糖尿病肾病（DKD）是常见的继发性肾脏病，也是引起ESRD的主要病因。肾小管及间质慢性微炎症损伤在DKD发病中的作用日益受到重视。近期研究证明促炎症细胞因子IL-1β、IL-18异常表达在DKD肾组织慢性微炎症的发生中起关键作用，但其成熟激活的分子调控机制尚不清楚。已知线粒体在调节NLRP3炎症小体激活、促进IL-1β、IL-18剪切成熟中起"调控器"作用，但是否介导DKD小管及间质微炎症损伤尚不清楚。我们前期发现：cAMP下游的效应分子Epac1主要表达在小管上皮细胞，能调节小管细胞病理生理功能及线粒体ROS产生等。本项目采用动物及细胞分子生物学技术，体内外研究线粒体调节NLRP3炎症小体/IL-1β分泌轴在DKD小管及间质损伤中的作用与机制，探讨Epac1是否通过此轴干预DKD进展及其相关机理。旨在揭示DKD小管及间质微炎症损伤的分子发病机制，为今后DKD诊疗提供新的干预靶点。

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the leading causes of ESRD. Tubulo-interstitial injury has proved to be an important pathological mechanism of DKD. The role of micro-inflammatory cytokines，especially IL-1β、IL-18 in the pathogenesis of tubulo-interstitial injury has received increasing attention. However, in DKD, the underlying mechanism remains largely elusive. Recent evidence shown that mitochondria modulated NLRP3/IL-1β biological axis which has an essential role in the activation of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β、IL-18、TNF-α、ICAM、INF-γ、TGF-βand FN. Epac1, as an important downstream molecule of cAMP, is mainly expressed in tubular epithelial cells and involved in regulating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this proposal, we will perform in vitro and in vivo studies to dissect the role of mitochondrial ROS modulated NLRP3/IL-1β axis in tubulo-interstitial injury in DKD and the underlying mechanism, to understand how mitochondrial ROS activates NLRP3 inflammasome, and to verify whether Epac1 exert its actions in tubulo-interstitial compartment via mitochondrial ROS/NLRP3/IL-1β biological axis. The goal of this proposal is to dissect the role and underlying mechanisms of inflammation in tubulo-interstitial damage in order to provide scientific and experimental direction for the treatment of DKD in future.