BCL2 interacting protein 3 as a potential biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease: an observational study
Pengtao Zheng, Xudong Huang, Xinping Pang, Yue Sun, Zihang Zeng, Weiqi Li, Chonghao Gao, Chao-Yang Pang
Abstract
As important organelles for energy production, mitochondria exhibit dysfunction as an early hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, potentially leading to cell death and impaired brain function. The mitophagy receptors BCL2 interacting protein 3 and BCL2 interacting protein 3 like (NIX), which are regulated by protein phosphatase targeting COQ7 (PPTC7), play crucial roles in controlling the quantity of mitochondria within cells. In this study, we found that the expression level of BCL2 interacting protein 3 was positively correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination scores, indicating that a lower BCL2 interacting protein 3 expression was associated with a higher degree of dementia. Under pathological conditions of Alzheimer’s disease, the expression levels of protein phosphatase targeting COQ7, BCL2 interacting protein 3, and BCL2 interacting protein 3 like were decreased. Overall, BCL2 interacting protein 3 may serve as a potential biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease.