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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2025

Identification of mitophagy-related biomarkers with immune cell infiltration in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an inflammatory disorder characterized by scaly erythematous plaques and significant comorbidities. Recent studies have suggested that impaired mitophagy, the cellular mechanism for removing dysfunctional mitochondria, may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed bulk RNA sequencing data from 167 healthy individuals and 177 patients with psoriasis obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE30999 and GSE54456). Mitophagy-related genes were isolated using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed and protein-protein interaction networks were constructed for the functional enrichment of genes associated with mitophagy. The correlations between genes associated with mitophagy, signaling pathways, and immune cell infiltration were analyzed. The potential diagnostic value of genes associated with mitophagy was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, which were validated in imiquimod-induced psoriatic skin lesions in mice. RESULTS: We identified 3,839 differentially expressed genes between healthy individuals and patients with psoriasis, and 23 genes were selected as hub genes showing a high correlation with mitophagy in psoriasis. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that hub and associated genes were significantly correlated with skin functions, such as epidermal development and keratinocyte differentiation. In addition, mitophagy-related genes were negatively associated with pro-inflammatory and pro-proliferation pathways in psoriasis. Among the immune cells, CD4+ T cells were most significantly affected by mitophagy-related genes. ROC analysis demonstrated that mitophagy-related genes, especially ACER1, C1ORF68, CST6, FLG2, GJB3, GJB5, GPRIN2, KRT2, and SPRR4 were potential biomarkers of psoriasis for use in diagnosis or treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Mitophagy-related genes play crucial roles in psoriasis and have potential use as biomarkers, providing insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Further research may lead to the development of new strategies for psoriasis management.

Psoriasis↗
PubMed2026

Apolipoprotein E promotes papillary thyroid carcinoma progression by activating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence supports a progression-related role of apolipoprotein E (APOE) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), yet a clear mechanistic explanation for this association is still lacking. Considering the pivotal role of mitochondrial homeostasis in tumorigenesis, the potential role of APOE in promoting PTC progression through mitophagy regulation was investigated. Additionally, the involvement of the PINK1/Parkin-associated pathway in this process was examined to provide insights into its contribution to tumor progression. METHODS: APOE in thyroid carcinoma was characterized in terms of its expression profile, diagnostic relevance, and potential biological functions, based on integrative evidence derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. APOE and mitophagy-related protein expression were further examined in PTC tissues by immunohistochemistry. Further evaluation of APOE in PTC cell lines focused on its association with proliferation, apoptosis, and mitophagy, with bidirectional functional perturbation serving as the basis for assessment. Pharmacological inhibitors were used to assess the involvement of mitophagy-related signaling in the observed APOE-dependent phenotypes. Additionally, the in vivo impact of APOE on PTC tumor growth and mitophagy was further investigated through a nude mouse xenograft model, providing insight into its potential role in tumor progression. RESULTS: A significant upregulation of APOE was observed in thyroid carcinoma tissues and PTC cell lines, supporting its potential relevance as a diagnostic biomarker. The modulation of APOE expression significantly influenced PTC cell proliferation and apoptosis, with overexpression promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis, while knockdown led to the opposite effects. Mechanistically, APOE overexpression increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and decreased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation, accompanied by increased PINK1 and Parkin expression and mitophagy-related changes, including altered mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced overall reactive oxygen species levels, and increased autophagosome formation. Pharmacological inhibition of mitophagy attenuated the proliferative and antiapoptotic effects of APOE. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that APOE promotes PTC progression in association with PINK1/Parkin-related mitophagy and modulation of the AMPK/mTOR axis. The APOE-associated mitophagy axis may provide a rationale for future preclinical investigation in PTC.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE)↗
PubMed2026

