Emodin Alleviates Lipid Accumulation and Renal Tubular Injury in Rats With DN via Inhibiting HIF-1α Expression

BACKGROUND: Our previous study verified that lipid nephrotoxicity mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) activation aggravates diabetic tubular injury. This study investigated whether emodin, an inhibitor of HIF-1α, improves tubular injury by reducing lipid accumulation in diabetic tubules, and examined its underlying mechanism. METHODS: ). RESULTS: -treated HK-2 cells. Moreover, emodin ameliorated lipid accumulation, cellular injury, and mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance in these cells. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that emodin prevents lipid accumulation and cellular injury in diabetic tubular epithelial cells, possibly by inhibiting HIF-1α activation and exerting a protective effect on mitochondria.