Pink1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy Regulated the Apoptosis of Dendritic Cells in Sepsis

Dendritic cells (DCs) are vital antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the immune system, whose apoptosis is closely related to the development of sepsis. Mitophagy is one of the necessary forms of selective autophagy that removes damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria to regulate immunity and inflammation. However, its effect on the apoptosis of DC in sepsis remains unknown. Here, we showed that sepsis activated the apoptosis and mitophagy of DC, and mitophagy had an anti-apoptotic effect on sepsis-induced DC apoptosis. In this study, we used cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to simulate the pathophysiological state of sepsis. Apoptosis and mitophagy of DC were significantly enhanced in CLP mice compared with controls, and in the Pink1-KO (Pink1-knockout) mice CLP model, the level of apoptosis in DC was further increased while the level of mitophagy was decreased. In addition, more severe mitochondrial dysfunction was exhibited in DC of Pink1-KO mice CLP model compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The results suggest that Pink1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy is activated during sepsis and has an anti-apoptotic effect on DC, which regulates immune functions.