Jianhui Li, Annan Liu, Wei Gao, Liping Xing, Peihan Duan, Honglin Li
{"title":"Mitochondrial dysfunction‑driven ferroptosis in cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion injury: Mechanisms and therapeutic strategies (Review).","authors":"Jianhui Li, Annan Liu, Wei Gao, Liping Xing, Peihan Duan, Honglin Li","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13997","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13997","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Although vascular recanalization is essential for salvaging the ischemic penumbra, subsequent reperfusion may initiate a cascade of secondary brain injury, a pathological process referred to as cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion injury (CIRI). Ferroptosis, an iron‑dependent form of programmed cell death characterized by the excessive accumulation of lipid peroxides and membrane damage, has emerged as a critical driver of neuronal death in CIRI. Growing evidence supports mitochondrial dysfunction as not only a downstream outcome of bioenergetic failure, but also a central regulatory node within the ferroptotic cascade. The present review systematically summarizes how mitochondrial dysfunction increases neuronal susceptibility to ferroptosis across the pathophysiological progression of CIRI, with a particular focus on the underlying mechanisms. Specifically, a multidimensional pathological network composed of multiple mitochondrial abnormalities, including mitochondrial reactive oxygen species bursts, Ca2+ overload and disruption of the mitochondrial quality control system, encompassing mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, synergistically amplifies lipid peroxidation and drives neuronal ferroptosis. Finally, advances and future perspectives regarding mitochondria‑centered therapeutic strategies are highlighted, offering novel insights into the development of targeted neuroprotective interventions against CIRI‑induced ferroptosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13504440/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148795540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unlocking the potential of microRNA as predictive biomarkers for efficacy and adverse events in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (Review).","authors":"Xi Wang, Baojun Duan, Jun Bai, Huitong Liu","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13998","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13998","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown promise in cancer therapy by enhancing antitumor immune responses, but patient responses are variable, with some experiencing limited efficacy and others suffering from severe immune‑related adverse events (irAEs). Identifying predictive biomarkers for ICI efficacy and toxicity is required for optimizing patient selection and treatment outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non‑coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression, have emerged as potential biomarkers due to their role in immune regulation and tumor biology. Studies have shown that miRNA profiles in tumor tissues and blood can predict ICI responses. Specific miRNAs, such as miR‑155, miR‑21 and miR‑146a, are associated with enhanced antitumor responses, whereas others, such as miR‑34a and miR‑200c, are linked to resistance by modulating immune evasion. Additionally, altered miRNA expression reflects immune activation or dysregulation, playing a role in irAEs. The present review discussed the potential of miRNAs as predictive biomarkers for ICI therapy, their challenges in clinical integration and their promise for improving ICI treatment precision and safety, although further research is required for clinical application.</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13504462/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148795554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laifeng Wu, Lingchen Liao, Ziwei Xia, Qiao Zeng, An Huang, Zhiyong Cao
{"title":"Autophagy: Mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives in intestinal metaplasia (Review).","authors":"Laifeng Wu, Lingchen Liao, Ziwei Xia, Qiao Zeng, An Huang, Zhiyong Cao","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13999","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13999","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intestinal metaplasia (IM) represents a key stage in the progression of gastric mucosal lesions to gastric cancer, marked by a complex molecular pathogenesis and a lack of effective interventional strategies. Autophagy, a key mechanism for maintaining cell homeostasis, is closely associated with the onset and progression of IM. The present review aimed to summarize the role of autophagy in IM by integrating its association with risk factors and pathogenic mechanisms. The present study evaluated the impact of autophagy on inflammation, immune responses and cellular fate determination during IM. The present study summarized potential autophagy‑mediated therapeutic agents for IM treatment and future research directions and existing limitations, aiming to provide novel insight for preventing and managing this premalignant condition.</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13543149/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148795575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advances in miR‑200c regulation of apoptosis, pyroptosis and autophagy in disease (Review).","authors":"Xiaona Wang, Hua Du, Yingxu Shi","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13975","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13975","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) represent conserved non‑coding RNAs responsible for the regulation of gene expression in a post‑transcriptional manner. The dysregulation of miRNAs often leads to disease development and progress. In particular, miR‑200c is one of the miR‑200 family members, which is found deregulated in various pathologies and involved in the process of cancer progression through its participation in different molecular signaling pathways. Initially, miR‑200c was regarded as an essential factor in metastases formation. Nevertheless, following the increase in knowledge about cell death signaling pathways, it became clear that miR‑200c participates in various types of cell death such as apoptosis, autophagy and pyroptosis. The present narrative review primarily discusses the molecular mechanisms through which miR‑200c regulates apoptosis, pyroptosis and autophagy and explores its potential therapeutic value.