Altered Mitochondrial Dynamic in Lymphoblasts and Fibroblasts Mutated for FANCA-A Gene: The Central Role of DRP1

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by bone marrow failure and aplastic anemia. So far, 23 genes are involved in this pathology, and their mutations lead to a defect in DNA repair. In recent years, it has been observed that FA cells also display mitochondrial metabolism defects, causing an accumulation of intracellular lipids and oxidative damage. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the metabolic alterations have not yet been elucidated. In this work, by using lymphoblasts and fibroblasts mutated for the FANC-A gene, oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) and mitochondria dynamics markers expression was analyzed. Results show that the metabolic defect does not depend on an altered expression of the proteins involved in OxPhos. However, FA cells are characterized by increased uncoupling protein UCP2 expression. FANC-A mutation is also associated with DRP1 overexpression that causes an imbalance in the mitochondrial dynamic toward fission and lower expression of Parkin and Beclin1. Treatment with P110, a specific inhibitor of DRP1, shows a partial mitochondrial function recovery and the decrement of DRP1 and UCP2 expression, suggesting a pivotal role of the mitochondrial dynamics in the etiopathology of Fanconi anemia.


Introduction
Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disorder, recessive autosomal or X-linked [1]. FA phenotype can be very heterogeneous, with clinical manifestations ranging from congenital malformations to metabolic dysfunction susceptibility and increased risk of cancer developing, particularly leukemia and squamous cell carcinoma [2,3]. However, bone marrow failure and aplastic anemia are the most common causes of death in FA patients, which develop at a younger age and with a 5000-fold increased risk compared to the healthy population [3]. So far, 23 genes have been identified as involved in FA, with 90% of mutations occurring in FANC-A, FANC-C, or FANC-G genes [4], where FANC-A represents accounts for two-thirds of cases. FANC genes encode proteins that assemble into a complex involved in DNA damage repair, specifically interstrand cross-links [5,6]. Recently, FA pathogenesis has also been associated with mitochondrial defects, which cause a metabolic shift toward anaerobic respiration, lipid accumulation, and unbalanced oxidative stress [7][8][9]. Specifically, the electron transport between respiratory complexes I and III is impaired [10], triggering elevated reactive oxygen species production (ROS) not counteracted by cellular antioxidant defenses [11,12]. These metabolic dysfunctions are associated with altered mitochondrial morphology, as mitochondria appear more swollen and with less defined cristae [10,[13][14][15][16]. Although literature confirms the metabolic dysfunction in FA [17][18][19][20], the molecular mechanisms correlating FANC genes' mutations with these defects are still to be clarified. Since the mitochondrial metabolism extent and its efficiency are strictly related to the mitochondrial network shape [21], several authors have described a defect in the mitochondrial dynamic, autophagy, and mitophagy processes [22][23][24][25].
Thus, this work aims to deeply investigate whether the mitochondrial metabolism alterations observed in FA depend on altered expression of proteins belonging to the oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) machinery or mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics modulators in lymphoblasts and fibroblasts carrying the mutated FANC-A gene, comparing the results with isogenic-corrected FANC-A gene cell lines.
Results show that cells carrying the FANC-A mutation exhibit an overexpression of UCP2 and DRP1, suggesting that the altered mitochondria metabolism could depend on oxidative phosphorylation uncoupling and an imbalance toward mitochondrial fission. Treatment with P110, a specific inhibitor of DRP1 [26], can partially reverse the metabolic dysfunction and the organization of the mitochondrial network. Furthermore, FA cells show lower expression of Beclin1 and Parkin.

FANC-A Lymphoblasts and Fibroblasts Display Damaged Mitochondria Unable to Conduct an Efficient OxPhos
As previously reported in the literature [7,10,12,15,18], lymphoblasts and fibroblasts carrying the FANC-A gene mutation are characterized by an altered pyruvate/malateinduced oxygen consumption rate (OCR), partially compensated by respiration led by the complex II pathway (Figures 1A-C and 2A-C). The dysfunctional respiration is associated with the ATP synthesis decrement (Figures 1D and 2D) and a reduced OxPhos efficiency, as shown by the P/O values ( Figures 1E and 2E). The impaired OxPhos function depends on an altered electron transfer between respiratory complexes I and III ( Figures 1F and 2F). In addition, electron microscopy analysis on FA lymphoblasts shows swollen mitochondria with a disorganized inner membrane ( Figures 1G and 2G).

