Sodium butyrate improves mitochondrial function and kidney tissue injury in diabetic kidney disease via the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway

Purpose Investigate the mechanism of how sodium butyrate (NaBut) improves mitochondrial function and kidney tissue injury in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) via the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway.Methods Assess the effects of NaBut on glucose and insulin tolerance, urine, and gut microbial composition in db/db and db/m mice. Use flow cytometry and western blotting to detect the effects of NaBut on apoptosis, kidney mitochondrial function, and AMPK/PGC-1α signaling. Use HK-2 cells induced by high glucose (HG) to establish the DKD model in vitro and detect changes in the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway and mitochondrial function after NaBut intervention.Results NaBut attenuated blood glucose levels and reversed increases in urine and serum levels of glucose, BUN, Ucr, TG, TC, and UAE in db/db mice. NaBut improved insulin tolerance, reversed PGC-1α and p-AMPK expression level in the kidneys of db/db mice, and improved lipid accumulation and mitochondrial function. NaBut was able to reverse the effects of elevated glucose, compound C, and siRNA-PGC on ROS and ATP levels. Additionally, it increased protein expression of PGC-1α and p-AMPK.Conclusion NaBut activates the kidney mitochondrial AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway and improves mitochondrial dysfunction in DKD, thus protecting kidney tissue in vitro and in vivo.