Animal models for diabetic kidney disease: perspectives and prospects

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most severe complications of diabetes. Animal models of DKD play a crucial role in elucidating disease pathogenesis, exploring therapeutic strategies, and developing pharmacological interventions. This article systematically reviews the methodologies for establishing the four main categories of DKD animal models (induced, spontaneous, genetically engineered, and disease-syndrome combination models). We summarize the advantages, disadvantages, and inherent limitations of each model type. For each category, feasible optimization strategies are proposed. We advocate for the establishment of a forward-looking, “purpose-oriented” research paradigm. This paradigm aims to guide researchers in selecting models more precisely, optimizing them more proactively, and aligning evaluation criteria with clinical practice, thereby significantly enhancing the success rate and translational value of DKD research.