Mitochondrial oxidative damage reprograms lipid metabolism of renal tubular epithelial cells in the diabetic kidney

The functional and structural changes in the proximal tubule play an important role in the occurrence and development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Diabetes-induced metabolic changes, including lipid metabolism reprogramming, are reported to lead to changes in the state of tubular epithelial cells (TECs), and among all the disturbances in metabolism, mitochondria serve as central regulators. Mitochondrial dysfunction, accompanied by increased production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), is considered one of the primary factors causing diabetic tubular injury. Most studies have discussed how altered metabolic flux drives mitochondrial oxidative stress during DKD. In the present study, we focused on targeting mitochondrial damage as an upstream factor in metabolic abnormalities under diabetic conditions in TECs. Using SS31, a tetrapeptide that protects the mitochondrial cristae structure, we demonstrated that mitochondrial oxidative damage contributes to TEC injury and lipid peroxidation caused by lipid accumulation. Mitochondria protected using SS31 significantly reversed the decreased expression of key enzymes and regulators of fatty acid oxidation (FAO), but had no obvious effect on major glucose metabolic rate-limiting enzymes. Mitochondrial oxidative stress facilitated renal Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) deposition and SS31 limited the elevated Acer1, S1pr1 and SPHK1 activity, and the decreased Spns2 expression. These data suggest a role of mitochondrial oxidative damage in unbalanced lipid metabolism, including lipid droplet (LD) formulation, lipid peroxidation, and impaired FAO and sphingolipid homeostasis in DKD. An in vitro study demonstrated that high glucose drove elevated expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), which, in turn, was responsible for the altered lipid metabolism, including LD generation and S1P accumulation, in HK-2 cells. A mitochondria-targeted antioxidant inhibited the activation of cPLA2f isoforms. Taken together, these findings identify mechanistic links between mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and reprogrammed lipid metabolism in diabetic TECs, and provide further evidence for the nephroprotective effects of SS31 via influencing metabolic pathways.