Mitophagy: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Treating DN

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes and one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease. Tubular damage is an early change and characteristic of DN, and mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the development of DN. Therefore, the timely removal of damaged mitochondria in tubular cells is an effective treatment strategy for DN. Mitophagy is a type of selective autophagy that ensures the timely elimination of damaged mitochondria to protect cells from oxidative stress. In this review, we summarize our understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction and dynamic disorders in tubular cells in DN and the molecular mechanism of mitophagy. Finally, the role of mitophagy in DN and its feasibility as a therapeutic target for DN are discussed.