Mitophagy-regulated mitochondrial health strongly protects the heart against cardiac dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction

FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy regulates photodamage independently of the PINK1/Parkin-dependent pathway

BACKGROUND

Ultraviolet B(UVB) triggers a pro-survival response through mitophagy, but the role of FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy in photodamaged skin remains unexplored.

OBJECTIVES

To clarify the function of mitophagy in UVB-induced photodamaged skin.

METHODS

To investigate the role of FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy in UVB-induced mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis, FUNDC1 knockdown in C57BL/6 mice was performed using adeno-associated virus. Additionally, FUNDC1 overexpression and knockdown in HaCaT cells were conducted using lentivirus. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on a panel of human sun-exposed skin samples, alongside control samples, to assess the expression levels of FUNDC1.

RESULTS

In UVB-induced C57BL/6 mice, the dorsal skin showed photodamage including erythema, scaling, erosion, and scabs. The expression levels of PINK1, Parkin, and BNIP3 did not show significant changes, while FUNDC1 expression consistently declined along with LC3B. Cytochrome C, Bax, and cleaved-caspase3 were upregulated, while Bcl2 was downregulated. UVB-induced HaCaT cells showed mitochondrial damage, accompanied by FUNDC1 downregulation and BNIP3 upregulation, while PINK1 and Parkin showed no significant changes. FUNDC1 overexpression led to an increase in mtROS and a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels, indicating complete mitochondrial clearance and exacerbated cell death. FUNDC1 knockdown protected against UVB-induced photodamage in mice and mitigated mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in HaCaT cells by activating compensatory PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy, which was evidenced by upregulation of PINK1 and Bcl2 and downregulation of Bax. In human sun-exposed skin samples, there was a decrease in the number of FUNDC1+ cells compared with non-sun-exposed controls.

CONCLUSIONS

FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy regulates skin photodamage and provides a novel mechanism for resisting photodamage, presenting a potential target for future therapeutic interventions.

CARD9 protein SUMOylation regulates HOXB5 nuclear translocation and Parkin-mediated mitophagy in myocardial I/R injury

Myocardial injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) remains a difficult clinical problem. However, the exact mechanisms underlying I/R-induced have yet to be clarified. CARD9 is an important cytoplasmic-binding protein. In this study, an immunocoprecipitation assay showed that SUMOylation of the CARD9 protein promoted the binding of CARD9 to HOXB5, but hindered the O-GlcNAc glycosylation of HOXB5, a predicted transcription factor of Parkin and a key factor in mitophagy. O-GlcNAc glycosylation is an important signal for translocation of proteins from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. CARD9 protein SUMOylation is regulated by PIAS3, which is related to I/R-induced myocardial injury. Therefore, we propose that knockdown of PIAS3 inhibits SUMOylation of the CARD9 protein, facilitates the dissociation of CARD9 and HOXB5, which increases the O-GlcNAc-mediated glycosylation of HOXB5, while the resulting HOXB5 nuclear translocation promotes Parkin-induced mitophagy and alleviates myocardial I/R injury.

Research progress on the natural products in the intervention of myocardial infarction

Coronary heart disease is a prevalent cardiovascular ailment globally, with myocardial infarction (MI) being one of its most severe manifestations. The morbidity and mortality of MI are escalating, showing an increasing trend among younger, highly educated individuals, thereby posing a serious threat to public health. Currently, thrombolysis, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass grafting are the primary clinical treatments for MI. Although these methods significantly reduce patient mortality, complications often result in poor prognoses. Due to limitations in chemical synthetic drug research, the focus has shifted towards developing herbs based on natural substances. Natural medicines represent a novel approach for safer and more effective MI management and treatment. They can control multiple pathogenic variables by targeting various pathways and systems. This paper investigates the molecular mechanisms of MI and evaluates the application of natural products and medicinal plants in MI treatment over the past 5 years, demonstrating their specific good therapeutic potential and superior tolerance. These natural therapies have been shown to mitigate myocardial cell damage caused by MI through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, myocardial fibrosis, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitophagy, and pyroptosis. This review offers the latest insights into the application of natural products and medicinal plants in MI treatment, elucidating their mechanisms of action and serving as an important reference for MI prevention.

