PPAR-α transcriptional activity is required to combat doxorubicin-induced podocyte injury in mice.

Immunosuppressants and inhibitors of the renin angiotensin system are major reagents to treat nephrotic syndrome but their clinical effects are not necessarily satisfactory. Injection of doxorubicin in several strains of mice causes nephrotic syndrome-like disorder. Zhou et al. report that PPAR-α expression is downregulated in murine doxorubicin nephropathy and a PPAR-α agonist, fenofibrate, partially ameliorates the disorder induced likely through stabilization of nephrin expression and suppression of apoptosis in podocytes, providing a new preventive strategy.