ResearchIn-Press PreviewMetabolismNephrology
Open Access | 10.1172/jci.insight.191458
1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by Yuan, Q. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by Tang, B. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by Zhu, Y. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by
Wan, C.
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1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by Xie, Y. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by Xie, Y. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by Wan, C. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by Su, H. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by
Liu, Y.
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1Department of Nephrology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2Cancer Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
3Division of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital,Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Find articles by
Zhang, C.
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Published August 4, 2025 - More info
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling is the master modulator of renal fibrosis. However, targeting drugs have failed to prevent the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in clinical trials due to the extensive biological regulation of TGF-β signaling. It is necessary to investigate the precise downstream mechanisms of TGF-β signaling that regulate renal fibrosis. In this study, we found that PR-domain containing 16 (PRDM16) expression in human renal tubular epithelial cells was markedly reduced by TGF-β. Mechanistically, activated Smad3 induced by TGF-β interacted with the cofactor H-Ras and bound to the promoter of PRDM16, downregulating its transcription. Tubular-specific knockout of PRDM16 promoted renal fibrosis in models of unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO) and unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (UIRI) by exacerbating mitochondrial dysfunction. In vitro, PRDM16 blocked TGF-β-induced mitochondrial injury and lipid deposition by upregulating Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator-1α (PGC-1α). Delivery of the exogenous PRDM16 gene preserved renal function and ameliorated the progression of renal fibrosis by protecting mitochondrial function. We report PRDM16 as a novel downstream target of TGF-β signaling that attenuates renal fibrosis by safeguarding tubular mitochondrial function.