</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13454991/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148630869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Association between periodontitis and heart failure: Mechanisms and clinical implications (Review).","authors":"Xinyue Zhang, Xiaoli An","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13974","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13974","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Periodontitis, a common oral disease, is increasingly recognized for its potential impact on systemic health, particularly its association with heart failure (HF). HF is a complex clinical syndrome with a multifactorial pathogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests that periodontitis may influence the cardiovascular system and contribute to the onset and progression of HF through mechanisms such as systemic inflammation, microbial shifts, and immune dysregulation. However, current research still faces limitations in establishing causality and elucidating the precise underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, clinical intervention strategies require further investigation. Relevant literature was identified from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using keywords related to periodontitis and heart failure, and screened for relevance to epidemiological evidence, mechanistic insights, and clinical implications. The present review aimed to summarize the mechanisms linking periodontitis and HF, analyze their shared pathophysiological basis, and discuss the potential role of periodontal treatment in improving outcomes for patients with HF. Clinically, periodontal assessment may be considered in patients with heart failure as part of multidisciplinary care, but current evidence remains insufficient to support definitive recommendations that such evaluation or treatment improves HF outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13454753/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148630793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Research progress on the protective effect and oxidative stress mechanism of rutin against liver injury (Review).","authors":"Teng Sun, Lei Ye","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13982","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13982","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Addressing the global health burden of liver injury necessitates the exploration of novel prevention and treatment strategies. The therapeutic use of the natural flavonoid rutin, which is renowned for its notable antioxidant properties, has emerged as a promising area of research. The present review systematically examines the protective mechanisms of rutin and research progress on its use across various liver‑injury models. Primarily, the present review assesses the current knowledge and therapeutic challenges of liver injury, emphasizing the requirement for in‑depth studies on its pathogenesis and the development of innovative treatment approaches. Given the widespread recognition of oxidative stress as a key contributor to liver injury, the present review specifically details the effects of oxidative stress on biological macromolecules, as well as the central roles of the nuclear factor erythroid 2‑related factor 2 and nuclear factor‑κB pathways in modulating antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory and apoptotic responses. Building on this foundation, the present review critically evaluates the antioxidant properties of rutin and its hepatoprotective effects, which are mediated through regulation of the aforementioned pathways. Furthermore, the potential of nanotechnology to enhance the bioavailability and delivery efficiency of rutin is explored. By synthesizing mechanistic evidence and evaluating nano‑strategies, the present review establishes a coherent framework for the hepatoprotective activities of rutin, thereby advancing the field towards mechanism‑guided therapeutic development and targeted delivery solutions for liver injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13470057/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148685212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexandros Georgiou, Russel J Reiter, Vassilis Zoumpourlis, Demetrios A Spandidos
{"title":"Resurrection biology: Melatonin as a modulator of anastasis (Review).","authors":"Alexandros Georgiou, Russel J Reiter, Vassilis Zoumpourlis, Demetrios A Spandidos","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.14004","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.14004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although apoptosis is regarded as an irreversible and terminal process, recent research has identified anastasis as a cellular mechanism that enables cell recovery even after the activation of executioner caspases. While important in supporting tissue homeostasis following mild or transient injury, anastasis presents significant challenges in oncology, as cancer cells may exploit this phenomenon to evade chemotherapy, subsequently acquiring aggressive traits such as genomic instability, stem‑like properties, and increased metastatic capacity. N‑acetyl‑5‑methoxytryptamine (melatonin), recognized for its antioxidant activity and role as a mitochondrial regulator, has been associated with several biological processes that overlap with pathways involved in anastasis, including mitochondrial bioenergetics, redox homeostasis, and DNA repair mechanisms. However, direct evidence supporting a role for melatonin in regulating anastasis remains limited. The present review consolidated current insights into the molecular regulation of anastasis, examining its biphasic transcriptional profile and oncogenic consequences, while exploring the mechanistic links between melatonin biology and pathways relevant to apoptotic recovery and evaluating the therapeutic prospects of melatonin in targeting anastasis as a