Mitochondrial Regulation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Diabetic Kidney Disease: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies.

Despite current therapies, persistent chronic inflammation remains an important contributor to residual renal risk in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The NLRP3 inflammasome is a key driver of this inflammatory cascade, with mitochondria serving as a central hub that translates metabolic stress into NLRP3 activation via mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and oxidized mitochondrial DNA (ox-mtDNA). This review delineates the signaling network of the mitochondria-NLRP3 inflammasome axis in DKD and evaluates its potential as a therapeutic target to improve patient outcomes.