Abstract
Objective: Mitochondrial impairment in the skeletal muscle contributes to useless of limbs in spleen qi deficiency; however the genesis of such impairment is not clear. Herein, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)-Parkin pathway and mitophagy were studied to explore the machinery of mitochondrial impairment. Methods: 16 male SD rats were randomly divided in the control group and spleen qi deficiency group (model group); transmission electron microscope was used to observe mitochondrial morphology; mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was assessed by testing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and levels of ATP and ROS; western blot was used to analyze expressions of PINK1, Parkin, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and p62. Results: Compared with those in the control group, mitochondria became small, less and scattered, MMP and the ATP level were reduced, the ROS level was elevated, PINK1 expression was decreased, p62 expression was increased, but Parkin and LC3-II expressions were not altered, in the model group. Conclusions: Suppression of mitophagy might be related to the mitochondrial damage in the skeletal muscle when spleen qi deficiency develops.
Highlights
According to the theory of the traditional Chinese medicine, spleen can transform and transport cereal nutrients to muscles; spleen dominates muscles and limbs
16 male SD rats were randomly divided in the control group and spleen qi deficiency group; transmission electron microscope was used to observe mitochondrial morphology; mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was assessed by testing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxidative species (ROS); western blot was used to analyze expressions of PINK1, Parkin, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and p62
In the traditional Chinese medicine, muscles and limbs are dominated by spleen because spleen can transform and transport nutrients to nourish them
Summary
According to the theory of the traditional Chinese medicine, spleen can transform and transport cereal nutrients to muscles; spleen dominates muscles and limbs. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxidative species (ROS) are byproducts of OXPHOS, and their normality is helpful for ATP production and cellular survival [1] [2]. Stress damages mitochondria resulting in MMP dissipation and ROS accumulation which impair cellular components and induce oxidative stress and apoptosis [3] [4]. MMP dissipation can activate PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)-Parkin pathway to initiate mitophagy by which cells degrade abnormal mitochondria in lysosomes to maintain mitochondrial health [5] [6]
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