What role does CD38 play in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and can its inhibition mitigate renal injuries?
Apigenin Capsules, an animal study (Aging 2020, PMID 32507768) — apigenin significantly reduced renal injuries, including tubulointerstitial fibrosis, tubular cell damage, and pro-inflammatory gene expression in diabetic rats. No numeric effect size is reported for Apigenin Capsules in the source abstract.
Source: Aging 2020, PMID 32507768 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: low
Aging · 2020 · PMID 32507768 · DOI 10.18632/aging.103410
Inhibition of CD38 with apigenin can reduce diabetic kidney disease by improving the NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity.
The question
What role does CD38 play in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and can its inhibition mitigate renal injuries?
What they tested
The researchers hypothesized that CD38 contributes to DKD pathogenesis by decreasing the NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity, and that inhibiting CD38 with apigenin would reduce renal injuries.
How they did it
The study used Zucker diabetic fatty rats to investigate the effects of the CD38 inhibitor apigenin on renal injuries, CD38 expression, NAD/NADH ratio, and Sirt3 activity. Additionally, renal proximal tubular HK-2 cells cultured under high-glucose conditions were used to examine the impact of CD38 inhibition or knockdown on NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity.
What they found
Apigenin significantly reduced renal injuries, including tubulointerstitial fibrosis, tubular cell damage, and pro-inflammatory gene expression in diabetic rats. Apigenin also down-regulated CD38 expression and increased the intracellular NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3-mediated mitochondrial antioxidative enzyme activity in the kidneys of diabetic rats. In HK-2 cells, both apigenin and CD38 knockdown increased the NAD/NADH ratio and Sirt3 activity under high-glucose conditions.
What it means
CD38 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of DKD by inhibiting Sirt3 activity and increasing mitochondrial oxidative stress in renal tubular cells. Inhibition of CD38 with apigenin can mitigate these effects and reduce renal injuries.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the study.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Magellan’s evidence label | inhibits CD38, raises NAD/Sirt3 (our label for this citation — see PubMed for the paper’s own title and authors) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Aging |
| Year | 2020 |
| PMID | 32507768 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.18632/aging.103410 ↗ |
| Topic | NAD⁺, sirtuins & cellular energy |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
This citation sits behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are set from the research and are independent of affiliate commissions.
Apigenin Capsules
CD38 activity rises with age and drives the tissue decline of NAD+ that is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and cellular senescence, so inhibiting CD38 is a plausible strategy to preserve NAD+ during aging.
Apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone) is a naturally occurring flavone abundant in chamomile, parsley…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). What role does CD38 play in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and can its inhibition mitigate renal injuries? [Plain-English summary of Aging 2020, PMID 32507768, DOI 10.18632/aging.103410]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.html@misc{magellan_s114,
title = {What role does CD38 play in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and can its inhibition mitigate renal injuries?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 32507768; DOI 10.18632/aging.103410; Aging 2020. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
}https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s114.htmlRelated studies in the Magellan library
- Inhibition of CD38 and nicotinamide riboside ameliorate neuroinflammation by increasing NADJ Neurochem · 2021 · PMID 33871064
- Flavonoid apigenin is an inhibitor of the NAD+ ase CD38: implications for cellular NAD+…Diabetes · 2013 · PMID 23172919
- Effect of Dietary Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt on Cognitive Function in Healthy…J Am Nutr Assoc · 2021 · PMID 34415830
- What are the potential therapeutic roles and molecular mechanisms of urolithins, particularly…Phytother Res · 2021 · PMID 34542202
- Effect of Urolithin A Supplementation on Muscle Endurance and Mitochondrial Health in Older…JAMA Netw Open · 2022 · PMID 35050355
- Urolithin A improves muscle strength, exercise performance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial…Cell Rep Med · 2022 · PMID 35584623
All 17 Magellan summaries on nad⁺, sirtuins & cellular energy →
Prefer the interactive version? Open this summary in the Magellan app → · Browse all 314 study summaries →