Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41972676›Full record

ArticleCells2026

BNIP3/BNIP3L-Dependent Mitophagy Protects Against Hippocampal Neuronal Damage and Apoptosis in a Model of Vascular Dementia.

Yujiao Wang, Daojun Xie, Shijia Ma, Yuhe Wang, Chengcheng Zhang, Zhuyue Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cells, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yujiao WangThe First Clinical Medical College of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230036, China.
Daojun XieThe First Clinical Medical College of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230036, China.
Shijia MaThe First Clinical Medical College of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230036, China.
Yuhe WangThe First Clinical Medical College of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230036, China.
Chengcheng ZhangThe First Clinical Medical College of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230036, China.
Zhuyue ChenThe First Clinical Medical College of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230036, China.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 81874389
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mitophagy serves as an essential quality control mechanism that maintains mitochondrial homeostasis through selective autophagic clearance of damaged organelles. Vascular dementia (VD) has been increasingly associated with mitophagy dysregulation in recent studies. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying mitophagy's involvement in VD pathogenesis remain poorly characterized. To elucidate the role of mitophagy in VD, we systematically examined the expression of key mitophagy pathways in hippocampal neurons of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) rats and in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated HT22 cells. Intriguingly, under autophagy-deficient conditions, both BNIP3 and BNIP3L were markedly downregulated, whereas FUNDC1 expression increased; PINK1/Parkin levels remained unaltered. To further dissect the functional contributions of BNIP3 and BNIP3L, we administered the mitochondrial fission inhibitor Mdivi-1 to BCCAO model rats. Histopathological analysis revealed pronounced neuronal damage and apoptosis in the hippocampal region, which was further exacerbated upon Mdivi-1 treatment. In vitro, BNIP3 silencing significantly compromised cell viability, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), suppressed mitophagy, and increased apoptotic rates. Conversely, BNIP3 overexpression reversed these detrimental effects. Notably, treatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) diminished LC3B-Tomm20 colocalization and intensified apoptosis, reinforcing the critical role of BNIP3-mediated mitophagy in neuronal survival. Similarly, BNIP3L overexpression enhanced cell viability, attenuated ROS production, restored ΔΨm, and mitigated apoptosis, while 3-MA treatment again impaired mitophagic flux and worsened cell death. Collectively, these findings underscore the critical and distinct roles of BNIP3 and BNIP3L in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and neuronal survival under ischemic conditions.

Indexed as

ApoptosisDementia, VascularHippocampusMembrane ProteinsMitochondrial ProteinsMitophagyNeuronsProto-Oncogene ProteinsAnimalsAutophagyDisease Models, AnimalMaleMembrane Potential, MitochondrialMiceMitochondriaRatsBNIP3L protein, ratBNIP3 protein, ratMembrane ProteinsMitochondrial ProteinsProto-Oncogene ProteinsReactive Oxygen SpeciesapoptosisBNIP3BNIP3LmitophagyROSvascular dementia

Identifiers

PMID41972676
PMCPMC13071978

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.