Mitophagy-mediated ferroptosis involved in 2,5-hexanedione-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

n-Hexane, a widespread environmental and industrial pollutant, poses serious health risks, particularly neurotoxicity. Chronic exposure primarily induces sensorimotor neuropathy via its metabolite 2,5-hexanedione (HD), yet the mechanisms underlying HD-induced neuronal injury remain unclear. Recent evidence implicates ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, in neurodegenerative processes. In this study, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to HD to establish a neuropathy model. Ferroptosis involvement was assessed using the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) and the ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1. The potential role of mitophagy in HD-induced ferroptosis was evaluated by monitoring mitophagy markers and by autophagy inhibition with chloroquine (CQ). In vitro, SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with PINK-1 siRNA to explore mitophagy-mediated regulation of ferroptosis. HD exposure led to iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial abnormalities, and decreased GPX4 in rat spinal neurons. DFO or ferrostatin-1 treatment ameliorated these changes and preserved mitochondrial integrity. Mechanistic analyses revealed HD-induced activation of mitophagy, as shown by upregulation of Beclin-1, LC3II, Drp-1, and PINK-1, with concomitant downregulation of P62 in spinal mitochondria. CQ suppressed mitophagy, reduced iron deposition and lipid peroxidation, and improved motor function. Similarly, PINK-1 knockdown in SH-SY5Y cells mitigated HD-induced mitophagy and ferroptosis. These findings demonstrate that HD induces neuronal ferroptosis via mitophagy activation. Inhibition of ferroptosis or mitophagy effectively attenuates HD-induced neurotoxicity, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies to reduce neural damage from environmental n-hexane exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Phenotyping of post-fertilization sperm mitophagy determinants discovered in a mammalian gamete-based cell-free system.

The targeted, substrate-specific degradation of paternal mitochondria inside the zygote, known as post-fertilization sperm mitophagy, is a crucial and evolutionarily conserved early embryonic event. It ensures the exclusive maternal inheritance of the mitochondrial genome. Post-fertilization sperm mitophagy was initially thought to only be achieved via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Until pro-autophagic receptor proteins such as SQSTM1, GABARAP, as well as the proteasome-interacting ubiquitinated protein dislocase VCP, were identified as contributors to the degradation of the sperm mitochondria early after mammalian fertilization. This synergy of proteasomal and autophagic pathways ensures a timely degradation of sperm mitochondria shortly after fertilization. The discovery of these autophagic receptors lead researchers to believe there might be other autophagic receptors and determinants necessary for proper post-fertilization sperm mitophagy. Based on the established inventory of proteins from mass spectrometry trials of boar spermatozoa exposed to porcine oocyte extracts in an intra-specific porcine cell-free system (CFS), five candidate mitophagy determinants were further investigated in this study, namely LACTB, PRDX3, PSMA8, TOMM34, and FUNDC1. These proteins of interest were studied and validated by using in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols, cell imaging of spermatids, spermatozoa, oocytes and zygotes, protein interactome analysis, and the porcine CFS. The proteins PSMA8 and TOMM34 behaved in accordance with our proteomic study predictions. The PSMA8 labeling increased after exposure to CFS; in agreement with the classification PSMA8 was given from the mass spectrometry findings. TOMM34 underwent a visible decrease in labeling after exposure to CFS, which also agreed with its proteomic classification; this labeling persisted in IVF zygotes. Except for LACTB, the examined proteins showed mutual interactions as well as interactions with previously identified sperm mitophagy factors in the STRING interactome analysis. Results from this study validate the novel porcine CFS as a valuable tool for the exploration of early fertilization events at a molecular level. Future phenotyping and functional studies using porcine CFS will advance the understanding of mitochondrial inheritance and zygotic development and potentially shed light on the origins of certain mitochondrial diseases arising from the failure of post-fertilization sperm mitophagy.

Animals↗
PubMed2025

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester protects renal tubular epithelial cells against ferroptosis in diabetic kidney disease via restoring PINK1-mediated mitophagy.

