Berberine protects against diabetic kidney disease via promoting PGC-1α-regulated mitochondrial energy homeostasis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Disordered lipid metabolism and disturbed mitochondrial bioenergetics play pivotal roles in the initiation and development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Berberine is a plant alkaloid, used in Chinese herbal medicine. It has multiple therapeutic actions on diabetes mellitus and its complications, including regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, improvement of insulin sensitivity, and alleviation of oxidative damage. Here, we investigated the reno-protective effects of berberine.

Experimental approach

We used samples from DKD patients and experiments with models of DKD (db/db mice) and cultured podocytes, to characterize energy metabolism profiles using metabolomics. Molecular targets and mechanisms involved in the regulation of mitochondrial fu

SUBMITTER: Qin X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7393204 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature