Li Nan, Wang Bin, Wang Yuanxin, Tian Xin, Lin Junjie, Sun Xun, Sun Yu, Zhang Xin, Xu Haocheng, Li Mingzhi, Zeng Fanxi, Zhao Renqing
College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Mol Neurobiol. 2025 Mar 6. doi: 10.1007/s12035-025-04801-z.
Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), yet therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial function remain limited. Exercise has shown neuroprotective benefits in PD, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate how exercise affects MPTP-induced excessive apoptosis, mitochondrial fission, and mitochondrial function in PD mice, with a focus on the Irisin/AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. Thirty-two male C57BL/6 J mice, aged 7-8 weeks, were randomly assigned to control (n = 8) and experimental groups (n = 24). Mice in the experimental groups were administered intraperitoneal injections of MPTP to induce the PD model. Subsequently, the experimental mice were divided into three groups (8 mice in each group): the sedentary group (PD), the group subjected to 10 weeks of treadmill exercise (PDEX), and the group receiving both treadmill exercise and Irisin antagonist injections (EXRG). Upon completion of the 10-week intervention, behavioral assessments were performed. Following this, the mice were euthanized to collect brain samples and subjected to immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, citrate synthase assay, and Western blot analyses. MPTP-treated mice exhibited significant motor dysfunction and dopaminergic neuron loss in the nigrostriatal regions, which were alleviated after a 10-week exercise intervention. Exercise significantly reduced MPTP-induced neuronal apoptosis, as evidenced by decreased cellular debris and abnormal nuclear morphology, increased Bcl-2 protein levels, and decreased BAX expression. Furthermore, exercise mitigated abnormal mitochondrial fission in PD mice and improved mitochondrial function-related markers. This was reflected by reduced immunohistochemical signals and protein expression levels of Drp1, Fis1, and MFF, as well as increased citrate synthase activity and elevated expression levels of COX-I and COX-IV. In the substantia nigra of PD mice, the expression levels of Irisin, p-AMPK, and SIRT1 were reduced but were notably elevated after the 10-week exercise intervention. However, chronic treatment with Cyclo RGDyk to block Irisin signaling potentially counteracted the exercise-induced increases in p-AMPK and Sirt1 expression. Moreover, blocking the Irisin signaling pathway reversed the beneficial effects of exercise on mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial function, and neuronal apoptosis. Exercise is an effective approach for alleviating PD pathology by reducing excessive mitochondrial fission, dysregulated mitochondrial respiration and metabolism, and neuronal loss. The neuroprotective effects of exercise are achieved, in part, by regulating the Irisin/AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway. This study underscores the potential of targeting Irisin signaling as a therapeutic strategy of exercise to enhance mitochondrial function and promote neuronal survival in PD.
线粒体功能障碍在帕金森病(PD)的发病机制中起着关键作用,但针对线粒体功能的治疗策略仍然有限。运动已被证明对PD具有神经保护作用,但其潜在机制尚未完全明确。本研究旨在探讨运动如何影响MPTP诱导的PD小鼠过度凋亡、线粒体分裂和线粒体功能,重点关注鸢尾素/AMPK/SIRT1信号通路。将32只7-8周龄的雄性C57BL/6 J小鼠随机分为对照组(n = 8)和实验组(n = 24)。实验组小鼠腹腔注射MPTP以诱导PD模型。随后,将实验小鼠分为三组(每组8只):久坐组(PD)、进行10周跑步机运动的组(PDEX)和接受跑步机运动并注射鸢尾素拮抗剂的组(EXRG)。在为期10周的干预结束后,进行行为评估。之后,对小鼠实施安乐死以收集脑样本,并进行免疫组织化学、免疫荧光、ELISA、柠檬酸合酶测定和蛋白质免疫印迹分析。MPTP处理的小鼠在黑质纹状体区域表现出明显的运动功能障碍和多巴胺能神经元损失,在进行10周的运动干预后这些症状得到缓解。运动显著减少了MPTP诱导的神经元凋亡,表现为细胞碎片减少和核形态异常、Bcl-2蛋白水平升高以及BAX表达降低。此外,运动减轻了PD小鼠异常的线粒体分裂,并改善了线粒体功能相关标志物。这表现为Drp1、Fis1和MFF的免疫组织化学信号和蛋白表达水平降低,以及柠檬酸合酶活性增加和COX-I及COX-IV表达水平升高。在PD小鼠的黑质中,鸢尾素、p-AMPK和SIRT1的表达水平降低,但在进行10周的运动干预后显著升高。然而,用Cyclo RGDyk进行慢性处理以阻断鸢尾素信号传导可能会抵消运动诱导的p-AMPK和Sirt1表达增加。此外,阻断鸢尾素信号通路会逆转运动对线粒体分裂、线粒体功能和神经元凋亡的有益影响。运动是通过减少过度的线粒体分裂、失调的线粒体呼吸和代谢以及神经元损失来减轻PD病理的有效方法。运动的神经保护作用部分是通过调节鸢尾素/AMPK/SIRT1信号通路实现的。本研究强调了靶向鸢尾素信号传导作为运动治疗策略以增强线粒体功能和促进PD中神经元存活的潜力。
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