Lipid accumulation is ahead of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and therapeutic intervention by acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 silence in diabetic nephropathy

ObjectiveThe study investigated the relationship between epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lipotoxicity in diabetic nephropathy as well as the protective effect of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2) silence.MethodsHigh glucose (30 mmol/L) cultured human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) were used. Triglyceride content, fatty acid β-oxidation rate, malonyl CoA content, and marker proteins of EMT, including E-cadherin (E-cad), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming grow factor-β (TGF-β), were assessed. Silence of ACC2 was achieved by ACC2-shRNA lentivirus transfection.ResultsIn cultured human proximal tubular cells, high glucose induced fatty acid deposit before phenotypical and morphological changes of EMT. At 48 h, more triglyceride content, more malonyl CoA content and lower fatty acid β-oxidation rate were detected. However, increased expression of TGF-β, accompanied by loss of E-cad and acquisition of α-SMA, was observed at 98 h but not at 48 h. The silence of ACC2 in HK-2 cells led to restored cell morphology with less lipid deposition and less malonyl-CoA content, which resulted from faster β-oxidation rate.ConclusionThe progress of lipotoxicity participates in the development of diabetic nephropathy in early stage before EMT. The manipulation of lipid metabolism might act as a promising therapeutic intervention for diabetic nephropathy.