Dysfunctional Mitochondria Metabolism in FANC-A Cells Does Not Depend on OxPhos Protein Expression Alteration but Appears Correlated with Increased UCP2 Expression
To understand whether defective OxPhos in FA cells depends on an altered expression of respiratory chain proteins, Western blot analyses were performed against ND1 (a Complex I subunit, mitochondrial DNA-encoded), SDHB (a Complex II subunit, nuclear DNA-encoded), MTCO2 (a Complex IV subunit, mitochondrial DNA-encoded), and β subunit of ATP synthase (a subunit of F 1 moiety nuclear-DNA encoded) in lymphoblast ( Figure 3A) and fibroblast ( Figure 3B) cell lines. Data do not show significant differences in the expression of these proteins in both FA cell models compared to FAcorr. By contrast, FANC-A lymphoblast and fibroblast cell lines display a significant increase in uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) expression in FANC-A mutated cells compared to their respective controls ( Figure 3A  Representative electron microscopy imaging of FAcorr and FA lymphoblasts to evaluate the mitochondrial morphology. Black scale bars correspond to 1 µm. Data reported in Panels A-E were obtained using pyruvate/malate or succinate as respiring substrates. Data reported in Panels A-F are reported as mean ± SD, and each panel is representative of at least three independent experiments. Statistical significance was tested opportunely with an unpaired t-test or one-way ANOVA; *, **, and **** represent a significant difference for p < 0.05, 0.01, or 0.0001, respectively, between FA and FAcorr cells. (E) P/O ratio, representing an OxPhos efficiency marker. (F) Electron transfer between respiratory complexes I and III. (G) Representative electron microscopy imaging of FAcorr and FA lymphoblasts to evaluate the mitochondrial morphology. Black scale bars correspond to 1 µm. Data reported in Panels A-E were obtained using pyruvate/malate or succinate as respiring substrates. Data reported in Panels A-F are reported as mean ± SD, and each panel is representative of at least three independent experiments. Statistical significance was tested opportunely with an unpaired t-test or one-way ANOVA; *, **, and **** represent a significant difference for p < 0.05, 0.01, or 0.0001, respectively, between FA and FAcorr cells. Representative electron microscopy imaging of FAcorr and FA fibroblasts to evaluate the mitochondrial morphology. Black scale bars correspond to 1 µm. Data reported in Panels A-E were obtained using pyruvate/malate or succinate as respiring substrates. Data are reported as mean ± SD, and each panel is representative of at least three independent experiments. Statistical significance was tested opportunely with an unpaired t-test or one-way ANOVA; *, **, and **** represent a significant difference for p < 0.05, 0.01, or 0.0001, respectively, between FA and FAcorr cells.

Dysfunctional Mitochondria Metabolism in FANC-A Cells Does Not Depend on OxPhos Protein Expression Alteration but Appears Correlated with Increased UCP2 Expression
To understand whether defective OxPhos in FA cells depends on an altered expression of respiratory chain proteins, Western blot analyses were performed against Black scale bars correspond to 1 µm. Data reported in Panels A-E were obtained using pyruvate/malate or succinate as respiring substrates. Data are reported as mean ± SD, and each panel is representative of at least three independent experiments. Statistical significance was tested opportunely with an unpaired t-test or one-way ANOVA; *, **, and **** represent a significant difference for p < 0.05, 0.01, or 0.0001, respectively, between FA and FAcorr cells. and β subunit of ATP synthase (a subunit of F1 moiety nuclear-DNA encoded) in lymphoblast ( Figure 3A) and fibroblast ( Figure 3B) cell lines. Data do not show significant differences in the expression of these proteins in both FA cell models compared to FAcorr. By contrast, FANC-A lymphoblast and fibroblast cell lines display a significant increase in uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) expression in FANC-A mutated cells compared to their respective controls ( Figure 3A (Complex III), and ATP synthase β subunit; WB signal of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) expression. Data in histograms are reported as mean ± SD, and each panel is representative of at least three independent experiments. Statistical significance was tested opportunely with an unpaired t-test; ** represents a significant difference for p < 0.01 between FA and FAcorr cells.

