Res also decreased DN induced mTOR/ULK1-mediated autophagy and apoptosis and significantly reduced STZ mediated lipid deposition in nephrons, likely by decreasing the levels of lipogenic related proteins (SREBP-1c, ACS) and increased lipidolysis related proteins (PPARα, CPT-1).
ULK-1 with EGFR can predict early impairment in DN while PDCN can highlight progressive DN risk EGFR and PDCN may interact synergistically with ULK-1 in autophagy dysregulation as a pathogenic mechanism of DN induction and progression.