Tanshinone I improves renal fibrosis by promoting gluconeogenesis through upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α

Background Renal fibrosis, a hallmark of chronic kidney disease, is closely associated with dysregulated gluconeogenesis. Tanshinone I (Tan I), a bioactive compound derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Danshen, exhibits antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effects on...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yanfang Bai, Hui Wen, Junyan Lin, Xinying Liu, Hua Yu, Ming Wu, Ling Wang, Dongping Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Renal Failure
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2024.2433710
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background Renal fibrosis, a hallmark of chronic kidney disease, is closely associated with dysregulated gluconeogenesis. Tanshinone I (Tan I), a bioactive compound derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Danshen, exhibits antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effects on gluconeogenesis and the mechanisms through which it alleviates renal fibrosis remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether Tan I promotes gluconeogenesis and mitigates renal fibrosis.Methods Both in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted. A unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model was used. Masson’s trichrome, HE, and immunofluorescence staining, along with Western blotting, were employed. Lactate concentrations and a pyruvate tolerance test were conducted to assess glucose metabolism. In vitro, HK2 cells and primary renal tubular cells were treated with transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) to induce fibrosis, and the effects of Tan I on glucose and lactate levels were examined.Results In the UUO model, Tan I reduced fibrosis, decreased lactate accumulation, and modulated fibrosis markers while upregulating gluconeogenesis markers. Tanshinone I restored impaired renal gluconeogenesis, as evidenced by increased pyruvate levels. In vitro, Tan I inhibited fibrosis, reduced lactate levels, and increased glucose levels in cell supernatants. It also restored gluconeogenesis protein expression and decreased fibrotic protein levels. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator (PGC1α) expression was downregulated in UUO and TGFβ-stimulated models, and Tan I reversed this downregulation. Inhibition of PGC1α in TGFβ-stimulated cells counteracted the antifibrotic and gluconeogenesis-promoting effects of Tan I.Conclusions Tanshinone I ameliorated renal fibrosis by enhancing gluconeogenesis through upregulation of PGC1α.
ISSN:0886-022X
1525-6049