Mitochondrial Dynamic Is Unbalanced in FANC-A Cells
Mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics play a pivotal role in the OxPhos efficiency main promoting the mitochondrial network organization maintenance [27]. Thus, the expression of proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion and fission processes was analyzed. Figure 4A) and fibroblasts ( Figure 4B) do not show significant differences in the expression of CLUH, an mRNA-binding protein involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, and OPA1 and MFN2, two proteins involved in mitochondrial fusion, compared to the controls. Conversely, expression of DRP1, a protein involved in mitochondrial fission, appears higher in FANC-A cells than in FAcorr cells. This alteration suggests imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics, where mitochondrial fission is promoted over fusion, leading to mitochondrial network disruption ( Figure 4C) and causing a consequent OxPhos efficiency decrease.

Mitochondrial Dynamic Is Unbalanced in FANC-A Cells
Mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics play a pivotal role in the OxPhos efficiency main promoting the mitochondrial network organization maintenance [27]. Thus, the expression of proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion and fission processes was analyzed.
FANC-A lymphoblasts ( Figure 4A) and fibroblasts ( Figure 4B) do not show significant differences in the expression of CLUH, an mRNA-binding protein involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, and OPA1 and MFN2, two proteins involved in mitochondrial fusion, compared to the controls. Conversely, expression of DRP1, a protein involved in mitochondrial fission, appears higher in FANC-A cells than in FAcorr cells. This alteration suggests imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics, where mitochondrial fission is promoted over fusion, leading to mitochondrial network disruption ( Figure 4C) and causing a consequent OxPhos efficiency decrease.  . For all the densitometry graphs, protein expression levels were normalized on the housekeeping signal, revealed on the same membrane. (C) Confocal imaging of FAcorr and FA fibroblasts stained with antibody against TOM20 (green) and DAPI (blue) to show the mitochondrial reticulum and nuclei, respectively. White scale bars correspond to 10 µm. The higher magnification insert corresponds to the area enclosed by the white square and is an example of mitochondrial network distribution. Fibroblasts were scored depending on the morphology of most of their mitochondrial population as elongated or intermediated/short. Results reported in the histogram on the right show that FA fibroblasts exhibited more often intermediated/short and less elongated mitochondria compared to FAcorr cells. Data are reported as mean ± SD. Histograms and WB signals are representative of at least three independent experiments. Statistical significance was tested with an unpaired t-test; **** represents a significant difference for p < 0.0001 between FA cells and FAcorr cells used as control.

Overexpressed DRP1 Reduction Partially Restores the OxPhos Activity
Since an unbalanced dynamic toward fission disrupts the mitochondrial network and lowers the OxPhos energy efficiency [28], FANC-A lymphoblasts and fibroblasts were treated for 24 h with P110, a specific DRP1 inhibitor [26]. Following this treatment, the overexpression of DRP1 is reduced in both treated FANC-A cell models compared to untreated cells, approaching the expression levels of the corrected cells ( Figure 5A for lymphoblasts and Figure 6A for fibroblasts). This reduction is associated with a recovery of mitochondrial network organization, as the balance between fusion and fission was partially restored ( Figure 6C). In each panel, data are reported as mean ± SD, and each graph is representative of at least three independent experiments. Statistical significance was tested appropriately with a one-way ANOVA or an unpaired t-test; *, **, ***, and **** represent a significant difference for p < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001, and 0.0001 between FA cells and the FAcorr cells used as control; °, °°, and °°°° represent a significant difference for p < 0.05, 0.01, and 0.0001 between FA cells untreated and treated with P110.   P110 treatment also causes an increase in complexes I-III electron transport chain as well as oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis stimulated by pyruvate/malate ( Figure 5B for lymphoblasts and Figure 6B for fibroblasts), causing a recovery in OxPhos efficiency, probably due to both decreased UCP2 expression and improved mitochondrial reticulum organization. In addition, the energy metabolism amelioration results in fatty acid accumulation and lipid peroxidation reduction ( Figure 5B for lymphoblasts and Figure 6B for fibroblasts).

