Obesity is increasingly recognized as a global health pandemic, linked to numerous complications, including kidney injury, which often manifests as proteinuria (elevated protein levels in the urine). This can be an early sign of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Recent research by scientists at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) and the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has explored the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind obesity-induced kidney ailments. Using the Wistar NIN-Obese rat model and a high-fat-fed mice model, they found that obesity leads to significant proteinuria, which damages podocytes, critical cells in the kidney’s functional unit (the nephron).
They also observed up-regulation of the WT1 (Wilms Tumor1) transcription factor, which is typically minimal in adult kidneys but increases in obesity, contributing to kidney damage. This study helps clarify the link between obesity and kidney disease, indicating that managing obesity may be vital in preventing CKD.
