INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2023
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IF 5.6
Jingchao Qiang,Rongrong Yang,Xueqing Li,Xuhui Xu,Mengyuan Zhou,Xiaomeng Ji,Yingzhi Lu,Zibo Dong
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory disease that is caused by a dysregulated host response to infection and is a life-threatening organ dysfunction that affects many organs, which includes the colon. Mounting evidence suggests that sepsis-induced colonic damage is a major contributor to organ failure and cellular dysfunction. Monotropein (MON) is the major natural compound in the iris glycoside that is extracted from Morendae officinalis radix , which possesses the potent pharmacological activities of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This research evaluated whether MON is able to alleviate septic colonic injury in mice by cecal ligation and puncture. Colonic tissues were analyzed using histopathology, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot methods. It was initially discovered that MON reduced colonic damage in infected mice, in addition to inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in colonic tissues, while it activated autophagy, with the NRF2/keap1 and PINK1/Parkin pathways also being activated. Through the stimulation of NCM460 cells with lipopolysaccharides, an in vitro model of sepsis was created as a means of further elucidating the potential mechanisms of MON. In the in vitro model, it was found that MON could still activate the NRF2/keap1, PINK1/Parkin, and autophagy pathways. However, when MON was paired with the NRF2 inhibitor ML385, it counteracted MON-induced activation of PINK1/Parkin and autophagy, while also promoting inflammatory response and apoptosis in NCM460 cells. Therefore, the data implies that MON could play a therapeutic role through the activation of the NFR2/PINK pathway as a means of inducing autophagy to alleviate the oxidative stress in colonic tissues that is induced by sepsis, which will improve inflammation and apoptosis in colonic tissues.
研究领域:
药理学
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免疫学
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分子生物学
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病理学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
PHYTOMEDICINE
·
2025
·
IF 8.3
Qiyue Sun,Ronghua Zhao,Shuran Li,Weiqin Zhou,Jingsheng Zhang,Bo Pang,Shilan Ding,Lei Bao,Zihan Geng,Rui Xie,Dan Xie,Xiaolan Cui,Shanshan Guo,Jing Sun
Background Coronavirus has caused high-mortality viral pneumonia worldwide. The pathogenesis is characterized by hyperinflammatory reactions resulting from immune homeostasis dysregulation. Verbenalin, an iridoid glucoside derived from Verbena officinalis L ., is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinical practice for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms of verbenalin on coronavirus pneumonia both in vivo and in vitro. Methods A coronavirus pneumonia mouse model and macrophage injury models, including mouse alveolar macrophage cell line (MH-S) cells and primary macrophages, were established to initially confirm the antiviral effects of verbenalin. Time-resolved proteomic were then employed to uncover proteomic changes and identify potential therapeutic targets for coronavirus treatment. Subsequently, flow cytometry and Western blot were employed to investigate verbenalin's effects on NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway. Additionally, the targeting regulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) / E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin (Parkin) pathway by verbenalin was validated through molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), immunofluorescent staining, RNA interference (RNAi), and mitophagy inhibition both in vivo and in vitro. Results Verbenalin reduced cell injury and inflammation in Human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E)-infected macrophages and improved lung inflammation in mice. Proteomics analysis highlighted the roles of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling and mitophagy pathways in coronavirus pneumonia. Verbenalin bound strongly to PINK1 and Parkin proteins, increased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), decreased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) levels, reduced the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), maintained mitochondrial mass, promoted mitophagy flux, upregulated the expression of PINK1, Parkin, and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3BII (LC3BII). Additionally, verbenalin inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and downregulated the expression of Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), cysteine aspartate-specific protease 1 (caspase-1), and gasdermin D (GSDMD) both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, treatment with a mitophagy inhibitor and RNAi attenuated the inhibitory effects of verbenalin on NLRP3 activation, confirming the involvement of the PINK1/Parkin/NLRP3 pathway in verbenalin's protective effects. Conclusion Verbenalin enhances PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy to suppress NLRP3 activation, thereby promoting immune homeostasis and mitigating HCoV-229E-induced inflammation.
