C3a/C3aR axis is involved in diabetic kidney injury by regulating podocyte mitophagy in diabetic nephropathy

The C3a/C3aR axis has been confirmed to be associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and mitochondrial dysfunction; however, the exact mechanisms underlying its role in diabetic podocytopathy remain unclear. The present study investigated the involvement of C3a/C3aR signaling in regulating mitophagy during the progression of DN. Diabetic db/db mice exhibited elevated renal C3 and C3aR levels, concurrent with podocyte injury, proteinuria and glomerular damage. Administration of the C3aR antagonist (C3aRA) SB290157 attenuated podocyte loss, reduced albuminuria and mitigated glomerular pathology. Ultrastructural and functional analyses revealed that C3aRA restored mitochondrial integrity in podocytes, resolving diabetes‑associated fragmentation and bioenergetic deficits. In vitro, high glucose‑exposed human podocytes displayed suppressed mitophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction, which were exacerbated by exogenous C3a. Conversely, C3aRA treatment enhanced mitophagy and preserved mitochondrial membrane potential, while small interfering RNA‑mediated C3aR or PINK1 knockdown abolished these protective effects. Notably, C3aRA activated the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 pathway, driving both mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy. Disruption of this axis via FoxO1 inhibition reversed the therapeutic benefits of C3aRA, confirming its mechanistic centrality. In conclusion, the C3a/C3aR/PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 axis represents a previously unrecognized molecular bridge between complement activation and mitophagy failure in DN. Pharmacological disruption of this pathway could preserve podocyte homeostasis, offering a precision strategy against diabetic kidney injury.