Fig. 5.
Model of the effects of the downregulation of Pink1 in CAD and M17 cells at mitochondria level. Pink1 absence produces a lower mitochondrial metabolism, leading to cell death when cells are exposed to the toxic effects of C2-ceramide. It is also proposed that the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway by C2-ceramide could regulate the fusion/fission machinery, but this has to be addressed in neurons. Likewise, there is a decrease in the expression of Drp1 and Mfn2 and an increase of Fis1, related to mitochondrial fragmentation.