AUTHOR=Sieber Jonas , Jehle Andreas W.

TITLE=Free fatty acids and their metabolism affect function and survival of podocytes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2014.00186

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2014.00186

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=<p>Podocyte injury and loss critically contribute to the pathogenesis of proteinuric kidney diseases including diabetic nephropathy. Deregulated lipid metabolism with disturbed free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism is a characteristic of metabolically unhealthy obesity and type 2 diabetes and likely contributes to end-stage kidney disease irrespective of the underlying kidney disease. In the current review, we summarize recent findings related to FFAs and altered renal FFA metabolism with a special focus on podocytes. We will outline the opposing effects of saturated and monounsaturated FFAs and a particular emphasis will be given to the underlying molecular mechanisms involving insulin resistance and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis. Finally, recent data suggesting a critical role of renal FFA metabolism to adapt to an altered lipid environment will be discussed.</p>