Dual roles of renal tubular mitochondrial Akt1 in protecting against diabetic nephropathy and improving body glucose metabolism

Background Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of chronic kidney failure. We hypothesized that mitochondrial Akt1 dysfunction in renal proximal tubules plays a pathogenic role in DN development and that its activation may reverse DN progression. Methods To study this signaling pathway, we generated a transgenic mouse model harboring a renal tubule-specific, Tamoxifen-inducible, mitochondria-targeted constitutively active Akt1 (KMCAKT). Type 2 diabetes was induced by a high-fat, high fructose diet (HFFD) for 40 weeks. Renal histology and function were evaluated, and glucose metabolism was assessed using dynamic glucose testing. Results HFFD feeding resulted in development of DN in control non-induced KMCAKT mice, whereas KMCAKT mice with constitutively active mitochondrial Akt1, induced by Tamoxifen-injection (TAM), exhibited significant improvement of kidney dysfunction and histology. Urinary albumin, fasting plasma BUN levels, fibrosis and Jablonski scores were all markedly improved in HFFD-TAM-KMCAKT mice compared with controls, while levels of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) were significantly reduced. HFFD-TAM-KMCAKT mice exhibited lower fasting blood glucose and improved oral glucose tolerance, while basal and stimulated insulin levels were higher, along with increased beta cell mass and insulin secretion (HOMA-β) compared to controls. Hyperglycemic clamp studies confirmed increased insulin secretion in HFFD-TAM-KMCAKT mice. Conclusion Tubular mitochondrial Akt1 plays a key role in DN progression. Restoring tubular mitochondrial Akt1 signaling may represent a novel approach to reverse development of chronic kidney disease. We also identified previously unrecognized metabolic crosstalk between renal tubular mitochondrial Akt1 and pancreatic insulin secretion that may modulate systemic glucose homeostasis.