Kir6.1/K-ATP channel on astrocytes protects against dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease via promoting mitophagy.

ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP) channels, coupling cell metabolism to cell membrane potential, are involved in brain diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Kir6.1, a pore-forming subunit of K-ATP channel, is prominently expressed in astrocytes and participates in regulating its function. However, the precise role of astrocytic Kir6.1-contaning K-ATP channel (Kir6.1/K-ATP) in PD is not well characterized. In this study, astrocytic Kir6.1 knockout (KO) mice were used to examine the effect of astrocytic Kir6.1/K-ATP channel on dopaminergic (DA) neurodegeneration triggered by the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. Here, we found that astrocytic Kir6.1 KO mice showed more DA neuron loss in substantia nigra compacta (SNc), lower level of dopamine in the striatum, and more severe motor dysfunction than controls. Interestingly, this companied by increased neuroinflammation and decreased autophagy level in SNc in vivo and astrocytes in vitro. Mechanistically, astrocytic Kir6.1 KO inhibited mitophagy which resulted in an increase in the accumulation of damaged mitochondria, production of reactive oxygen species and neuroinflammation in astrocytes. Restoration of astrocytic mitophagy rescued the deleterious effects of astrocytic Kir6.1 ablation on mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and DA neuron death. Collectively, our findings reveal that astrocytic Kir6.1/K-ATP channel protects against DA neurodegeneration in PD via promoting mitophagy and suggest that astrocytic Kir6.1/K-ATP channel may be a promising therapeutic target for PD.