Defective PINK1-dependent mitophagy is involved in high glucose-induced neurotoxicity

Neuropathic pain often complicates diabetes progression, yet the pathogenic mechanisms are poorly understood. Defective mitophagy is linked to various diabetic complications like nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, and retinopathy. To investigate the molecular basis of hyperglycemia-induced painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), we examined the effect of high glucose on the PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (Parkin)-mediated mitophagy pathway in ND7/23 cells. Cells were treated with different glucose concentrations (25, 50, 75 mM) for various durations (24, 48, 72 h). Additionally, cells were exposed to high glucose (50 mM) with or without 100 nM rapamycin (a mitophagy enhancer) for 48 h, or transfected with PINK1 siRNA. We assessed protein levels of mitophagy-related genes (PINK1, Parkin, P62, LC3B) and apoptotic markers (cleaved-Caspase3) via Western blotting. High glucose significantly reduced the expression of autophagy-related proteins PINK1 and Parkin in a time- and concentration-dependent manner compared to controls. Rapamycin counteracted the inhibitory effects of high glucose on PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, while PINK1 siRNA transfection showed similar outcomes, confirming the inhibitory impact of high glucose on mitophagy. Moreover, high glucose induced apoptosis by suppressing PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, causing cytotoxic effects in ND7/23 cells which is derived from the fusion of mouse neuroblastoma cells and rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. Our findings suggest that hyperglycemia-induced disruption of the PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathway impairs mitochondrial homeostasis, leading to apoptosis. Therefore, targeting PINK1 pathway activation or restoring mitophagy might be a promising therapeutic strategy for PDN treatment.