Figure 5.

Potential roles of miR-377 in diabetic nephropathy. Glucose and TGF-β are critical components of the glomerular diabetic milieu, which stimulate production of miR-377 and fibronectin, the latter partially via oxidative stress (O₂) and Smad activation. Centrally placed in the diabetic mesangial cell is miR-377, which reduces production of SOD1/2 and PAK1 proteins, as well as other potential candidates from among those listed in Table 2. Up-regulated miR-377 ultimately results in increased fibronectin protein production in diabetic mesangial cells.