Fig. 8.

Melatonin restores mitophagy and contractile function through the ALDH2-cGAS-STING-TBK1 signaling pathway. a Representative images of GFP-LC3, MitoTracker, DAPI staining, and merged images in WT and APP/PS1 neonatal cardiomyocytes treated with or without melatonin (Mel, 100 μΜ), PF-06928215 (cGAS inhibitor, 10 μM), Astin (STING inhibitor, 10 μM), c-diAM(PS)₂ (STING activator, 2.7 μM), and BX795 (TBK activator, 1 μM). b Quantitative analysis of GFP-LC3 and MitoTracker colocalized puncta per cell; c peak shortening (normalized to cell length); d maximal velocity of shortening (+dL/dt); e maximal velocity of relengthening (−dL/dt); and f time-to-90% relengthening (TR₉₀). The data are shown as the mean ± SEM, n = 5 replicates per group for b, n = 27–31 cells from 3 mice (∼10 cells per mouse) per group for c–f. *p < 0.05 between the indicated groups