Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 4 mediates apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum stress in mesangial cells of diabetic nephropathy

We found FABP4 was expressed mainly in glomerular mesangial cells of the human renal biopsies and the glomerular FABP4 was increased in renal biopsies of DN. The up-regulation of FABP4 was accompanied with increased glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and Caspase-12 as well as down-regulated B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) in glomeruli. Along with the induction of FABP4 and apoptosis, GRP78 and its three sensors as well as C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and Caspase-12 were induced in HMCs treated with NEFA or high glucose and these responses were attenuated or even abrogated by treating with FABP4 inhibitor or FABP4 siRNA. Ultrastructure observation confirmed the lipotoxicity of oleic acid by showing the morphological damage in HMCs. Our data suggest that FABP4 in glomerular mesangial cells is up-regulated in DN and FABP4 mediates apoptosis via the ER stress in HMCs.