研究领域:
药理学
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免疫学
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病毒学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
·
2026
·
IF 8.1
Yi-wen Qian,Yao Lu,Miao-miao Chang,Qian-qian Niu,Jia-xin Fan,Shi-ying Xing,Peng Li,Ling Liu
Cardiomyocyte senescence contributes to the progression of multiple cardiac diseases, with oxidative stress identified as a central pathophysiological mechanism. Previous animal experiments demonstrated that citronellal (CT), administered at 200 mg/kg in rats, exerted significant cardioprotective effects. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of CT in mitigating myocardial senescence and to elucidate its mechanistic pathways. Doxorubicin-induced myocardial senescence mouse models and H9C2 cardiomyocyte senescence models were established. SA-β-gal staining, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry were employed to evaluate senescence and oxidative stress markers. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were conducted to predict CT targets. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to identify potential mechanisms of action. CT treatment significantly reduced myocardial oxidative stress levels, ameliorated senescent phenotypes in both in vivo and in vitro models, and enhanced mitophagy by activating the AMPKα-mediated PINK1/Parkin pathway. Bioinformatics analyses further supported the involvement of oxidative stress resistance and mitophagy regulation as central mechanisms underlying CT's cardioprotective effects. Citronellal effectively alleviates cardiomyocyte senescence by reducing oxidative stress and promoting mitophagy through activation of the AMPKα–PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting CT as a promising cardioprotective agent and highlight a novel mechanism of action that may inform future therapeutic strategies for cardiac aging and related diseases.
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高影响因子
Cells
·
2026
·Vol. 15
·期 2
·137
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IF 5.2
Wanting Zhang,Shihao Meng,Zhenzhen Hao,Xiaoshuang Zhu,Lingwei Cao,Qing Yuan,Bing Wang
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by age-dependent degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, a process mediated by α-synuclein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired proteostasis. While BAP31—an endoplasmic reticulum protein critical for protein trafficking and degradation—has been implicated in neuronal processes, its role in PD pathogenesis remains poorly understood. To investigate the impact of BAP31 deficiency on PD progression, we generated dopamine neuron-specific BAP31 conditional knockout with DAT-Cre (cKO) mice (Slc6a3cre-BAP31 fl/fl ) and subjected them to MPTP-lesioned Parkinsonian models. Compared to BAP31 fl/fl controls, Slc6a3cre-BAP31 fl/fl mice exhibited exacerbated motor deficits following MPTP treatment, including impaired rotarod performance, reduced balance beam traversal time, and diminished climbing and voluntary motor capacity abilities. BAP31 conditional deletion showed no baseline phenotype, with deficits emerging only after MPTP. Our results indicate that these behavioral impairments correlated with neuropathological hallmarks: decreased NeuN neuronal counts, elevated GFAP astrogliosis, reduced tyrosine hydroxylase levels in the substantia nigra, and aggravated dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Mechanistically, BAP31 deficiency disrupted mitochondrial homeostasis by suppressing the PINK1–Parkin mitophagy pathway. Further analysis revealed that BAP31 regulates PINK1 transcription via the transcription factor Engrailed Homeobox 1. Collectively, our findings identify BAP31 as a neuroprotective modulator that mitigates PD-associated motor dysfunction by preserving mitochondrial stability, underscoring its therapeutic potential as a target for neurodegenerative disorders.
