ACSL1: A preliminary study that provides a new target for the treatment of renal fibrosis could bring new insights in diabetic kidney disease

Background Renal fibrosis is the main cause of the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). ACSL1 plays an important role in colon cancer and liver fibrosis. Methods We screened ACSL1 by proteomics analysis and then verified the expression of ACSL1 in the urine of diabetic nephropathy patients by WB and ELISA. Then, a total of 12 db/m and db/db mice were used to verify the association between renal fibrosis and ACSL1. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, Masson staining, and immunostaining were performed for histological studies. The relationship between ACSL1 and renal fibrosis was studied by knocking down ACSL1 in cell experiments. Results The expression of ACSL1 was significantly increased in the exfoliated urine cells and urine supernatant of diabetic nephropathy patients and was closely related to renal function. In addition, the expression of ACSL1 was significantly increased in the renal tissues of db/db mice with fibrosis. Knocking down ACSL1 in HK-2 cells was shown to reverse renal fibrosis induced by high glucose. Conclusions We found a potential therapeutic target for preventing or ameliorating the progression of DKD fibrosis. Reducing ACSL1 expression may be a new strategy for the treatment of renal fibrosis caused by DKD, which provides an experimental theoretical basis for new drug research. (c) 2023 Sociedad Espanola de Nefrologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.