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Ramirez Ramirez, Oscar A

Mayo Clinic

Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States.

Citations 1

Molecular mechanisms underlying FCCP-induced mitophagy in human airway smooth muscle cells

American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology | July 23, 2026 | Volume: 331 | Issue: 3 | Pages: L233-L251

10.1152/ajplung.00050.2026 | PMID 42490204

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.