The effects of vitamin K on renal lipotoxicity and oxidative stress in HK-2 cells

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19668
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Ho Hsin-Jung 北海道大学, 保健科学研究院, 特任講師 (50815561)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ビタミンK / 腎臓近位尿細管細胞 / ミトコンドリア / 酸化ストレス / 脂肪毒性 / 抗酸化作用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The main focus of current study is to clarify the effect of vitamin K (menaquinone-4, MK-4) in proximal tubular HK-2 cells against oxidative stress. The addition of ROS inducer or fatty acid caused oxidative stress in HK-2 cells, whereas MK-4 improved the oxidative damage, including the increase of ROS, lipid droplets, and the decrease of ATP production, mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, MK-4 also enhanced mitochondrial function in HK-2 cells without oxidative stress. The results suggested that MK-4 might protect kidney through the improvement of mitochondrial function in proximal tubular cells.

Free Research Field

栄養学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、酸化ストレスが糖尿病性腎症を含む様々な疾患の原因と報告されている。本研究でビタミンKの一つであるMK-4が酸化ストレスや脂肪毒性から細胞を保護し、ATP産生を増加させたことから、糖尿病性腎症や酸化ストレス関連疾患の予防に働くことが期待できる。また、MK-4も新たな治療戦略になり得、患者の減少や医療費削減に貢献することができると考える。