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高影响因子
Food & Function
·
2022
·Vol. 14
·期 2
·1024-1036
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IF 6.317
Weili Li,Haiyang Li,Lujuan Zheng,Jing Xia,Xiaoxuan Yang,Shuhan Men,Ye Yuan,Yuying Fan
Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is the main cause of type 2 diabetes, and mitochondria play a key role. Ginsenoside CK is the main active compound of ginseng with a variety of therapeutic effects, but few studies have reported on its mechanism towards skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Here, we found that CK significantly increased skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, thereby alleviating hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Furthermore, the effects of CK on skeletal muscle were associated with an improved mitochondrial fusion/fission dynamics balance and fatty acid oxidation. In fatty acid (FA)-induced C2C12 cells, CK promoted the translocation of GLUT4 to the cell membrane to improve glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis and also enhanced the mitochondrial quality. CK ameliorated the damaged mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), which was based on mitophagy activation. After the knockdown of mitophagy-related receptors, we found that DRP1/PINK1 was the key pathway of CK-induced mitophagy. These findings indicated that ginsenoside CK is a promising lead compound against diabetes.
研究领域:
药理学
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内分泌学
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细胞生物学
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糖尿病研究
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PubMed
高影响因子
INFLAMMATION
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2023
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IF 5.1
Ji Hongfei,Zhao Yanyan,Ma Xiaojun,Wu Lina,Guo Feng,Huang Fengjuan,Song Yi,Wang Jiao,Qin Guijun
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common diabetic complication. Studies show that mitophagy inhibition induced-ferroptosis plays a crucial role in DN progression. UHRF1 is associated with mitophagy and is highly expression in DN patients, however, the effect of UHRF1 on DN is still unclear. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate whether UHRF1 involves DN development by the mitophagy/ferroptosis pathway. We overexpressed UHRF1 using an adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) system in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Renal function index, pathological changes, mitophagy factors, and ferroptosis factors were detected in vivo . High-glucose cultured human renal proximal tubular (HK-2) cells were used as in vitro models to investigate the mechanism of UHRF1 in DN. We found that diabetic mice exhibited kidney damage, which was alleviated by UHRF1 overexpression. UHRF1 overexpression promoted PINK1-mediated mitophagy and inhibited the expression of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), a factor associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, UHRF1 overexpression alleviated lipid peroxidation and free iron accumulation, and upregulated the expression of GPX4 and Slc7a11, indicating the inhibition effect of UHRF1 overexpression on ferroptosis. We further investigated the mechanism of UHRF1 in the mitophagy/ferroptosis pathway in DN. We found that UHRF1 overexpression promoted PINK1-mediated mitophagy via inhibiting TXNIP expression, thus suppressing ferroptosis. These findings confirmed that upregulation of UHRF1 expression alleviates DN, indicating that UHRF1 has a reno-protective effect against DN.
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高影响因子
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
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2023
·Vol. 18
·期 1
·1-15
·
IF 2.6
Xue Xiang,Dai Tianming,Chen Junyan,Xu Yangyang,Yang Zhenyu,Huang Jian,Xu Wuyan,Li Siming,Meng Qingqi
Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent disease plaguing the elderly. Recently, chondrocyte ferroptosis has been demonstrated to promote the progression of OA. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is an important factor in maintaining cartilage health. However, the relationship between PPARγ and chondrocyte ferroptosis in OA and its mechanism is completely unclear.Methods We established a surgically induced knee OA rat model to investigate PPARγ and chondrocyte ferroptosis in OA. Rat knee specimens were collected for Safranin O/Fast Green staining and immunohistochemical staining after administered orally placebo or pioglitazone (PPARγ agonist) for 4 weeks. We used RSL3 to establish a chondrocyte ferroptosis model cultured in vitro to study the role of PPARγ activation toward ferroptosis, mitochondrial function, and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (Pink1)/Parkin-dependent mitophagy. GW9662 (PPARγ antagonist), Mdivi-1 (mitophagy inhibitor), and chloroquine (mitophagy inhibitor) were employed to investigate the mechanism of PPARγ-Pink1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy in the inhibition of ferroptosis.Results We found that PPARγ activation by pioglitazone attenuated not only OA but also inhibited the expression of the ferroptosis marker acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) at the same time in rats. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro data indicated that PPARγ activation restored Pink1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy, improved mitochondrial function, inhibited chondrocyte ferroptosis, and delayed the progression of OA.Conclusion sThe present study demonstrated that PPARγ activation attenuates OA by inhibiting chondrocyte ferroptosis, and this chondroprotective effect was achieved by promoting the Pink1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy pathway.
