Mitochondria from huntington´s disease striatal astrocytes are hypermetabolic and compromise neuronal branching
Our findings demonstrate that striatal astrocytes from HD mice exhibit a hypermetabolic phenotype, characterized by increased mitochondrial respiration, disrupted mitochondrial dynamics, and elevated mitochondrial oxidative stress. Importantly, we identify a novel mechanism of astrocyte-neuron interaction involving the transfer of dysfunctional mitochondria from astrocytes to neurons. The uptake of these compromised mitochondria by striatal neurons results in reduced neuronal branching and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Collectively, these results highlight the pathological relevance of impaired astrocyte-to-neuron mitochondrial transfer and emphasize the contributory role of astrocytic dysfunction in Huntington´s disease progression.
Authors
- Glòria Garrabou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8973-9933)
- Nadia Di Franco
- Laura López-Molina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6121-0779)
- Sílvia Ginés (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9479-8185)
- Mariona Guitart‐Mampel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9768-4706)
- Inne Aerts (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1068-5552)
- Laura Valls‐Roca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5956-6752)
- E. Mena Sebastiá
- Alba Pereda-Velarde
Institutions
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (ES)
- Departament de Salut (ES)
- Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cell Communication and Signaling
- Published
- 2025-07-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02341-6
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.82
Funders
- Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
- Generalitat de Catalunya
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Universitat de Barcelona
- Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III