Novel immunoinformatics-guided activation of CISD1 with compound 4'-methoxy-3',5,7-trihydroxyflavanone for the

Abdur-Rehman Munir1, Javed Iqbal Wattoo2, Kaniz Fatima2

  • 1Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology (FOST), University of Central Punjab (UCP), 1- Khayaban-E-Jinnah Road, Johar Town Lahore, Pakistan. abdulrehman47470@gmail.com.

Biogerontology
|March 11, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Activating CISD1 (CD20-like protein 1) combats aging in heart cells by improving mitochondrial function and preserving telomeres. This discovery offers a new therapeutic target for age-related heart disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Aging Biology
  • Mitochondrial Medicine

Background:

  • Aging is a primary cause of cardiomyopathy, marked by mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and telomere shortening in cardiomyocytes.
  • These age-related changes impair cellular energy production and regeneration, leading to cardiac deterioration.
  • Current interventions for aging-related cardiac decline are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the therapeutic potential of activating CISD1 (CD20-like protein 1) as a strategy against aging-associated cardiac decline.
  • To explore CISD1's role in enhancing mitochondrial bioenergetics, reducing oxidative stress, and preserving telomere integrity in cardiomyocytes.
  • To identify potential small-molecule activators for CISD1 to modulate mitochondrial dynamics in aging hearts.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced immunoinformatic approaches, including molecular docking, protein structure modeling, and molecular dynamics simulations.
  • Assessed the impact of CISD1 upregulation on mitochondrial function, oxidative stress markers, and telomere length.
  • Screened for small molecules capable of activating CISD1.

Main Results:

  • CISD1 activation was found to stabilize mitochondrial function and mitigate oxidative damage in aging cardiomyocytes.
  • Activation of CISD1 significantly slowed telomere attrition, thereby delaying cellular senescence.
  • Identified 4'-Methoxy-3',5,7-trihydroxyflavanone as a potential small-molecule activator of CISD1.

Conclusions:

  • CISD1 activation represents a promising therapeutic strategy for counteracting age-related cardiomyopathy.
  • Targeting CISD1 can restore cellular homeostasis in aged cardiac tissues, potentially reducing the risk of heart failure.
  • This research provides a mechanistic link between CISD1, mitochondrial stability, and telomere preservation, advancing interventions for cardiovascular aging.