A novel marine‐derived mitophagy inducer ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction and thermal hypersensitivity in paclitaxel‐induced peripheral neuropathy

Abstract Background and Purpose Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis and maintenance of chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a significant limitation of cancer chemotherapy. Recently, the stimulation of mitophagy, a pivotal process for mitochondrial homeostasis, has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for neurodegenerative diseases, but its therapeutic effect on CIPN has not been explored. Here, we assessed the mitophagy‐inducing activity of 3,5‐dibromo‐2‐(2′,4′‐dibromophenoxy)‐phenol (PDE701), a diphenyl ether derivative isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea sp., and investigated its therapeutic effect on a CIPN model. Experimental Approach Mitophagy activity was determined by a previously established mitophagy assay using mitochondrial Keima (mt‐Keima). Mitophagy induction was further verified by western blotting, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. Mitochondrial dysfunction was analysed by measuring mitochondrial superoxide levels in SH‐SY5Y cells and Drosophila larvae. A thermal nociception assay was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PDE701 on the paclitaxel‐induced thermal hyperalgesia phenotype in Drosophila larvae. Key Results PDE701 specifically induced mitophagy but was not toxic to mitochondria. PDE701 ameliorated paclitaxel‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction in both SH‐SY5Y cells and Drosophila larvae. Importantly, PDE701 also significantly ameliorated paclitaxel‐induced thermal hyperalgesia in Drosophila larvae. Knockdown of ATG5 or ATG7 abolished the effect of PDE701 on thermal hyperalgesia, suggesting that PDE701 exerts its therapeutic effect through mitophagy induction. Conclusion and Implications This study identified PDE701 as a novel mitophagy inducer and a potential therapeutic compound for CIPN. Our results suggest that mitophagy stimulation is a promising strategy for the treatment of CIPN and that marine organisms are a potential source of mitophagy‐inducing compounds.