Neuronal-specific TNFAIP1 ablation attenuates postoperative cognitive dysfunction via targeting SNAP25 for K48-linked ubiquitination.

Background: Synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25) exerts protective effects against postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) by promoting PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and repressing caspase-3/gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated pyroptosis. However, the regulatory mechanisms of SNAP25 protein remain unclear.

Methods: We employed recombinant adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-hSyn to knockdown tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 1 (TNFAIP1) or SNAP25 and investigate the role of TNFAIP1 in POCD. Cognitive performance, hippocampal injury, mitophagy, and pyroptosis were assessed. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) and ubiquitination assays were conducted to elucidate the mechanisms by which TNFAIP1 stabilizes SNAP25.

Results: Our results demonstrated that the ubiquitin ligase TNFAIP1 was upregulated in the hippocampus of mice following isoflurane (Iso) anesthesia and laparotomy. The N-terminal region (residues 1-96) of TNFAIP1 formed a conjugate with SNAP25, leading to lysine (K) 48-linked polyubiquitination of SNAP25 at K69. Silencing TNFAIP1 enhanced SH-SY5Y cell viability and conferred antioxidant, pro-mitophagy, and anti-pyroptosis properties in response to Iso and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenges. Conversely, TNFAIP1 overexpression reduced HT22 cell viability, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, impaired PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy, and induced caspase-3/GSDME-dependent pyroptosis by suppressing SNAP25 expression. Neuron-specific knockdown of TNFAIP1 ameliorated POCD, restored mitophagy, and reduced pyroptosis, which was reversed by SNAP25 depletion.

Conclusions: In summary, our findings demonstrated that inhibiting TNFAIP1-mediated degradation of SNAP25 might be a promising therapeutic approach for mitigating postoperative cognitive decline. Video Abstract.