Identification of mitochondria-related gene biomarkers associated with immune infiltration in acute myocardial infarction

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been known to contribute to the worsening of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between AMI and healthy individuals based on the GSE66360 dataset. We took the intersection of the obtained DEGs with 1,136 mitochondria-related genes. Finally, we screened out mitochondria-related DEGs (MitoDEGs). Eight MitoDEGs were identified as hub genes based on the random forest algorithm. Two mitochondria-related robust molecular clusters were identified by consensus clustering. Immune infiltration analysis showed that immune cell infiltration was significantly increased in the high-expression group of MitoDEGs. We obtained the potential drugs targeted at ALDH2, PMAIP1, and BCL2A1, such as disulfiram, obatoclax mesylate, and bortezomib. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction further validated the expression of the MitoDEGs in the cell model of AMI. These findings reveal the potential role of MitoDEGs in AMI and provide new insights into risk stratification and individualized treatment of AMI patients.

Traditional Chinese medicine and mitophagy: A novel approach for cardiovascular disease management

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing an enormous economic burden on individuals and human society. Laboratory studies have identified several drugs that target mitophagy for the prevention and treatment of CVD. Only a few of these drugs have been successful in clinical trials, and most studies have been limited to animal and cellular models. Furthermore, conventional drugs used to treat CVD, such as antiplatelet agents, statins, and diuretics, often result in adverse effects on patients' cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory systems. In contrast, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained significant attention for its unique theoretical basis and clinical efficacy in treating CVD.

PURPOSE

This paper systematically summarizes all the herbal compounds, extracts, and active monomers used to target mitophagy for the treatment of CVD in the last five years. It provides valuable information for researchers in the field of basic cardiovascular research, pharmacologists, and clinicians developing herbal medicines with fewer side effects, as well as a useful reference for future mitophagy research.

METHODS

The search terms "cardiovascular disease," "mitophagy," "herbal preparations," "active monomers," and "cardiac disease pathogenesis" in combination with "natural products" and "diseases" were used to search for studies published in the past five years until January 2024.

RESULTS

Studies have shown that mitophagy plays a significant role in the progression and development of CVD, such as atherosclerosis (AS), heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI), cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmia. Herbal compound preparations, crude extracts, and active monomers have shown potential as effective treatments for these conditions. These substances protect cardiomyocytes by inducing mitophagy, scavenging damaged mitochondria, and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. They display notable efficacy in combating CVD.

CONCLUSION

TCM (including herbal compound preparations, extracts, and active monomers) can treat CVD through various pharmacological mechanisms and signaling pathways by inducing mitophagy. They represent a hotspot for future cardiovascular basic research and a promising candidate for the development of future cardiovascular drugs with fewer side effects and better therapeutic efficacy.

The structure and function of FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 and its contribution to cardioprotection by mediating mitophagy

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a serious public health risk, and prevention and treatment efforts are urgently needed. Effective preventive and therapeutic programs for cardiovascular disease are still lacking, as the causes of CVD are varied and may be the result of a multifactorial combination. Mitophagy is a form of cell-selective autophagy, and there is increasing evidence that mitophagy is involved in cardioprotective processes. Recently, many studies have shown that FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 (FUNDC1) levels and phosphorylation status are highly associated with many diseases, including heart disease. Here, we review the structure and functions of FUNDC1 and the path-ways of its mediated mitophagy, and show that mitophagy can be effectively activated by dephosphorylation of Ser13 and Tyr18 sites, phosphorylation of Ser17 site and ubiquitination of Lys119 site in FUNDC1. By effectively activating or inhibiting excessive mitophagy, the quality of mitochondria can be effectively controlled. The main reason is that, on the one hand, improper clearance of mitochondria and accumulation of damaged mitochondria are avoided, and on the other hand, excessive mitophagy causing apoptosis is avoided, both serving to protect the heart. In addition, we explore the possible mechanisms by which FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy is involved in exercise preconditioning (EP) for cardioprotection. Finally, we also point out unresolved issues in FUNDC1 and its mediated mitophagy and give directions where further research may be needed.

The neuroprotective effects of Liuwei Dihuang medicine in the APP/PS1 mouse model are dependent on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease that progressively impairs cognitive function and memory. The occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease involves many processes. In response to the complex pathogenesis of AD, the Traditional Chinese medicine formula Liuwei Dihuang Pill (LWD) has been shown to improve the cognitive function of AD animal models. However, the active ingredients and mechanism of action of LWD have not been fully elucidated. In this study, network pharmacological analysis predicted 40 candidate compounds in LWD, acting on 227 potential targets, of which 185 were associated with AD. Through network pharmacological analysis, the mechanism of action of LWD therapy AD is related to the inhibition of inflammatory response, regulation of neuronal state, and autophagy. In this experiment, LWD was detected in the APP/PS1 transgenic mouse model. The objective was to observe the effects of LWD on hippocampal learning and memory ability, Aβ clearance, autophagy and inflammatory response in APP/PS1 mice. The results showed that LWD improved long-term memory and working memory in APP/PS1 mice compared with the WT group. At the same time, LWD can increase the expression of hippocampal autophagy biomarkers, reduce the precipitation of Aβ, and the activation of microglia and astrocytes. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that LWD has a neuroprotective effect on APP/PS1 mice and provide theoretical foundation for the development of a new clinical treatment for AD.

