Blockade of STARD3-mediated cholesterol transport alleviates diabetes-induced podocyte injury by reducing mitochondrial cholesterol accumulation

Steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR)-related lipid transfer domain-3 (STARD3) is a sterol-binding protein that facilitates cholesterol transport between cellular organelles. Cholesterol accumulation in podocytes directly contributes to the pathogenesis of albuminuria and renal injury under the condition of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The aim of this study is to determine the role of STARD3 on the intracellular distribution of cholesterol within podocytes.