Melatonin regulates mitochondrial dynamics and alleviates neuron damage in prion diseases
Xixi Zhang, Deming Zhao, Wei Wu, Syed Zahid Ali Shah, Mengyu Lai, Dongming Yang, Jie Li, Zhiling Guan, Wen Li, Hong‐Li Gao, Huafen Zhao, Xiangmei Zhou, Lifeng Yang
Abstract
-induced mitochondrial abnormality and dysfunction, including mitochondrial fragmentation and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suppression of ATP, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and altered mitochondrial dynamic proteins dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) and optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1). Our findings identify that pretreatment with melatonin prevents the deleterious effects of PrPSc on mitochondrial function and dynamics, protects synapses and alleviates neuron damage. Melatonin could be a novel and effective medication in the therapy of prion diseases.