Mounting evidence indicates that renal tubular ferroptosis plays a crucial role in the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), derived from propolis, a precious resinous substance synthesized by various bee species, has garnered broad attention in biomedical research. This study aims to explore the mechanism by which CAPE protects renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) against ferroptosis in DKD. DBA/2J mice were administered streptozotocin (STZ) by intraperitoneal injection, fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and treated with CAPE. The findings revealed significant changes in ferroptosis markers. In diabetic mice and TECs under high-glucose (HG) conditions, levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) decreased, while transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) increased. These changes were accompanied by a reduction in antioxidant capability and the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that the intersection targets of CAPE and ferroptosis were mainly located in the mitochondria and exhibited high enrichment values in mitophagy. Further investigations revealed that HG induced a depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and an excessive level of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), accompanied by defective mitophagy. The administration of CAPE inhibited exacerbated ferroptosis and rescued defective mitophagy induced by DKD. In addition, CAPE restored PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) levels, which were markedly diminished in the kidneys of DKD mice and TECs subjected to HG. Molecular docking simulation experiments suggested that CAPE is steadily bound to the PINK1 active pocket. Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) and Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability assay (DARTS) showed that CAPE enhances the thermal stability of the PINK1 protein within a specific temperature range and protects the PINK1 protein from degradation by proteolytic enzymes. These results confirm that CAPE interacts with PINK1 as its specific target. However, the positive outcomes of CAPE treatment on ferroptosis were nullified by the PINK1 siRNA. This research indicates that CAPE has potential therapeutic benefits for DKD by protecting renal TECs against ferroptosis via rescuing PINK1-mediated mitophagy. These findings suggest that CAPE shows potential as a therapeutic agent to prevent tubular injury in DKD.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Epigenetic Reactivation of TNFRSF19 Suppresses Mitophagy and Sensitizes Triple-Negative Breast Cancer to Doxorubicin.

Doxorubicin remains an important component of chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), yet chemoresistance severely limits its clinical efficacy. Here, we identify Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 19 (TNFRSF19) as an epigenetically silenced gene that critically regulates doxorubicin response. Integrative analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and clinical cohorts reveal that high TNFRSF19 expression predicts superior pathological complete response and improved survival in doxorubicin-treated TNBC patients. Mechanistically, TNFRSF19 binds the kinase domain of TGFBR1 via its intracellular domain, disrupting TGFBR1-SMAD3 complex formation and thereby inhibiting SMAD3 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and transcriptional activation of PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1). This suppresses PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and amplified DNA damage upon doxorubicin treatment. Notably, TNFRSF19 is downregulated in TNBC due to DNA hypermethylation, and decitabine restores its expression via promoter demethylation, thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these findings establish TNFRSF19 as a critical epigenetic regulator of mitophagy, highlighting its potential as a predictive biomarker for doxorubicin response and a therapeutic target for sensitizing TNBC to doxorubicin.

DNA methylation↗
PubMed2025

Two genomes, one destiny: Mitophagy at the crossroads of inheritance and disease.

Mechanisms ensuring mito-nuclear compatibility are poorly understood. In a recent study published in Science,1 Frison et al. found that a mouse mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation can escape mitochondrial surveillance in embryogenesis by repressing the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Inhibition of USP30 restored ubiquitin-mediated mitophagy and reduced mutant burden, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for mtDNA disorders.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

GPER stimulation attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac dysfunction in ovariectomized mice with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

BACKGROUND: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is prevalent among postmenopausal women and is strongly linked to estrogen deficiency. G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) mediates non-genomic estrogen signalling and exerts cardiovascular protective effects. Its role in the pathogenesis of HFpEF remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether GPER activation could attenuate mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac damage in ovariectomized (OVX) mice with HFpEF. METHODS: Circulating GPER levels were measured in postmenopausal women with HFpEF and healthy controls. A correlation analysis was performed to assess the associations between GPER and cardiac function. Female C57BL/6J mice underwent ovariectomy and were fed with high-fat diet and l-NAME to induce HFpEF. Mice were treated with the GPER agonist G-1 for 4 weeks. Cardiac function, histological changes, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function and mitophagy were evaluated in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: Serum GPER levels were significantly higher in postmenopausal women with HFpEF and correlated with NT-proBNP and E/e'. In OVX mice with HFpEF, GPER expression was up-regulated, and G-1 improved diastolic function, reduced myocardial hypertrophy and oxidative stress. Importantly, G-1 restored mitochondrial ATP production, normalized mitochondrial dynamics and promoted mitophagy in vivo and in vitro. These effects were associated with activation of the AMPK/ULK1 pathway. Inhibition of AMPK diminished the protective effects of G-1 in cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS: GPER agonist G-1 ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction, promoted mitophagy and alleviated cardiac diastolic dysfunction in OVX mice with HFpEF, partially through the AMPK/ULK1 pathway, indicating GPER as a therapeutic target for postmenopausal women with HFpEF.

