Effect of adiponectin on oxidative stress-apoptotic pathway in podocytes under high glucose conditions

To investigate the effect of adiponectin (APN) on the oxidative stress-apoptotic pathway of podocytes under high glucose conditions, podocytes were categorized into a control group ( 5.5 mmol/L, normal glucose, NG), high glucose group (30 mmol/L, high glucose, HG), and an APN intervention group (HG+ APN). The expression of podocyte cytoskeleton proteins (nephrin/podocin/synaptopodin), p-AMPK activity, and the NADPH oxidase family (NOX1/NOX4) and apoptosis-related proteins p53 and PUMA (p53 up-regulated apoptotic regulator) were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The total RNA extracted by nano-magnetic beads was retrieved into DNA by the MagBeads Total RNA Extraction Kit, and cDNA was synthesized through reverse transcription. Podocyte apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. In comparison with the control group, the high glucose group exhibited the reduced expression of podocyte cytoskeleton proteins, decreased p-AMPK activity, increased expression of NOX1, NOX4, P53, and PUMA, and increased podocyte apoptosis (28.15% +/- 1.38%). APN intervention could significantly restore the expression of cytoskeleton proteins, increase the activity of p-AMPK, reduce the expression of NOX1, NOX4, P53, and PUMA, and reduce the apoptosis of podocytes (9.15% +/- 1.98%). The protective effect of APN disappeared when AMPK was inhibited. APN may inhibit oxidative stress-apoptosis of podocytes under high glucose conditions through the activation of AMPK.