Ramirez Ramirez, Oscar A

The study establishes the presence of a robust mitophagic response to acute mitochondrial depolarization in hASM cells mediated through the canonical PINK1-Parkin pathway. By integrating quantitative mitochondrial labeling and biochemical analyses, we demonstrate increased mitochondrial damage and remodeling, accompanied by mitochondrial PINK1 accumulation and Parkin activation, resulting in ubiquitin-dependent signaling and lysosomal engulfment. These findings identify mitophagy as a critical adaptive mechanism for maintaining mitochondrial quality control in airway smooth muscle cells during metabolic stress.