AMPK/ULK1 signalling pathway↗
PubMed2026

Mitochondrial homeodynamics in ageing: mechanisms, resilience, and interventions.

Mitochondria integrate bioenergetics, redox signalling, calcium handling, biosynthesis, apoptosis, and stress responses. Their contribution to ageing depends less on any single pathway than on the ability to sustain these functions through continuous maintenance, remodelling, and inter-organelle communication. This review proposes mitochondrial homeodynamics as a systems-level framework for that ability, which rests not on static preservation but on three linked capacities. Maintenance safeguards mitochondrial genome, proteome, and membrane integrity. Adaptation adjusts metabolism and remodels network and cristae architecture to match changing demand. Recovery restores function and reserve after challenge. These capacities emerge from mitochondrial quality control, network and cristae remodelling, biogenesis, mitophagy, retrograde stress signalling, and inter-organelle communication. So defined, mitochondrial dysfunction becomes a measurable loss of capacity rather than a descriptive category. Ageing erodes these capacities in tissue- and context-specific ways, which reduces physiological reserve, slows recovery after stress, and amplifies sterile inflammation. The mechanisms underlying these capacities, the biomarkers that report them, and the interventions proposed to preserve them are evaluated in turn. Exercise provides the strongest human evidence for coordinated mitochondrial and functional adaptation, whereas evidence for energy restriction, NAD+ precursors, mitophagy-supporting compounds, and mitochondria-targeted agents remains heterogeneous and endpoint-specific. No mitochondrial intervention has been shown to slow ageing or extend lifespan in healthy humans, and movement of a biomarker towards a younger reference value does not establish rejuvenation. Progress will require dynamic measures of maintenance, adaptation, and recovery, obtained in defined tissues and interpreted alongside clinically meaningful outcomes.

Humans↗
PubMed2025

Peri-mitochondrial actin filaments inhibit Parkin assembly by disrupting ER-mitochondria contacts.

Mitochondrial damage represents a dramatic change in cellular homeostasis, necessitating metabolic adaptation and clearance of the damaged organelle. One rapid response to mitochondrial damage is peri-mitochondrial actin polymerization within 2 min, which we term ADA (Acute Damage-induced Actin). ADA is vital for a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis upon mitochondrial dysfunction. In the current study, we investigated the effect of ADA on Pink1/Parkin mediated mitochondrial quality control. We show that inhibition of proteins involved in the ADA pathway significantly accelerates Parkin recruitment onto depolarized mitochondria. Addressing the mechanism by which ADA resists Parkin recruitment onto depolarized mitochondria, we found that ADA disrupts ER-mitochondria contacts in an Arp2/3 complex-dependent manner. Interestingly, overexpression of ER-mitochondria tethers overrides the effect of ADA, allowing rapid recruitment of not only Parkin but also LC3 after mitochondrial depolarization. During chronic mitochondrial dysfunction, Parkin and LC3 recruitment are completely blocked, which is reversed rapidly by inhibiting ADA. Taken together we show that ADA acts as a protective mechanism, delaying mitophagy following acute damage, and blocking mitophagy during chronic mitochondrial damage.

Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases↗
PubMed2026

Ghrelin Receptor Deletion or Pharmacological Inhibition Improves Muscle Function in Aging Male Mice.

