Glycosylation in kidney diseases

Abstract

Protein glycosylation is a critical post-translational modification that influences protein folding, localization, stability, and functional interactions by attaching glycans to specific sites. This process is crucial for biological functions of glycoproteins, and aberrant glyco-sylation can lead to genetic disorders, immune system issues, and multi-organ pathologies. Recent advancements in glycoproteomic technologies have made the study of protein glycosylation a key focus for understanding the pathogenesis of kidney diseases. This review provides a comprehensive overview of protein glycosylation mechanisms, its biological roles, molecular pathways, and signif-icant functions in renal physiology and pathology. It specifically highlights the dynamic changes and regulatory networks associated with aberrant glycosylation in kidney diseases such as immunoglobulin A nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, autosomal domi-nant polycystic kidney disease, renal cell carcinoma, and acute kidney injury. It also evaluates the clinical applications of related technologies and biomarkers. Additionally, it discusses the challenges in developing glycosylation-targeted therapeutic strategies. Future research should focus on clarifying cell-specific glycosylation regulatory networks in the kidney, integrating glycobiology with multi-omics approaches, and improving precision diagnostics and treatment for kidney diseases.

Keywords

glycosylation / kidney diseases / glycoproteomics / mass spectrometry / biomarkers