杜克大学纪如荣团队的最新研究探明了线粒体从神经胶质细胞转移到神经元可以防止周围神经病变。该项研究成果发表在2026年1月7日出版的《自然》上。

本研究表明，通过使用SGC衍生的肌球蛋白10（MYO10）形成隧道纳米管，SGC能够在体外、离体和体内将线粒体转移到DRG感觉神经元。扫描电镜和透射电镜显示，鼠母细胞和人DRG的上颌神经细胞和感觉神经元之间存在隧道状的纳米管状超微结构。阻断小鼠线粒体转移可导致神经变性和神经性疼痛。单核RNA测序和原位杂交显示MYO10在人SGCs中高表达。

此外，糖尿病患者DRG的SGCs表现出MYO10表达减少和线粒体向神经元转移。过继性地将人SGCs转移到小鼠DRG中，可以提供MYO10依赖性的周围神经病变保护。本研究揭示了外周神经胶质在糖尿病中的作用，为糖尿病小纤维神经病变提供了新的治疗策略，为神经性疼痛的治疗提供了新的方法。

据了解，背根神经节（DRG）的初级感觉神经元具有长轴突和对线粒体的高需求，线粒体功能障碍与糖尿病和化疗后的周围神经病变有关。然而，初级感觉神经元维持线粒体供应的机制尚不清楚。DRG中的卫星胶质细胞（SGCs）环绕感觉神经元，调节神经元活动和疼痛。

附：英文原文

Title: Mitochondrial transfer from glia to neurons protects against peripheral neuropathy

Author: Xu, Jing, Li, Yize, Novak, Charles, Lee, Min, Yan, Zihan, Bang, Sangsu, McGinnis, Aidan, Chandra, Sharat, Zhang, Vivian, He, Wei, Lechler, Terry, Rodriguez Salazar, Maria Pia, Eroglu, Cagla, Becker, Matthew L., Velmeshev, Dmitry, Cheney, Richard E., Ji, Ru-Rong

Issue&Volume: 2026-01-07

Abstract: Primary sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) have long axons and a high demand for mitochondria, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in peripheral neuropathy after diabetes and chemotherapy1,2. However, the mechanisms by which primary sensory neurons maintain their mitochondrial supply remain unclear. Satellite glial cells (SGCs) in DRG encircle sensory neurons and regulate neuronal activity and pain3. Here we show that SGCs are capable of transferring mitochondria to DRG sensory neurons in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo by the formation of tunnelling nanotubes with SGC-derived myosin 10 (MYO10). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed tunnelling nanotube-like ultrastructures between SGCs and sensory neurons in mouse and human DRG. Blockade of mitochondrial transfer in naive mice leads to nerve degeneration and neuropathic pain. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing and in situ hybridization revealed that MYO10 is highly expressed in human SGCs. Furthermore, SGCs from DRG of people with diabetes exhibit reduced MYO10 expression and mitochondrial transfer to neurons. Adoptive transfer of human SGCs into the mouse DRG provides MYO10-dependent protection against peripheral neuropathy. This study uncovers a previously unrecognized role of peripheral glia and provides insights into small fibre neuropathy in diabetes, offering new therapeutic strategies for the management of neuropathic pain.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09896-x

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09896-x