Sarcopenia is characterized by age-related declines in muscle strength and mass, along with impaired physical function. It remains an unmet medical need, and there are no pharmacological interventions approved for this indication. The activation of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR)-1a, also known as ghrelin receptor, stimulates food intake and has acute anabolic effects. However, its impact on aging muscles remains uncertain. We examined the effects of GHSR-1a deletion on sarcopenia measurements (muscle mass, strength, and endurance) by comparing young and aged male GHSR-1a knockout (KO) and wildtype (WT) mice (6-, 24-, and 28-month-old). Deletion of GHSR-1a improved muscle fatigue resistance, endurance, and muscle strength during aging without affecting muscle mass or longevity. Since muscle endurance is closely related to mitochondrial function, we examined mitochondrial biogenesis marker PGC-1α and mitophagy signaling via PINK1/p62 and found them improved in old mice with GHSR deletion. Proteomics analysis also revealed that mitochondrial components remain central for maintaining muscle mass and function. We further investigated the effects of pharmacological inhibition of GHSR-1a by its inverse agonist, PF-5190457, in male WT mice. PF-5190457 mimicked the effects of GHSR-1a deletion, including improved endurance and increased markers of mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α) and different mitophagy markers (LC3II and Bnip3). PF-5190457 also reduced body weight and adiposity, which were not observed with GHSR-1a deletion. Overall, these findings suggest that GHSR-1a is a promising therapeutic target for age-related sarcopenia.

Receptors, Ghrelin↗
PubMed2026

Non-coding RNAs and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is responsible for 70% of dementia cases worldwide, with tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid-β plaque accumulation representing its core pathological hallmarks. Genetic predisposition, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation contribute to disease onset and progression. Non-coding ribonucleic acids (ncRNAs) are a class of RNAs which control gene expression and whose dysregulation in AD patients has been linked to amyloid production, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, which ranges from impaired energy metabolism to disrupted mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics. Our descriptive systematic review surveyed the involvement of ncRNAs in mitochondrial dysfunction in AD across experimental and clinical literature. We identified multiple microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) that directly regulate mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial autophagic, and apoptotic pathways, mitochondrial dynamics, and protein import mechanisms in AD models. Among the most important candidates demonstrating clinical dysregulation, miR-140 and lncRNA NEAT1 regulate mitophagy, while miR-9, miR-34a, miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-485 are implicated in mitochondrial biogenesis and miR-204 in mitochondrial autophagy. LncRNA BDNF-AS, miR-148a-3p, miR-21-5p, and miR-103a-3p emerged as regulators of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway with confirmed clinical dysregulation. Multiple ncRNAs control mitochondrial dynamics, of which miR-195, miR-124, and miR-455-3p have also been studied in AD patients. Additionally, several ncRNAs were found to indirectly regulate mitochondrial fission, autophagy, and apoptosis, although the underlying mechanisms require further characterization. Thus, while ncRNA-centered AD research is in its early stages, current mechanistic and translational evidence supports mitochondrially relevant ncRNAs as promising candidates for biomarker and therapeutic development.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed2026

KLF5-driven G6PD protects lung squamous cell carcinoma from ferroptosis by sustaining mitochondrial homeostasis and SLC7A11-dependent cystine uptake.

AIMS: Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Ferroptosis has emerged as a promising antitumor strategy. However, the metabolic determinants governing ferroptotic vulnerability in LUSC remain incompletely understood. We investigated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in this context. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro models using small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated G6PD depletion, together with pharmacological studies using 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN) and LUSC xenograft models, were employed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. KEY FINDINGS: G6PD was markedly upregulated in LUSC, and analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas lung squamous cell carcinoma (TCGA-LUSC) cohort showed that elevated G6PD expression was associated with advanced clinicopathological features and poorer overall survival. While ferroptosis inducers (erastin and RSL3) did not alter G6PD mRNA, they robustly increased G6PD protein during ferroptotic stress. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of G6PD significantly sensitized LUSC cells to RSL3-induced ferroptosis, evidenced by enhanced lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, and ferrostatin-1-reversible cell death. Mechanistically, G6PD inhibition led to mitochondrial ferrous iron accumulation, elevated reactive oxygen species, impaired respiration, and activation of PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy, which further exacerbated ferroptotic injury. In vivo, combined treatment with 6-aminonicotinamide and RSL3 markedly suppressed LUSC xenograft growth and enhanced biochemical markers of ferroptotic stress. Furthermore, G6PD protects cells by positively regulating the cystine/glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 to maintain redox homeostasis. Upstream, the oncogenic factor Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) directly activates G6PD transcription. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings identify a KLF5-G6PD-SLC7A11 axis as a critical metabolic safeguard against ferroptosis in LUSC. Targeting G6PD disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis, enhances mitophagy-dependent oxidative stress, and sensitizes tumors to ferroptotic therapy, highlighting a promising therapeutic strategy for LUSC.

