Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU)-Mediated Calcium Overload in Psychoactive Drug Neurotoxicity: From Pathogenesis to Therapeutic Targets.
International journal of molecular sciences May 15, 2025 Xinyan Yang, Yinyu Chen, Gaolin Zheng et al. 3 citations
The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a key channel for calcium uptake into mitochondria, and its dysfunction contributes to neurotoxic damage from psychoactive substances like MDMA, cocaine, and morphine. MCU dysfunction causes calcium overload, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, leading to neuronal injury. While MCU inhibitors show promise in reducing calcium overload and improving neural function, their selectivity and long-term safety need further study. Future research should focus on the precise regulatory mechanisms of MCU in drug-induced neurotoxicity and the development of targeted therapies.