With the high incidence of diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy becomes the second cause of the end-stage renal disease and at the same time, its underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. The metabolic nuclear receptors play an important role in the glucose and lipid homeostasis. Increasing evidence demonstrates that these receptors are involved in the regulation of the renal function and participate in the pathogenesis of many kidney diseases. This paper reviews the role of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), the liver X receptors (LXRs) and the farnesoid X receptors (FXRs) in regulating the renal physiology and pathophysiology. We also discuss the possibility that these nuclear receptors serve as therapeutic targets for the treatment of the diabetic nephropathy.

diabetic nephropathy  /  metabolic nuclear receptors  /  PPARs  /  LXRs  /  FXRs