Ferroptosis↗
PubMed2026

The mechanism by which long-term exposure to TDCIPP promotes cognitive impairment in 3 ×Tg-AD mice: Insights from multi-omics studies.

Tri(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) is a commonly used organophosphate ester that has the potential to adversely affect human health. Although previous studies have closely associated TDCIPP with cognitive impairment, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To elucidate the neurotoxic effects of TDCIPP and its mechanistic contribution to cognitive impairment in 3 ×Tg-AD mice, a multi-omics approach incorporating proteomics, untargeted metabolomics, and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing was employed to evaluate the impact of TDCIPP exposure on neurobehavioral function. TDCIPP exposure promoted cognitive impairment in 3 ×Tg-AD mice. Proteomic analyses revealed that this promotion is associated with disturbances in the hippocampal mitochondrial autophagy pathway. Furthermore, TDCIPP may interfere with the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy pathway at the functional level, without altering PINK1 protein abundance. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of urine samples demonstrated that TDCIPP exposure altered the metabolic profile of 3 ×Tg-AD mice, with 58 metabolites upregulated and 11 downregulated. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed substantial modifications in gut microbiome composition following exposure to TDCIPP. Notably, significant correlations were identified between the perturbed bacterial genera and the differential metabolites. In conclusion, exposure to TDCIPP promotes cognitive impairment in 3 ×Tg-AD mice, which is associated with the interference with the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy pathway, as well as alterations in the urinary metabolome and gut microbiota. These findings suggest the potential to mitigate such cognitive impairment by targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

FZD5 drives macrophage-mediated immunomodulation and predicts prognosis in glioma: evidence from single-cell sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Gliomas are highly malignant brain tumors characterized by an immunosuppressive microenvironment, which limits therapeutic efficacy and contributes to poor clinical outcomes. The WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway is critically involved in tumor progression, and FZD5, a key receptor within this pathway, may participate in immune regulation. However, its specific role and underlying mechanisms in glioma remain unclear. METHODS: RNA-seq and microarray datasets from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), together with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets from GEO, were comprehensively analyzed. The Seurat package was used to identify macrophage-related clusters and mitophagy-associated pathways. Cox and LASSO regression analyses, along with a prognostic nomogram, were applied to evaluate the prognostic significance of FZD5. Immune infiltration, functional enrichment, and immunotherapy response analyses were conducted, followed by validation using spatial transcriptomics, immunohistochemistry, and in vitro assays. RESULTS: In bulk glioma transcriptomes, FZD5 emerged as an independent predictor of poor prognosis. Crucially, single-cell and spatial analyses revealed that the biologically significant FZD5 signal originated predominantly within tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), where it colocalized with the M2 marker CD163. Consistently, elevated FZD5 levels correlated with increased myeloid infiltration and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Functionally, macrophage-expressed FZD5 was associated with mitophagy-related programs and promoted an M2-skewed phenotype, thereby enhancing glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via macrophage-glioma crosstalk. CONCLUSION: FZD5 is a TAM-enriched marker in glioma tissues and a potential regulator of macrophage-associated immunosuppressive programs, supporting its utility as a prognostic biomarker and a candidate target for microenvironment-oriented interventions in glioma.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Lysyl oxidase inhibition disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis to create vulnerability to ferroptosis in TNBC.

