Post‑translational modifications in diabetic kidney disease (Review)

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease, with increasing global prevalence, resulting in a notable increase in the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events. Post‑translational modifications (PTMs) are biochemical modifications that occur on specific residues on proteins, leading to an increase in the diversity of proteins and modulation of protein functions. PTMs encompass numerous processes, including phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, ubiquitination, small ubiquitin‑like modifier‑ylation, glycosylation, palmitoylation, glutathionylation, S‑nitrosylation, sulfhydration, as well as lactylation and neddylation. PTMs are associated with the occurrence and progression of DKD. The present review aimed to summarize PTMs and their roles in the pathophysiological mechanisms of DKD, including cell death, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and fibrosis.