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Artemether attenuates renal tubular injury by targeting mitochondria in adriamycin nephropathy mice

Xinyuan Cheng1, Peng Zhou1, Wenci Weng1

  • 1Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

American Journal of Translational Research
|April 15, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Artemether protects kidneys by improving mitochondrial function and biogenesis in renal tubules, offering a potential treatment for chronic kidney disease and renal tubular injury.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Mitochondrial Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathogenesis involves complex mechanisms, with renal tubular injury and fibrosis being key drivers of progression.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction in renal tubules is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to kidney disease.
  • The precise mechanisms underlying the renal protective effects of artemether remain largely undefined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the therapeutic potential of artemether in mitigating renal tubular injury and fibrosis.
  • To elucidate the role of artemether in regulating mitochondrial function and biogenesis within renal tubules.
  • To explore artemether's impact on apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Bcl-xL) and pyruvate metabolism in the context of kidney injury.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo studies involving animal models of kidney disease to assess artemether's effects on renal function and histology.
  • In vitro experiments using cell cultures to examine artemether's direct impact on renal tubular cells.
  • Analysis of urinary protein/creatinine ratio, renal tubular morphology, mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins.

Main Results:

  • Artemether treatment significantly reduced urinary protein/creatinine ratio and attenuated renal tubular injury.
  • Both in vivo and in vitro data demonstrated that artemether restored altered renal tubular phenotypes.
  • Artemether normalized the expression of Bax and Bcl-xL, regulated mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism, enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis, and improved overall mitochondrial function.

Conclusions:

  • Artemether effectively attenuates renal tubular injury and fibrosis by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and function.
  • The drug demonstrates potential in restoring cellular homeostasis and regulating apoptotic pathways in damaged renal tubules.
  • Artemether shows promise as a clinical therapeutic agent for kidney diseases, particularly those characterized by renal tubular injury.
Keywords:
Artemetheradriamycin nephropathymitochondriarenal tubular injury

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