Crosstalk between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis

Mitochondrial mass and quality are tightly regulated by two essential and opposing mechanisms, mitochondrial biogenesis (mitobiogenesis) and mitophagy, in response to cellular energy needs and other cellular and environmental cues. Great strides have been made to uncover key regulators of these complex processes. Emerging evidence has shown that there exists a tight coordination between mitophagy and mitobiogenesis, and their defects may cause many human diseases. In this review, we will first summarize the recent advances made in the discovery of molecular regulations of mitobiogenesis and mitophagy and then focus on the mechanism and signaling pathways involved in the simultaneous regulation of mitobiogenesis and mitophagy in the response of tissue or cultured cells to energy needs, stress, or pathophysiological conditions. Further studies of the crosstalk of these two opposing processes at the molecular level will provide a better understanding of how the cell maintains optimal cellular fitness and function under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, which holds promise for fighting aging and aging-related diseases.

Reducing myocardial infarction by combination of irisin and Dendrobium nobile Lindl through inhibiting nod-like receptor protein-3-related pyroptosis and activating PINK1/Parkin-mitophagy during aging

Aging, a crucial risk factor for ischemic heart disease, has negative impacts on cardioprotective mechanisms. As such, there is still an unmet requirement to explore potential therapies for improving the outcomes of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in elderly subjects. Here, we aimed to confirm the cardioprotective function of irisin/Dendrobium nobile Lindl (DNL) combination therapy against myocardial IR injury in aged rats, with a focus on the involvement of pyroptosis and mitophagy. Male aged Wistar rats (22-24 months old, 400-450 g; n = 54) underwent myocardial IR or sham surgery. Before IR operation, rats were pretreated with irisin (0.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and/or DNL (80 mg/kg, orally) for 1 or 4 weeks, respectively, at corresponding groups. Cardiac function, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac-specific isoform of troponin-I (cTn-I) levels, the expression of proteins involved in pyroptosis (nod-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, c-caspase-1, and GSDMD-N) and mitophagy (PINK1 and Parkin), and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were evaluated after 24 h of reperfusion. Irisin/DNL combined therapy significantly restored cardiac function and decreased LDH and cTn-I levels. It also downregulated pyroptosis-related proteins, upregulated PINK1 and Parkin, and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. Pretreatment with Mdivi-1, as mitophagy inhibitor, abolished the cardioprotective action of dual therapy. This study revealed the cardioprotective effects of irisin/DNL combination therapy against IR-induced myocardial injury in aged rats, and also showed that the mechanism might be associated with suppression of NLRP3-related pyroptosis through enhancing the activity of the PINK1/Parkin mitophagy. This combination therapy is worthy of further detailed studies due to its potential to alleviate myocardial IR injury upon aging.

Talk to Me-Interplay between Mitochondria and Microbiota in Aging

The existence of mitochondria in eukaryotic host cells as a remnant of former microbial organisms has been widely accepted, as has their fundamental role in several diseases and physiological aging. In recent years, it has become clear that the health, aging, and life span of multicellular hosts are also highly dependent on the still-residing microbiota, e.g., those within the intestinal system. Due to the common evolutionary origin of mitochondria and these microbial commensals, it is intriguing to investigate if there might be a crosstalk based on preserved common properties. In the light of rising knowledge on the gut-brain axis, such crosstalk might severely affect brain homeostasis in aging, as neuronal tissue has a high energy demand and low tolerance for according functional decline. In this review, we summarize what is known about the impact of both mitochondria and the microbiome on the host's aging process and what is known about the aging of both entities. For a long time, bacteria were assumed to be immortal; however, recent evidence indicates their aging and similar observations have been made for mitochondria. Finally, we present pathways by which mitochondria are affected by microbiota and give information about therapeutic anti-aging approaches that are based on current knowledge.

Identification of mitophagy-related genes with potential clinical utility in myocardial infarction at transcriptional level

Background

Myocardial infarction (MI) ranks among the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases. Insufficient blood flow to the coronary arteries always leads to ischemic necrosis of the cardiac muscle. However, the mechanism of myocardial injury after MI remains unclear. This article aims to explore the potential common genes between mitophagy and MI and to construct a suitable prediction model.

