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Ezetimibe Enhances Lipid Droplet and Mitochondria Contact Formation, Improving Fatty Acid Transfer and Reducing Lipotoxicity in Alport Syndrome Podocytes

Authors
 Jin-Ju Kim  ;  Eun-Jeong Yang  ;  Judith Molina David  ;  Sunjoo Cho  ;  Maria Ficarella  ;  Nils Pape  ;  Josephin Elizabeth Schiffer  ;  Rachel Njeim  ;  Stephanie S Kim  ;  Claudia Lo Re  ;  Antonio Fontanella  ;  Maria Kaber  ;  Alexis Sloan  ;  Sandra Merscher  ;  Alessia Fornoni 
Citation
 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, Vol.25(23) : 13134, 2024-12 
Journal Title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
ISSN
 1661-6596 
Issue Date
2024-12
MeSH
Animals ; Anticholesteremic Agents / pharmacology ; Apoptosis / drug effects ; Collagen Type IV / metabolism ; Ezetimibe* / pharmacology ; Fatty Acids* / metabolism ; Lipid Droplets* / drug effects ; Lipid Droplets* / metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism / drug effects ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial* / drug effects ; Mice ; Mitochondria* / drug effects ; Mitochondria* / metabolism ; Nephritis, Hereditary* / drug therapy ; Nephritis, Hereditary* / metabolism ; Nephritis, Hereditary* / pathology ; Oxidative Stress / drug effects ; Podocytes* / drug effects ; Podocytes* / metabolism
Keywords
Alport syndrome podocytes ; fatty acid ; lipid droplet ; lipotoxicity
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of Alport syndrome (AS), contributing to podocyte injury and disease progression. Ezetimibe, a lipid-lowering drug, is known to inhibit cholesterol and fatty acid uptake and to reduce triglyceride content in the kidney cortex of mice with AS. However, its effects on lipid droplet (LD) utilization by mitochondria have not been explored. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and mitochondrial functional assays (ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and citrate synthase activity) were used to investigate the impact of ezetimibe on LD-mitochondria contact formation and mitochondrial function in Col4a3KO (AS) and wildtype (WT) podocytes. TEM analysis revealed significant mitochondrial abnormalities in AS podocytes, including swollen mitochondria and reduced cristae density, while mitochondrial function assays showed decreased ATP production and lowered mitochondrial membrane potential. AS podocytes also demonstrated a higher content of LD but with reduced LD-mitochondria contact sites. Ezetimibe treatment significantly increased the number of LD-mitochondria contact sites, enhanced fatty acid transfer efficiency, and reduced intracellular lipid accumulation. These changes were associated with a marked reduction in the markers of lipotoxicity, such as apoptosis and oxidative stress. Mitochondrial function was significantly improved, evidenced by increased basal respiration, ATP production, maximal respiration capacity, and the restoration of mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, mitochondrial swelling was significantly reduced in ezetimibe-treated AS podocytes. Our findings reveal a novel role for ezetimibe in enhancing LD-mitochondria contact formation, leading to more efficient fatty acid transfer, reduced lipotoxicity, and improved mitochondrial function in AS podocytes. These results suggest that ezetimibe could be a promising therapeutic agent for treating mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid metabolism abnormalities in AS.
Files in This Item:
T992025003.pdf Download
DOI
10.3390/ijms252313134
Appears in Collections:
1. College of Medicine (의과대학) > Research Institute (부설연구소) > 1. Journal Papers
Yonsei Authors
Yang, Eun Jeong(양은정) ORCID logo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3516-1229
URI
https://ir.ymlib.yonsei.ac.kr/handle/22282913/202490
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