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Huang W, Wu D, Cai C, Yao H, Tian Z, Yang Y, Pang M, Rong L, Liu B. Inhibition of MST1 ameliorates neuronal apoptosis via GSK3β/β-TrCP/NRF2 pathway in spinal cord injury accompanied by diabetes. Redox Biol 2024; 71:103104. [PMID: 38430683 PMCID: PMC10914584 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological disease that often results in tremendous loss of motor function. Increasing evidence demonstrates that diabetes worsens outcomes for patients with SCI due to the higher levels of neuronal oxidative stress. Mammalian sterile 20-like kinase (MST1) is a key mediator of oxidative stress in the central nervous system; however, the mechanism of its action in SCI is still not clear. Here, we investigated the role of MST1 activation in induced neuronal oxidative stress in patients with both SCI and diabetes. METHODS Diabetes was established in mice by diet induction combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). SCI was performed at T10 level through weight dropping. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were applied to mimic diabetic conditions in PC12 cell line in vitro. We employed HE, Nissl staining, footprint assessment and Basso mouse scale to evaluate functional recovery after SCI. Moreover, immunoblotting, qPCR, immunofluorescence and protein-protein docking analysis were used to detect the mechanism. RESULTS Regarding in vivo experiments, diabetes resulted in up-regulation of MST1, excessive neuronal apoptosis and weakened motor function in SCI mice. Furthermore, diabetes impeded NRF2-mediated antioxidant defense of neurons in the damaged spinal cord. Treatment with AAV-siMST1 could restore antioxidant properties of neurons to facilitate reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance, which subsequently promoted neuronal survival to improve locomotor function recovery. In vitro model found that AGEs worsened mitochondrial dysfunction and increased cellular oxidative stress. While MST1 inhibition through the chemical inhibitor XMU-MP-1 or MST1-shRNA infection restored NRF2 nuclear accumulation and its transcription of downstream antioxidant enzymes, therefore preventing ROS generation. However, these antioxidant effects were reversed by NRF2 knockdown. Our in-depth studies showed that over-activation of MST1 in diabetes directly hindered the neuroprotective AKT1, and subsequently fostered NRF2 ubiquitination and degradation via the GSK3β/β-TrCP pathway. CONCLUSION MST1 inhibition significantly restores neurological function in SCI mice with preexisting diabetes, which is largely attributed to the activation of antioxidant properties via the GSK3β(Ser 9)/β-TrCP/NRF2 pathway. MST1 may be a promising pharmacological target for the effective treatment of spinal cord injury patients with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijun Huang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Depeng Wu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Chaoyang Cai
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Hui Yao
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Zhenming Tian
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Mao Pang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Limin Rong
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China.
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, PR China.
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