strategy to mitigate tumor recurrence and improve clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13573273/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148891766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrating gut‑brain axis insights into bundled nutrition care for critically ill patients: From mechanisms to implementation (Review).","authors":"Liqi Zhang, Shuxia Yang, Huiyan Wu, Hong Zhou","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13978","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13978","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Critical illness induces a marked disruption of the gut‑brain axis, which is characterized by systemic inflammation and the rapid collapse of intestinal barrier integrity. These pathological shifts facilitate the translocation of pathogen‑associated molecular patterns, thereby driving neuroinflammation and exacerbating intensive care unit‑acquired syndromes such as delirium and muscular wasting. Although conventional nutritional strategies emphasize caloric and protein goals, emerging evidence has highlighted the necessity of modulating the host‑microbiome interface to preserve neurological and systemic homeostasis. The integration of fermentable fibers, probiotics and specialized lipid mediators into a standardized framework may effectively interrupt the self‑perpetuating cycle of dysbiosis and organ failure. The present review uniquely contributes to the field by integrating an implementation science framework for clinical bundle application and discussing artificial intelligence driven precision nutrition advances, which are topics that have not been comprehensively covered in the majority of previous reviews. Therefore, the present review bridges mechanistic insights with practical, scalable strategies to optimize nutritional care and improve recovery trajectories in patients with critical illness.</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13470126/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148630894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yongbo Ma, Xiaozhe Chen, Zixian Liu, Yulong Ma, Chunlei Hou, Yunfeng Li, Mingtai Gui, Bo Lu, Deyu Fu, Mingzhu Wang
{"title":"POU2F1 promotes hypertensive cardiac fibrosis by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis through PINK1/Parkin‑dependent mitophagy.","authors":"Yongbo Ma, Xiaozhe Chen, Zixian Liu, Yulong Ma, Chunlei Hou, Yunfeng Li, Mingtai Gui, Bo Lu, Deyu Fu, Mingzhu Wang","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.14001","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.14001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hypertension‑induced cardiac fibrosis is a major risk factor for heart failure; although disrupted mitochondrial homeostasis has been confirmed to serve a critical role in the pathological process, its upstream regulatory factors remain incompletely understood. In the current study, RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses identified POU domain class 2 transcription factor 1 (POU2F1) as a hub transcriptional regulator in the fibrotic cardiac tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The expression levels of POU2F1 were associated with the severity of myocardial fibrosis, and cardiac expression of PTEN‑induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin in SHRs. Complementing these <i>in vivo</i> observations, angiotensin II stimulation significantly upregulated POU2F1 expression in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in vitro. Furthermore, POU2F1 expression exhibited a positive correlation with fibroblast activation, as indicated by α‑smooth muscle actin fluorescence intensity. Mechanistically, POU2F1 knockdown attenuated CF activation, improved mitochondrial structure and energy metabolism, and restored PINK1/Parkin‑mediated mitophagy balance <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>. Conversely, POU2F1 overexpression was associated with enhanced PINK1/Parkin‑mediated mitophagy signaling. Crucially, through chromatin immunoprecipitation‑quantitative PCR, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and dual‑luciferase reporter assay, it was demonstrated that POU2F1 can directly bind to the PINK1 promoter to activate its transcription. In conclusion, the present study identified a novel role for POU2F1 in hypertensive cardiac fibrosis, demonstrating that it exacerbates disease progression by disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis through transcriptional activation of PINK1, accompanied by alterations consistent with enhanced PINK1/Parkin‑mediated mitophagy.</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13543148/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148840842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiangqian Zhang, Min Zhang, Guifeng Wang, Ye Tian, Xiaolong He
{"title":"[Retracted] Tumor promoter role of miR‑647 in gastric cancer via repression of TP73.","authors":"Xiangqian Zhang, Min Zhang, Guifeng Wang, Ye Tian, Xiaolong He","doi":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13980","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mmr.2026.13980","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Following the publication of the above paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that certain of the flow cytometric plots featured in Fig. 4 on p. 3748 were strikingly similar to plots that had appeared in a pair of articles written by different authors at different research institutes that had already been submitted for publication/published in the journal <i>Medical Science Monitor</i>, and a further paper with which the above paper shared flow cytometric data was identified as having been submitted to the journal <i>Oncology Letters</i>. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published prior to its submission to <i>Molecular Medicine Reports</i>, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Molecular Medicine Reports 18: 3744‑3750, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.9358].</p>","PeriodicalId":18818,"journal":{"name":"Molecular medicine reports","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13470125/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148685071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}