GSE159882
Targeting methylglyoxal in diabetic kidney disease using the novel mitochondria-targeted compound MitoGamide
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains the number one cause of end-stage renal disease in the western world. Currently there is no treatment to cure diabetes or deal effectively with its complications. In experimental diabetes, mitochondrial dysfunction in the kidney has been widely reported with changes in mitochondrial bioenergetics preceding the development of the renal lesion. Glucose-derived molecules generated during diabetes, known as dicarbonyls, such as methylglyoxal, are thought to impair mitochondrial function and may contribute to the pathogenesis of DKD. Here, we sought to target methylglyoxal within the mitochondria using MitoGamide, the novel mitochondria-targeted dicarbonyl scavenger, in an experimental model of diabetes. Male 6-week-old heterozygous Akita mice (C57BL/6-Ins2-Akita/J) or wildtype littermates were randomized to receive MitoGamide (10mg/kg/day) or vehicle by oral gavage for 16 weeks. MitoGamide did not alter blood glucose control or body composition. Akita mice exhibited hallmarks of DKD including albuminuria, hyperfiltration, glomerulosclerosis and renal fibrosis, however, after 16 weeks of treatment, MitoGamide did not substantially improve the renal phenotype. Complex-I-linked mitochondrial respiration was increased in the kidney of Akita mice which was unaffected by MitoGamide. Exploratory studies using transcriptomics identified that MitoGamide induced changes to olfactory signalling, immune system, respiratory electron transport and post-translational protein modification pathways. These findings indicate that targeting methylglyoxal within the mitochondria using MitoGamide is not a valid therapeutic approach for DKD and that other mitochondrial targets or processes upstream should be the focus of therapy. Overall design: Heterozygous Ins2-Akita mice (C57BL/6J-Ins2Akita) and their wild type littermates underwent treatment with mitoGamide or mitoQ or their respective vehicle controls at 6 weeks of age via oral gavage. The treatment was continued until mice were 22 weeks of age, at which time the kidneys were harvested and renal cortex tissue underwent RNA extraction and sequencing. Only male mice were used.