Celastrol protected the MPTP-injected mice Parkinson's disease model via redox regulation of CDC37

  • Phytomedicine. 2025 Sep:145:157067. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157067.
Wanfen Liao  1 ,  Aiwen Dong  1 ,  Fatima Hafeez  1 ,  Qinyong Ye  2 ,  En Huang  3
Affiliations
  • 1. Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases of Fujian Province, Scientific Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
  • 2. Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology and Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
  • 3. Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases of Fujian Province, Scientific Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 40652801 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157067
Abstract

Background: Celastrol (CEL), a bioactive compound isolated from Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook. F, exerts neuroprotective effects through anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). CEL covalently binds to the thiol group of cysteine residues in cell division cycle 37 (CDC37), leading to redox-dependent modulation of CDC37 function. However, whether CEL redox regulates CDC37 and CEL-CDC37 interaction plays a role in pathogenesis of PD is still not be investigated yet. This study aids to demonstrate the role of CEL redox regulation of CDC37 in an MPTP-induced mouse model of PD.

Methods: Lentiviral vectors were used to overexpress or knock down CDC37 in MPTP-injected mice. CEL was administered to assess its effect on CDC37 redox status and related molecular pathways.

Results: CDC37 overexpression alleviated MPTP-induced motor deficits and dopaminergic neuron loss, whereas CDC37 knockdown exacerbated these impairments. Overexpression of CDC37 also suppressed activation of the NF-κB pathway and reduced phosphorylation of α-synuclein at serine 129 (p-S129-syn). MPTP insult decreased the reduced (active) form of CDC37 due to oxidative stress. CEL treatment restored CDC37 redox status, improved locomotor performance, preserved dopaminergic neurons, and inhibited both NF-κB activation and p-S129-synuclein levels. These effects were mediated by CEL's redox regulation of CDC37, which prevented its overoxidation, disrupted the HSP90/CDC37 complex, and suppressed downstream pro-inflammatory and pro-pathogenic signaling.

Conclusion: Our study suggests that CEL restores the protective role of CDC37 in the MPTP-injected Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model via redox regulation of CDC37, which prevents over-oxidation of CDC37 under high oxidative stress, and disrupts the HSP90/CDC37 complex and subsequently blocks NF-κB pathway activation and p-S129-synuclein production. This study might provide a promising strategy for PD and further understanding of the therapeutic mechanism of CEL application.

Keywords
CDC37; Celastrol; Parkinson's disease; Redox regulation; Thiol-reactive.
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