DHCR24 Deficiency Drives Age-Related Meibomian Gland Dysfunction by Regulating Lipid Metabolic Imbalance and Cytosolic mtDNA-Induced cGAS-STING Activation

International Journal of Biological Sciences 2026 Open access

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Authors: Yuchen Cai, Tianyi Zhou, Jiaming Sun, Xueyao Cai, Wenjun Shi, Junzhao Chen, Christos C. Zouboulis, Hao Sun, Yao Fu, Liangbo Chen
DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.129636
Cited by: 1

Abstract

studies using SZ95 sebocytes demonstrated that DHCR24 deficiency induces mitochondrial dysfunction and cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leakage, triggering cGAS/STING-dependent inflammatory senescence. Notably, AAV-mediated restoration of DHCR24 in mice reversed age-related gland pathology. Our findings establish DHCR24 as a dual-target regulator that maintains cholesterol metabolic homeostasis while suppressing mtDNA-driven inflammation via the cGAS-STING pathway, highlighting its therapeutic potential for ARMGD and related disorders characterized by lipid-inflammatory imbalance.

Fields of Study & Subjects

interferon and immune responses Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways

Publication details

Journal / source
International Journal of Biological Sciences
Publisher
Ivyspring International Publisher
Volume
22
Issue
7
Pages
3886–3908
Publication date
28 March 2026
Language
EN