Mitophagy and Ferroptosis in Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Hypothesis of Their Synergistic Interplay in Renal Tubular Injury—A Narrative Review

Tubular injury induced by mitophagy or ferroptosis serves as a critical pathological basis for the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Mitophagy constitutes a critical process of mitigating tubular injury by eliminating damaged organelles to maintain cellular equilibrium and homeostasis. Ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation, serves as a pivotal factor in the progression of DKD. While numerous studies have elucidated the complex relationship between mitophagy and ferroptosis, there is a scarcity of literature addressing the relationship between these two processes in the context of tubular damage in DKD. We reviewed recent literatures exploring the associations among mitophagy, ferroptosis, and renal tubular injury in DKD, and tried to summarize the complex crosstalk between ferroptosis and autophagy in DKD. We hope to offer some new ideas for the treatment of DKD.