Upregulated expression of ubiquitin ligase TRIM21 promotes PKM2 nuclear translocation and astrocyte activation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (Updated July 4, 2024).

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org discusses the role of reactive astrocytes in neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The study found that the enzyme PKM2, which is involved in glycolysis, translocates to the nucleus in astrocytes of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of multiple sclerosis. The researchers identified the ubiquitin ligase TRIM21 as a regulator of PKM2 nuclear import. Inhibition of PKM2 nuclear translocation and TRIM21 expression resulted in reduced astrocyte activation and decreased disease severity in EAE. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of astrocyte activation and suggests that targeting this pathway could be a potential therapeutic strategy for neurological diseases involving astrocytes. [Extracted from the article]