IRF1-mediated upregulation of PARP12 promotes cartilage degradation by inhibiting PINK1/Parkin dependent mitophagy through ISG15 attenuating ubiquitylation and SUMOylation of MFN1/2.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related cartilage-degenerating joint disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported to promote the development of OA. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family member 12 (PARP12) is a key regulator of mitochondrial function, protein translation, and inflammation. However, the role of PARP12 in OA-based cartilage degradation and the underlying mechanisms are relatively unknown. Here, we first demonstrated that PARP12 inhibits mitophagy and promotes OA progression in human OA cartilage and a monosodium iodoacetate-induced rat OA model. Using mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation assay, PARP12 was shown to interact with ISG15, upregulate mitofusin 1 and 2 (MFN1/2) ISGylation, which downregulated MFN1/2 ubiquitination and SUMOylation, thereby inhibiting PINK1/Parkin-dependent chondrocyte mitophagy and promoting cartilage degradation. Moreover, inflammatory cytokine-induced interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) activation was required for the upregulation of PARP12 expression, and it directly bound to the PARP12 promoter to activate transcription. XAV-939 inhibited PARP12 expression and suppressed OA pathogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, PARP12 can be used to predict the severity of OA; thus, it represents a new target for the study of mitophagy and OA progression. In brief, the IRF1-mediated upregulation of PARP12 promoted cartilage degradation by inhibiting PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy via ISG15-based attenuation of MFN1/2 ubiquitylation and SUMOylation. Our data provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying PARP12-based regulation of mitophagy and can facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of OA.