Metformin inhibits high glucose-induced apoptosis of renal podocyte through regulating miR-34a/SIRT1 axis.

Background: Previous studies have reported SIRT1 was inversely modulated by miR-34a, However, mechanism of metformin (MFN)'s renal podocyte protection under high glucose (HG) conditions and the connection between miR-34a and SIRT1 expression in diabetic nephropathy (DN) remain unclear.

Method: We aimed to further elucidate the role of miR-34a in HG-treated podocytes in DN. A conditionally immortalized human podocyte cell line was cultivated in d-glucose (30 mM).