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The translocator protein (TSPO) is prodromal to mitophagy loss in neurotoxicity

  • Michele Frison
  • , Danilo Faccenda
  • , Rosella Abeti
  • , Manuel Rigon
  • , Daniela Strobbe
  • , Britannie S. England-Rendon
  • , Diana Cash
  • , Katy Barnes
  • , Mona Sadeghian
  • , Marija Sajic
  • , Lisa A. Wells
  • , Dong Xia
  • , Paola Giunti
  • , Kenneth Smith
  • , Heather Mortiboys
  • , Federico E. Turkheimer
  • , Michelangelo Campanella

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)
2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Dysfunctional mitochondria characterise Parkinson's Disease (PD). Uncovering etiological molecules, which harm the homeostasis of mitochondria in response to pathological cues, is therefore pivotal to inform early diagnosis and therapy in the condition, especially in its idiopathic forms. This study proposes the 18 kDa Translocator Protein (TSPO) to be one of those. Both in vitro and in vivo data show that neurotoxins, which phenotypically mimic PD, increase TSPO to enhance cellular redox-stress, susceptibility to dopamine-induced cell death, and repression of ubiquitin-dependent mitophagy. TSPO amplifies the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) signalling, forming positive feedback, which represses the transcription factor EB (TFEB) and the controlled production of lysosomes. Finally, genetic variances in the transcriptome confirm that TSPO is required to alter the autophagy-lysosomal pathway during neurotoxicity.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2721-2739
Number of pages19
JournalMolecular Psychiatry
Volume26
Early online date4 Mar 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jul 2021

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