Inhibition of CTR1 expression improves hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced myoblast injury by blocking cuproptosis.

Skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common severe disease with a complex pathological process. This study found that copper chloride (CuCl) inhibited cell viability in a concentration dependent manner, increased intracellular copper levels and downregulated copper transporter 1 (CTR1) expression. CTR1 upregulation promoted copper uptake by myoblasts and then enhanced cuproptosis, leading to a significant increase in the levels of dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (DLAT) oligomers, while a significant decrease in the levels of lipoylated (Lip)-dihydrolipoamide S-succinyltransferase (DLST) and Lip-DLAT, ultimately inhibiting cell viability and inducing cell injury.