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World J Diabetes. Sep 15, 2026; 17(9): 123886
Published online Sep 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.123886
Published online Sep 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.123886
Ginsenoside Rd promote the contact between mitochondria and lipid droplets through Plin1/Mfn2 to treat diabetic kidney disease
Wen-Bin Wu, Yi Tao, Nai-Jia Xu, Cheng-Hong Zheng, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Medicine, Wuhan 430014, Hubei Province, China
Qing-Qing Shao, Department of Dermatology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Fen Yuan, Hui Dong, Fu-Er Lu, Fan Wu, Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
Co-first authors: Wen-Bin Wu and Yi Tao.
Co-corresponding authors: Cheng-Hong Zheng and Fan Wu.
Author contributions: Wu WB and Tao Y completed the experiment as co-first authors; Xu NJ and Shao QQ participated in the experiment and provided technical guidance for the experiment; Yuan F, Dong H and Lu FE provided guidance for the experimental scheme; Zheng CH and Wu F provided financial support and detailed arrangement for the experimental plan as co-corresponding authors; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: No AI tool was involved in the generation of research data, interpretation of results, or formulation of conclusions.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82405337; Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China, No. 2024AFB489; Wuhan Natural Science Foundation Exploration Program (Chenguang Program), No. 2025020701020243.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: All protocols were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Tongji Hospital (IACUC number: TJH-202502035).
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Data sharing statement: The data supporting this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, subject to privacy and ethical restrictions.
Corresponding author: Fan Wu, Physician, Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
Received: June 30, 2026
Revised: July 17, 2026
Accepted: August 25, 2026
Published online: September 15, 2026
Processing time: 91 Days and 17 Hours
Revised: July 17, 2026
Accepted: August 25, 2026
Published online: September 15, 2026
Processing time: 91 Days and 17 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study identifies the protein kinase A/perilipin (Plin) 1/mitofusin 2 axis as a novel therapeutic target for diabetic kidney disease. Ginsenoside Rd activates protein kinase A, promotes Plin1-mitofusin 2 interaction, enhances lipid droplet-mitochondria contact, and stimulates fatty acid oxidation, thereby attenuating renal lipid accumulation and fibrosis. Using in vivo and in vitro lossoffunction models, we demonstrate that Plin1 is essential for ginsenoside Rd induced organelle tethering and metabolic benefit, providing a mechanistic framework for diabetic kidney disease intervention.