研究领域:
骨科
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细胞生物学
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药理学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
·
2026
·
IF 8.1
Lin Liu,Zonghui Xu,Shujing Wu,Man Li,Ruoan Wei,Mpofu Uphakeme Inobubele Sitholumusa,Junqiu Liu,Guoyin Kai
Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a primary bioactive component of Astragalus membranaceus (AM). It is very effective in regulating renal diseases. However, the possible underlying mechanism of AS-IV on renoprotection remains unclear. The aim of this study is to find out the regulation mechanism of AS-IV on ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced Acute kidney injury (IRI-AKI). At first, AS-IV was confirmed to significantly alleviate renal dysfunction, inflammation, and renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis in IRI-AKI mice. Then, it was found that AS-IV alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction and renal tubular epithelial cell injury induced by IRI. Growing evidence has suggested that PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy plays a critical protective role in IRI. Based on this, we hypothesized that AS-IV might exert renoprotective effects through activating the PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathway. After 3-MA inhibition of autophagy, AS-IV no longer showed its protective effect on HK-2 cells in a hypoxic environment. Through further molecular docking, cell thermal migration, and gene targeted silencing experiments, we confirmed that AS-IV activates the PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathway and ultimately alleviates IRI-AKI. In summary, all these comprehensive experimental findings indicated that AS-IV can be used as a functional food for the prevention of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.
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高影响因子
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
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2025
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IF 4.2
Yonggang Ma,Na Luo,Chenguang Yue,Qiannan Sun,Yangyang Wang,Hongyan Zhao,Ruilong Song,Hui Zou,Jiaqiao Zhu,Zongping Liu
Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction caused by metabolic stress is a key part of diabetic nephropathy. Dapagliflozin exerts significant hypoglycemic and nephroprotective effects; however, the precise mechanisms underlying its renoprotective actions remain to be fully elucidated. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms through which dapagliflozin mitigates diabetic nephropathy (DN), with particular emphasis on its regulatory role in the Sirt1-Pink1-Parkin axis and the restoration of mitochondrial homeostasis via mitophagy. Methods: Rats were fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet and streptozotocin. They were then divided into groups of various treatments. In vitro, high glucose-induced NRK-52E cell injury was treated with dapagliflozin. Evaluations included renal histopathology, urinary biomarkers, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, and Sirt1/Pink1/Parkin pathway activation. Results: Dapagliflozin exerted significant protective effects against streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy. Dapagliflozin treatment in vitro restored mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced ROS levels in high glucose-induced NRK-52E cells. High glucose exposure markedly upregulated the expression of mitochondria-associated apoptotic proteins in NRK-52E cells, which was reduced by dapagliflozin. This study revealed that Sirt1/Pink1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy was suppressed in DN and high glucose-induced NRK-52E cells but was activated following dapagliflozin treatment. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that dapagliflozin modulates Sirt1/Pink1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial autophagy and effectively restores mitochondrial homeostasis in diabetic nephropathy. Modulating mitochondrial autophagy through this pathway may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetic nephropathy.
