β连环蛋白(β-catenin)在细胞中具有双重作用,一是参与钙黏蛋白(cadherin)介导的细胞间的黏附作用,二是作为经典wnt信号通路中最重要的信息分子,调控细胞生长、分化和凋亡等。β-catenin能发生多种蛋白翻译后修饰,如磷酸化、泛素化、乙酰化,影响其自身稳定性、细胞定位及活性,进而介导E-cadherin/β-catenin复合物完整性,并调节Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,调控β-catenin靶基因的表达,最终影响肾间质纤维化的发生发展过程。
β-catenin plays a dual role in cells,is not only involved in cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesion,but also as the most important information molecules in classical Wnt signaling pathway, regulates cell growth,differentiation and apoptosis. β-catenin can be modified by phosphorylation,ubiquitylation and acetylation. These posttranslational modifications influence the stability,translocation and activity of β-catenin as to mediate E-cadherin / β-catenin complex integrity and regulate the Wnt / β-catenin signaling pathway,influencing the expression of β-catenin target genes.And then they affect the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis.