Adiponectin attenuates high glucose-induced apoptosis through the AMPK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in NRK-52E cells

Excessive apoptosis of proximal tubule cell is closely related to the development of diabetes. Recent evidence suggests that adiponectin (ADPN) protects cells from high glucose induced apoptosis. However, the precise mechanisms remain poorly understood. We sought to investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) in anti-apoptotic of adiponectin under high glucose condition in rat tubular NRK-52E cells. Cells were cultured in constant and oscillating high glucose media with or without recombinant rat adiponectin for 48 h. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability, flow cytometry and Hoechst Staining were applied to investigate cell apoptosis, and western blotting was used to examine protein expression, such as phospho-AMPK and phospho-p38MAPK. Exposure to oscillating high glucose exerted lower cell viability and higher early apoptosis than constant high glucose, which were both partially prevented by adiponectin. Further studies revealed that adiponectin suppressed p38MAPK phosphorylation, but led to an increase in AMPK α phosphorylation. Compared to stable high glucose group, blockage of p38MAPK cascade with SB203580 attenuated apoptosis significantly, but failed to affect the phosphorylation level of AMPK. While AMPK inhibitor, Compound C, increased apoptosis and remarkably inhibited the p38MAPK phosphorylation. Adiponectin exert a crucial protective role against apoptosis induced by high glucose via AMPK/p38MAPK pathway.