T-2 toxin induces mitochondrial dysfunction in chondrocytes via the p53-cyclophilin D pathway

Kashin–Beck disease is an endemic joint disease characterized by deep chondrocyte necrosis, and T-2 toxin exposure has been confirmed its etiology. This study investigated mechanism of T-2 toxin inducing mitochondrial dysfunction of chondrocytes through p53-cyclophilin D (CypD) pathway. The p53 signaling pathway was significantly enriched in T-2 toxin response genes from GeneCards. We demonstrated the upregulation of the p53 protein and p53-CypD complex in rat articular cartilage and ATDC5 cells induced by T-2 toxin. Transmission electron microscopy showed the damaged mitochondrial structure of ATDC5 cells induced by T-2 toxin. Furthermore, it can lead to overopening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased reactive oxygen species generation in ATDC5 cells. Pifithrin-α, the p53 inhibitor, alleviated the increased p53-CypD complex and mitochondrial dysfunction of chondrocytes induced by T-2 toxin, suggesting that p53 played an important role in T-2 toxin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Mechanistically, T-2 toxin can activate the p53 protein, which can be transferred to the mitochondrial membrane and form a complex with CypD. The increased binding of p53 and CypD mediated the excessive opening of mPTP, changed mitochondrial membrane permeability, and ultimately induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of chondrocytes.