The microRNA miR-71 suppresses maladaptive UPR^mt signaling through both cell-autonomous and cell-non-autonomous mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondria play a central role in metabolism and biosynthesis, but function also as platforms that perceive and communicate environmental and physiological stressors to the nucleus and distal tissues. Systemic mitochondrial signaling is thought to synchronize and amplify stress responses throughout the whole body, but during severe or chronic damage, overactivation of mitochondrial stress pathways may be maladaptive and exacerbate aging and metabolic disorders. Here we uncover a protective micro(mi)RNA response to mtDNA damage in Caenorhabditis elegans that prolongs tissue health and function by interfering with mitochondrial stress signaling. Acting within muscle cells, we show that the miRNA miR-71 is induced during severe mitochondrial damage by the combined activities of DAF-16, HIF-

SUBMITTER: Kirmes I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12804905 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature