Ezetimibe Enhances Lipid Droplet and Mitochondria Contact Formation, Improving Fatty Acid Transfer and Reducing Lipotoxicity in Alport Syndrome Podocytes

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of Alport syndrome (AS), contributing to podocyte injury and disease progression. Ezetimibe, a lipid-lowering drug, is known to inhibit cholesterol and fatty acid uptake and to reduce triglyceride content in the kidney cortex of mice with AS. However, its effects on lipid droplet (LD) utilization by mitochondria have not been explored. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and mitochondrial functional assays (ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and citrate synthase activity) were used to investigate the impact of ezetimibe on LD-mitochondria contact formation and mitochondrial function in