Signaling pathways of PAX2 and its role in renal interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis

PAX2, a nuclear transcription factor in renal development, is strongly expressed during kidney development and plays an important role in kidney development, differentiation, and renal cell proliferation. PAX2 is expressed in epithelial cells of fetal kidneys and its expression is up-regulated in certain pathologic conditions. However, the transcription activation of PAX2 and its signaling pathways are complicated. Recent discoveries find that the PAX2 gene is pivotal in kidney development and it is implicated in the pathogenesis of renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) and glomerulosclerosis (GS). Here, I comprehensively reviewed the signal transduction pathways of PAX2 and its role in the pathogenesis of RIF and GS.