Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
10:31
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
Published on: May 2, 2025
Mapping Spatiotemporal Metabolic Perturbations in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rat Kidneys Using Spatial Metabolomics and
Tianfang Lan1, Caiying Liu1, Xingyu Zhang1
1Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China.
Metabolites
|June 25, 2026
Summary
Spatial metabolomics reveals distinct metabolic changes in diabetic kidneys over time and across regions. Early stages show glucose overload, while later stages indicate impaired function and widespread lipid metabolism remodeling.
Area of Science:
- Metabolomics
- Renal Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Diabetic nephropathy (DN) involves complex metabolic dysregulation not fully understood by current biomarkers.
- The spatial and temporal metabolic changes within kidney compartments during diabetes are poorly characterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate metabolic alterations in diabetic kidneys using spatial metabolomics.
- To understand the region- and time-dependent metabolic reprogramming in diabetic nephropathy (DN).
Main Methods:
- Spatial metabolomics utilizing air flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AFADESI-MSI).
- Analysis of kidney tissues from alloxan-induced diabetic rats at 4 and 8 weeks.
- Complementary LC-MS/MS metabolite profiling and proteomic analysis for pathway interpretation.
Main Results:
- Pronounced region- and time-dependent metabolic reprogramming observed in diabetic kidneys.
- Early DN (4 weeks) showed elevated glucose, activated polyol pathway, and accumulating acylcarnitines/lipids.
- Later DN (8 weeks) revealed declining glucose, impaired metabolic capacity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and broad lipid metabolism remodeling.
- Significant regional heterogeneity in metabolic alterations across renal cortex and medulla.
Conclusions:
- Spatial metabolomics provides a comprehensive characterization of metabolic perturbations during DN progression.
- Coordinated alterations in glucose utilization, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial function were identified.
- The study highlights the value of spatial metabolomics in uncovering region-specific metabolic mechanisms in DN pathogenesis.