Notch信号通路与肾脏疾病

Notch signaling pathway exists widely in invertebrates and vertebrates, an evolutionary conserved cell-cell communication mechanism. It mediates communication between adjacent cells ,thus expands and solidifys intercellular molecular differences to decide cell fate and affect organ formation and morphogenesis. At the same time it plays an important role in the renal development,too. The recent findings verify that it also closely associated with the occurrence and development of kidney disease . In the normal mature nephron, almost of the molecules of notch signaling pathway are lower expression.　However, a number of studies have confirmed notch signaling pathway is abnormal activation in glomerular disease, acute kidney injury, renal tubular interstitial fibrosis and kidney tumors, and its inhibitors can effectively reduce the kidney damage. This paper, combining the latest progress, aims to discuss Notch signaling and kidney disease.