The role of mitophagy in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a persistent autoimmune condition involving multiple organ systems. It is fundamentally driven by the dysregulation of the immune system. Under this condition, the immune system erroneously targets body tissues and induces a marked inflammatory immune response, ultimately leading to multisystem and multi-organ involvement. Mitophagy is a selective intracellular quality control mechanism that eliminates dysfunctional or redundant mitochondria and is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis. In recent years, accumulating research has indicated that dysregulated mitophagy is closely linked to the pathogenesis of SLE and associated organ damage, particularly in lupus nephritis (LN). This review systematically elaborates the molecular regulatory network of mitophagy and its specific roles in immune dysregulation and organ damage in SLE. We further explored therapeutic strategies targeting mitophagy to provide new theoretical foundations and directions for the targeted management of SLE.