Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 Activator DDO-1039 Ameliorates Podocyte Injury in Diabetic Kidney Disease via Suppressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Ferroptosis

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease, and podocyte injury is one of the major contributors to DKD. As a crucial transcriptional factor that regulates cellular response to oxidative stress, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an attractive therapeutic target for DKD. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of DDO-1039, a novel small-molecule Nrf2 activator developed with protein-protein interaction strategy, on podocyte injury in DKD.