Protecting the Kidney: The Unexpected Logic of Inhibiting a Glucose Transporter

Diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Targeting a specific glucose transporter in the kidneys, the sodium glucose cotransporter SGLT2 (SLC5A2), not only lowers blood glucose but can protect the kidneys from failing. The basic idea for the therapeutic use of SGLT2 inhibitors is to lower the body's glucose burden by spilling it into the urine, but the rationale for inhibiting this membrane transporter to protect the kidneys goes much further.

Automated summary

The therapeutic use of SGLT2 inhibitors to protect the kidneys goes beyond lowering blood glucose by spilling it into the urine.