High metabolic heterogeneity and plasticity of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) contribute to therapy resistance, necessitating identification of therapeutic vulnerabilities. Here, we identify non-canonical functions of the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeler, lysyl oxidase (LOX), in regulating glucose metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis and show that inhibiting LOX generates targetable vulnerability to ferroptosis. Mechanistically, LOX interacts with PARKIN and its upstream kinase PINK1, which we identified as a substrate of LOX. LOX-mediated PINK1 oxidation suppresses PARKIN phosphorylation, stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and increasing glycolysis. Concomitantly, LOX inhibits PARKIN-mediated mitophagy and maintains mitochondria-ER contacts through VDAC1 stabilization, while the LOX-HSP90 complex promotes mitochondrial Ca2+ transport and ATP production. Inhibiting LOX suppresses glycolysis, disrupts mitochondrial dynamics, reduces OXPHOS and GPX4/FSP1, and induces compensatory DHODH activity. Our "one-two punch" approach combining LOX inhibition with clinical DHODH inhibitor suppresses tumor growth in vivo in chemo-free setting. Notably, LOX protein correlates with HIF-1α/GLUT1/GPX4 in TNBC patient tumors, supporting its clinical relevance.

Ferroptosis↗
PubMed2026

A combined stimulus of acute fasting and exercise modulates hippocampal mitochondrial quality control in healthy mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Exercise and fasting are recognized for their ability to improve brain health and mitigate neurodegeneration. However, little is known about how these interventions acutely impact mitochondrial quality control mechanisms including mitophagy. METHODS: We examined the effects of a single bout of fasting and exercise (FEx) on hippocampal mitochondrial function and proteomic remodeling in male and female mice. To assess in vivo autophagy dynamics, we combined proteomics with chloroquine (CQ) inhibition of autophagic flux. Mice were assigned to sedentary (Sed), fasting (F), exercise (Ex), or combined FEx groups and received unilateral intrahippocampal injections of CQ or PBS following treatments. Four hours later, hippocampi were collected for analysis. RESULTS: LC3-II levels significantly increased in the FEx group only following CQ treatment, indicating enhanced autophagic flux. Proteomic profiling showed sedentary males failed to mount a robust response to FEx however females exhibited upregulation of proteins involved in the TCA cycle, glutathione metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting greater mitochondrial adaptability. Functional assays supported these findings, females showed increased complex IV activity post-FEx. The mitochondrial DNA / nuclear DNA ratio increased after FEx regardless of sex, and upstream regulator analysis predicted activation of mitochondrial biogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these data reveal sex-specific mitochondrial remodeling in response to acute fasting and exercise. Defining these normative responses is critical for understanding how mitochondrial adaptability shapes resilience or vulnerability to neurological challenges.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Mitochondrial resilience: a convergent framework for pathogenesis and neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is traditionally described as a dopaminergic neurodegenerative disorder driven by α-synuclein aggregation and selective neuronal loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta. While this characterization captures the core clinical and pathological features, it does not fully explain disease initiation and progression. Converging evidence from human genetics, cellular and structural biology, and systems neuroscience now supports a unified framework in which PD results from the progressive erosion of mitochondrial resilience. Here, mitochondrial resilience denotes the capacity of neuronal mitochondrial networks to withstand stress and recover bioenergetic and cellular homeostasis through coordinated quality control, metabolic adaptation, and organelle communication. Rare, high-impact monogenic mutations in PINK1, PRKN (encoding Parkin), PARK7 (DJ-1), LRRK2, and SNCA, along with common risk variants identified in genome-wide association studies, converge on interconnected pathways that govern mitochondrial quality control, bioenergetics, organelle dynamics, and cellular stress responses. These vulnerabilities are most pronounced in the highly energetic dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, where sustained calcium cycling, high bioenergetic demand, and environmental stressors increase cellular susceptibility. Research has moved beyond early observations of respiratory chain impairment and oxidative stress to reveal context-specific disruptions in PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, lysosomal trafficking, mitochondrial-derived vesicle dynamics, and neuroimmune signaling. This integrated framework reframes PD as a disorder of impaired cellular maintenance rather than solely a consequence of late-stage degenerative processes. It provides a translational shift from mechanism-based biomarkers to early detection of mitochondrial failure and supports therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring mitochondrial function and resilience, offering a direct route to disease-modifying neuroprotection in PD and potentially other neurodegenerative disorders.

LRRK2↗