Methods

Two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets (GSE62646 and GSE59867) were used to screen the differential expression genes in peripheral blood. SVM, RF, and LASSO algorithm were employed to find MI and mitophagy-related genes. Moreover, DT, KNN, RF, SVM and LR were conducted to build the binary models, and screened the best model to further external validation (GSE61144) and internal validation (10-fold cross validation and Bootstrap), respectively. The performance of various machine learning models was compared. In addition, immune cell infiltration correlation analysis was conducted with MCP-Counter and CIBERSORT.

Results

We finally identified ATG5, TOMM20, MFN2 transcriptionally differed between MI and stable coronary artery diseases. Both internal and external validation supported that these three genes could accurately predict MI withAUC = 0.914 and 0.930 by logistic regression, respectively. Additionally, functional analysis suggested that monocytes and neutrophils might be involved in mitochondrial autophagy after myocardial infarction.

Conclusion

The data showed that the transcritional levels of ATG5, TOMM20 and MFN2 in patients with MI were significantly different from the control group, which might be helpful to further accurately diagnose diseases and have potential application value in clinical practice.

Heart Disease and Ageing: The Roles of Senescence, Mitochondria, and Telomerase in Cardiovascular Disease

During ageing molecular damage leads to the accumulation of several hallmarks of ageing including mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, genetic instability and chronic inflammation, which contribute to the development and progression of ageing-associated diseases including cardiovascular disease. Consequently, understanding how these hallmarks of biological ageing interact with the cardiovascular system and each other is fundamental to the pursuit of improving cardiovascular health globally. This review provides an overview of our current understanding of how candidate hallmarks contribute to cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and subsequent myocardial infarction, and age-related heart failure. Further, we consider the evidence that, even in the absence of chronological age, acute cellular stress leading to accelerated biological ageing expedites cardiovascular dysfunction and impacts on cardiovascular health. Finally, we consider the opportunities that modulating hallmarks of ageing offer for the development of novel cardiovascular therapeutics.

Reduced Immunity Regulator MAVS Contributes to Non-Hypertrophic Cardiac Dysfunction by Disturbing Energy Metabolism and Mitochondrial Homeostasis

Cardiac dysfunction is manifested as decline of cardiac systolic function, and multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) can develop cardiac insufficiency. Mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) is known as an innate immune regulator involved in viral infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, whereas its role in the heart remains obscure. The alteration of MAVS was analyzed in animal models with non-hypertrophic and hypertrophic cardiac dysfunction. Then, MAVS-deficient mice were generated to examine the heart function, mitochondrial status and energy metabolism. In vitro, CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing was used to delete MAVS in H9C2 cell lines and the phenotypes of mitochondria and energy metabolism were evaluated. Here we observed reduced MAVS expression in cardiac tissue from several non-hypertrophic cardiac dysfunction models, contrasting to the enhanced MAVS in hypertrophic heart. Furthermore, we examined the heart function in mice with partial or total MAVS deficiency and found spontaneously developed cardiac pump dysfunction and cardiac dilation as assessed by echocardiography parameters. Metabonomic results suggested MAVS deletion probably promoted cardiac dysfunction by disturbing energy metabolism, especially lipid metabolism. Disordered and mitochondrial homeostasis induced by mitochondrial oxidative stress and mitophagy impairment also advanced the progression of cardiac dysfunction of mice without MAVS. Knockout of MAVS using CRISPR/Cas9 in cardiomyocytes damaged mitochondrial structure and function, as well as increased mitochondrial ROS production. Therefore, reduced MAVS contributed to the pathogenesis of non-hypertrophic cardiac dysfunction, which reveals a link between a key regulator of immunity (MAVS) and heart function.

Mitochondrial autophagy: molecular mechanisms and implications for cardiovascular disease

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that participate in ATP generation and involve calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress response, and apoptosis. Dysfunctional or damaged mitochondria could cause serious consequences even lead to cell death. Therefore, maintaining the homeostasis of mitochondria is critical for cellular functions. Mitophagy is a process of selectively degrading damaged mitochondria under mitochondrial toxicity conditions, which plays an essential role in mitochondrial quality control. The abnormal mitophagy that aggravates mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to the pathogenesis of many diseases. As the myocardium is a highly oxidative metabolic tissue, mitochondria play a central role in maintaining optimal performance of the heart. Dysfunctional mitochondria accumulation is involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy and heart failure. This review discusses the most recent progress on mitophagy and its role in cardiovascular disease.