Liu N, Xu L and Zhuang S
Uric acid is the final metabolic product of purine metabolism in humans due to a lack of the enzyme uricase. The increased level of serum uric acid is tightly related to many diseases, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and diabetes. Hyperuricemia has also been considered as an independent risk factor in the progression of hyperuricemic nephropathy. Currently, it remains incompletely clear about the underlying mechanism by which hyperuricemic nephropathy occurs. Our recent studies have demonstrated that epidermal growth factor receptors is involved in the development of this disease in animals. Here we have made a summary on our findings and discussed related issues.