AMPK Mediates the Initiation of Kidney Disease Induced by a High-Fat Diet

The mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and progressive renal disease are not well understood. Exposure to a high-fat diet decreases levels of the cellular energy sensor AMPK in many organs, including the kidney, but whether AMPK contributes to the pathophysiology of kidney disease induced by a high-fat diet is unknown. In this study, we randomly assigned C57BL/6J mice to a standard or high-fat diet. After 1 week, mice fed a high-fat diet exhibited an increase in body weight, renal hypertrophy, an increase in urine H2O2 and urine MCP-1, and a decrease in circulating adiponectin levels and renal AMPK activity. Urine ACR progressively increased after 4 weeks of a high-fat diet. After 12 weeks, kidneys of mice fed a high-fat diet demonstrated a marked increase in markers of fibrosis and inflammation, and AMPK activity remained significantly suppressed. To determine whether inhibition of AMPK activity explained these renal effects, we administered an AMPK activator along with a high-fat diet for 1 week. Although AMPK activation did not abrogate the weight gain, it reduced the renal hypertrophy, urine H2O2, and urine and renal MCP-1. In vitro, AMPK activation completely inhibited the induction of MCP-1 by palmitic acid in mesangial cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that the energy sensor AMPK mediates the early renal effects of a high-fat diet.