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高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
·
2024
·Vol. 25
·期 21
·11695
·
IF 4.9
Jiachen Shi,Zeping Ji,Xu Yao,Yujie Yao,Chengyun Li,Qijun Liang,Xiaohui Zhang
Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is recognized for its protective effects against heat stress damage; however, the specific functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of HSP90 in heat-stressed cardiomyocytes remain largely unexplored, particularly in tropical species. In our study, Wenchang chickens (WCCs) were classified into two groups: the heat stress survival (HSS) group and the heat stress death (HSD) group, based on their survival following exposure to heat stress. Heat stress resulted in significant cardiomyocyte damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis in the HSD group, while the damage was less pronounced in the HSS group. We further validated these findings in primary cardiomyocytes derived from Wenchang chickens (PCWs). Additionally, heat stress was found to upregulate Pink1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, which was accompanied by an increase in HSP90 expression in both cardiomyocytes and PCWs. Our results demonstrated that HSP90 overexpression enhances PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, ultimately inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative stress in heat-stressed PCWs. However, the application of Geldanamycin (GA) reversed these effects. Notably, we discovered that HSP90 interacts with Beclin-1 through mitochondrial translocation and directly regulates mitophagy levels in PCWs. In summary, we have elucidated a novel role for HSP90 and mitophagy in regulating heat stress-induced acute cardiomyocyte injury.
研究领域:
分子生物学
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细胞生物学
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应激生理学
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兽医学
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PubMed
高影响因子
Genes & Genomics
·
2022
·Vol. 44
·期 7
·867-878
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IF 2.164
Li Mo,She Jiang,Ma Louyan,Ma Li,Ma Xiaorui,Zhai Jiajia
Background Destruction of pancreatic beta cells is the most typical characteristic of diabetes. Objective We aimed to evaluate the effect of berberine (BBR), a bioactive isoquinoline derivative alkaloid, on beta cell injury. Methods Rodent pancreatic beta cell line INS-1 was treated with 0.5 mM palmitate (PA) for 24 h to establish an in vitro beta cell injury model. Results BBR at 5 µM promoted cell viability, inhibited cell apoptosis and enhanced insulin secretion in PA-induced INS-1 cells. BBR treatment also suppressed PA-induced oxidative stress in INS-1 cells, as evidenced by the decreased ROS production and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, suppressed ATP production and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential were restored by BBR in PA-treated INS-1 cells. It was further determined that BBR affected the expressions of mitophagy-associated proteins, suggesting that BBR promoted mitophagy in PA-exposed INS-1 cells. Meanwhile, we found that BBR facilitated nuclear expression and DNA-binding activity of Nrf2, an antioxidative protein that can regulate mitophagy. Finally, a rescue experiment was performed and the results demonstrated that the effect of BBR on cell viability, apoptosis and mitochondrial function in PA-induced INS-1 cells were cancelled by PINK1 knockdown. Conclusions BBR protects islet β cells from PA-induced injury, and this protective effect may be achieved by regulating mitophagy. The present study may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for β cell injury in diabetes mellitus.
研究领域:
药理学
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细胞生物学
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糖尿病
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分子生物学
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2025
·
IF 4.7
Ziyi Song,Yucheng Gao,Jiangkai Yu,Yang Zhang,Wenbin Xuan,Yijun Rong,Youheng Zhang,Zengxin Gao
This study investigates the role of calreticulin (CRT) in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and elucidates its underlying mechanisms. CRT expression was markedly reduced in degenerated disc tissues, implicating its involvement in IVDD pathogenesis. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the effects of CRT on nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) pyroptosis, apoptosis, and mitochondrial function. Functional analyses demonstrated that CRT overexpression alleviated disc degeneration, inhibited pyroptotic cell death, and preserved mitochondrial integrity. Mechanistically, CRT promoted the clearance of damaged mitochondria through PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, restoring mitochondrial homeostasis and suppressing ROS accumulation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In vivo studies using an IVDD animal model further validated these protective effects, showing reduced disc degeneration and maintenance of extracellular matrix integrity. Recent studies have demonstrated the protective effect of CRT in IVDD. This study builds on these findings and investigates a novel mechanism through which CRT mediates its protective effects in IVDD. Specifically, our study identifies the involvement of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in CRT's ability to preserve mitochondrial function and mitigate inflammation in NPCs, offering new insights into the molecular pathways underlying CRT's protective role in IVDD.
研究领域:
分子生物学
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细胞生物学
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骨科学
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炎症研究
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PubMed
高影响因子