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Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies (ME) are frequently associated with mutations of mitochondrial DNA, but the pathogenesis of a subset of ME (sME) remains elusive. Here we report that haploinsufficiency of a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, Mic60, causes progressive neurological abnormalities with insulted mitochondrial structure and neuronal loss in mice. In addition, haploinsufficiency of Mic60 reduces mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular ATP production, increases reactive oxygen species, and alters mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complexes in neurons in an age‐dependent manner. Moreover, haploinsufficiency of Mic60 compromises brain glucose intake and oxygen consumption in mice, resembling human ME syndrome. We further discover that MIC60 protein expression declined significantly in human sME, implying that insufficient MIC60 may contribute for pathogenesis of human ME. Notably, systemic administration of antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine largely reverses mitochondrial dysfunctions and metabolic disorders in haplo‐insufficient Mic60 mice, also restores neurological abnormal symptom. These results reveal Mic60 is required in the maintenance of mitochondrial integrity and function, and likely a potential therapeutics target for mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inactivation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 ( PAI-1) has been shown to exert beneficial effects in age-related vascular diseases. Limited information is available on the molecular mechanisms regarding the negatively regulated expression of PAI-1 in the vascular system. In this study, we observed an inverse correlation between SIRT1, a class III histone deacetylase, and PAI-1 expression in human atherosclerotic plaques and the aortas of old mice, suggesting that internal negative regulation exists between SIRT1 and PAI-1. SIRT1 overexpression reversed the increased PAI-1 expression in senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs) and aortas of old mice, accompanied by decreased SA-β-gal activity in vitro and improved endothelial function and reduced arterial stiffness in vivo. Moreover, the SIRT1-mediated inhibition of PAI-1 expression exerted an antisenescence effect in HUVECs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SIRT1 is able to bind to the PAI-1 promoter, resulting in a decrease in the acetylation of histone H4 lysine 16 (H4K16) on the PAI-1 promoter region. Thus, our findings suggest that the SIRT1-mediated epigenetic inhibition of PAI-1 expression exerts a protective effect in vascular endothelial senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]