, modulation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling for CKD management is of utmost relevance. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this review is to highlight the significance of targeting Wnt/ß-catenin signalling for CKD management. METHODS: The literature review regarding the role of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling and therapies modulating it in CKD was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar. RESULTS: The current review summarises the pharmacological therapies modulating the Wnt/ß-catenin axis in CKD, building upon promising preclinical studies to establish a foundation for clinical studies in the future. CONCLUSION: Wnt/ß-catenin signalling is the evolution's most conserved pathway, which plays a pivotal role in CKD progression. Therapies modulating Wnt/ß-catenin signalling have emerged as effective means for alleviating CKD.