Translocator Protein and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Chronic Kidney Disease​

The authors investigate the role of the translocator protein (TSPO) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, particularly its impact on mitochondrial dysfunction, kidney inflammation, and fibrosis. Using mouse models and primary renal tubular epithelial cells, they demonstrate that TSPO deficiency mitigates kidney injury and fibrosis by enhancing mitochondrial energy metabolism and disrupting glycolytic processes. Their findings suggest that targeting TSPO could be a potential therapeutic strategy for CKD.