Pyruvate alleviates high glucose‐induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in HK‐2 cells

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a critical role in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We previously demonstrated that pyruvate (Pyr)‐enriched oral rehydration solution improved glucometabolic disorders and ameliorated DN outcome in db/db mice. Here, we investigated the effects of Pyr on high glucose‐induced ER stress and apoptosis in HK‐2 cells. Our results suggest that high glucose can induce reactive oxygen species production, apoptosis and ER stress in HK‐2 cells, and that Pyr treatment can ameliorate these effects and restore the expression of key proteins involved in ER stress. Thus, Pyr may have potential for the development of novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of clinical DN. Pyruvate is a scavenger of reactive oxygen species in the presence of oxygen and during hyperglycemia, and it protects against tissue injuries of various insults. Here, we investigated the effects of pyruvate on the HK‐2 cell line under high glucose and concluded that pyruvate ameliorated endoplasmic reticulum stress and inhibited apoptosis under high glucose. Pyruvate may have potential for using in novel strategies for clinical intervention of diabetic nephropathy.