bims-mitrat Biomed News
on Mitochondrial transplantation and transfer
Issue of 2026–05–03
two papers selected by
Gökhan Burçin Kubat, Başkent Üni̇versi̇tesi̇
  1. Apoptotic Vesicle Membrane-Mediated Targeted Endothelial Mitochondrial Transplantation-Clearance Therapy for Diabetic Wound Healing.
  2. Intraperitoneal Administration of Cardiolipin Enhances Mitochondrial Respiration in Skeletal Muscle of Male Mice.
  1. Research (Wash D C). 2026 ;9 1042
    Apoptotic Vesicle Membrane-Mediated Targeted Endothelial Mitochondrial Transplantation-Clearance Therapy for Diabetic Wound Healing.
    Zheyuan Hu, Shutong Qian, Bo Liao, Yuhuan Wang, Qian Lu, Jiayi Mao, Bolun Lu, Liucheng Zhang, Fei Wang, Danru Wang, Wenguo Cui, Xiaoming Sun.
      Impaired mitophagy and the accumulation of damaged mitochondria are key drivers of endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction in diabetic wounds. While mitochondrial transplantation (MT) has demonstrated therapeutic potential in such mitochondrial damage-related diseases, its application is still thwarted by elusive mechanisms and practical hurdles such as poor targeting specificity and low delivery efficiency. Here, we reveal that MT acts by reactivating mitophagy to selectively eliminate dysfunctional mitochondria, thereby restoring mitochondrial homeostasis and rescuing EC functionality. To exploit this discovery, we engineer a biomimetic MT strategy through coating EC-derived apoptotic vesicle membrane (AVM) onto the surface of isolated mitochondria. The resulting mitochondria-AVM complex (Mito-AVM) leverages homologous targeting and phosphatidylserine-mediated "eat-me" signaling, achieving a remarkable 150% increase in delivery efficiency to ECs in diabetic wounds. Furthermore, we construct a 3-aminophenylboric acid-modified hyaluronic acid/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel for the diabetic wound microenvironment, enabling reactive oxygen species/glucose-triggered sustained release of encapsulated Mito-AVM at the wound site. In summary, our work elucidates a fundamental mechanism of MT and provides an efficient and targeted strategy for MT therapy, offering fresh perspectives for diabetic wound treatment.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.34133/research.1042
  2. J Exp Pharmacol. 2026 ;18 598396
    Intraperitoneal Administration of Cardiolipin Enhances Mitochondrial Respiration in Skeletal Muscle of Male Mice.
    Amanda Laplante, Andreas Bergdahl.
       Purpose: Cardiolipin is a phospholipid located in the inner mitochondrial membrane and is released following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. While cardiolipin has documented effects in several tissues, its impact on skeletal muscle function and mitochondrial respiration remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenously elevated cardiolipin on aerobic capacity and mitochondrial respiratory function in skeletal muscle using a mouse model.
    Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into an experimental group (n = 11) receiving cardiolipin injections and a control group (n = 12) receiving a placebo solution. Mice were injected twice weekly for 6 weeks with 0.1 mL of cardiolipin (0.5 mg/mL) or placebo. Voluntary running distance was monitored throughout the intervention. Aerobic capacity was assessed at baseline, week 3, and week 6 by measuring time to exhaustion during treadmill running at a constant speed of 16 m min-1. Following the intervention, mice were euthanized, the vastus lateralis muscle was excised, and mitochondrial respiratory capacity was evaluated using high-resolution respirometry. Mitochondrial density was assessed by immunoblotting.
    Results: Mice receiving cardiolipin exhibited increased skeletal muscle oxygen consumption compared with controls. No differences in mitochondrial density were observed between groups, suggesting that the enhanced oxygen consumption was not associated with increased mitochondrial content but may instead reflect alterations in mitochondrial respiratory efficiency.
    Conclusion: Exogenously elevated cardiolipin is associated with enhanced skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory function without altering mitochondrial density, which may indicate improved mitochondrial efficiency. These findings provide novel insight into the potential role of cardiolipin in skeletal muscle energy metabolism and aerobic performance. Future studies should explore the combined effects of cardiolipin administration and exercise training on skeletal muscle respiratory capacity and further investigate the underlying mechanisms.
    Keywords:  ATP production; OXPHOS; aerobic capacity; cardiolipin; respiratory efficiency
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2147/JEP.S598396
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