PGC1α Activators Mitigate Diabetic Tubulopathy by Improving Mitochondrial Dynamics and Quality Control

Figure 4

AICAR and metformin ameliorate the effect of high-glucose (HG) concentrations on mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy in human renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs). (a, A, B, and C) Representative confocal fluorescence images of MitoTracker and LC3 show an increase in functional mitochondria and autophagic activity after exposure to HG and treatment with AICAR or metformin in human RPTCs. (b) Increased mtDNA to gDNA ratio was observed in human RPTCs treated with metformin or AICAR in the presence of HG. (c) Western blot analyses showed the reversal of alterations in the expression levels of profission (Drp1), profusion (Mfn1), and autophagy-related proteins (LC3-II) in the presence of HG after treatment with AICAR or metformin. ( versus 5 mM glucose; versus 30 mM glucose; scale bar 5 μm).

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