FANC-A Cells Display a Lower Protein Expression of Parkin and Beclin1
Since the literature reports that FA cells display dysfunctional mitophagy and autophagy [22][23][24][25], the expression of markers involved in these processes was evaluated. Data show that both in lymphoblasts ( Figure 7A) and fibroblasts ( Figure 7B), Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in the mitochondrion polyubiquitination [29], and Beclin1, an autophagy activator [30], are lower expressed than in FAcorr cell. Conversely, Pink1 and several autophagy effectors such as LC3, Atg7, Atg12, and Atg16L1 appear similar in FANC-A cells compared to the control. independent experiments. In each panel, data are reported as mean ± SD. Statistical significance was tested appropriately with a one-way ANOVA or an unpaired t-test; *, **, ***, and **** represent a significant difference for p < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001, and 0.0001 between FA cells and the FAcorr cells used as control; °, °°, and °°°° represent a significant difference for p < 0.05, 0.01, and 0.0001 between FA cells untreated and treated with P110.

FANC-A Cells Display a Lower Protein Expression of Parkin and Beclin1
Since the literature reports that FA cells display dysfunctional mitophagy and autophagy [22][23][24][25], the expression of markers involved in these processes was evaluated. Data show that both in lymphoblasts ( Figure 7A) and fibroblasts ( Figure 7B), Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in the mitochondrion polyubiquitination [29], and Beclin1, an autophagy activator [30], are lower expressed than in FAcorr cell. Conversely, Pink1 and several autophagy effectors such as LC3, Atg7, Atg12, and Atg16L1 appear similar in FANC-A cells compared to the control.  in mitophagy and autophagy processes. WB signals of Pink1, Parkin, Beclin1, Atg7, Atg12, Atg16L1, and LC3. Actin signal has been used as a housekeeping signal for data normalization. The LC3 graph represents the ratio between the active (18 kDa) and inactive (20 kDa) form of the protein. Data are reported as mean ± SD. Histograms and WB signals are representative of at least three independent experiments. Statistical significance was tested with an unpaired t-test; ** represents a significant difference for p < 0.01 between FA cells and FAcorr cells used as control.

FANC-A mutated cells show damaged mitochondria associated with an impaired
OxPhos function due to altered electron transfer between complexes I and III, confirming data reported in the literature [7,10,12,18]. This metabolic alteration causes a reduction in the cellular energy status, lipid droplet accumulation, and an oxidative damage increment [12,16,31]. However, the mechanism that causes this alteration has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, considering that mitochondrial function depends on the OxPhos machinery integrity as well as the balance in the mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics [32], the protein expression of some respiratory complexes subunits, mitochondrial fusion/fission, mitophagy, and autophagy markers were analyzed in lymphoblasts and fibroblasts mutated for FANC-A.
The expression evaluation of SDHB, a subunit of complex II, and beta subunit of ATP synthase, encoded by nuclear DNA [33,34], showed no significant differences between cells carrying the FANC-A mutation and the control cells. The same result was obtained by assessing the expression of ND1 and MTCO2, subunits of complex I and II, respectively, encoded by mitochondrial DNA [35]. Thus, it is possible to hypothesize that the metabolic defect does not depend directly on the altered expression of the OxPhos machinery, either at the nuclear or mitochondrial level. Nevertheless, FA cells show increased expression of UCP2, an uncoupling protein, which promotes the proton passage across the inner mitochondrial membrane, dissipating the proton gradient [36]. This increase could justify the uncoupling between ATP synthesis and oxygen consumption observed in FA cells, which causes oxidative stress increment and consequent DNA damage. UCP2 also regulates mitochondrial calcium uptake [37], and its overexpression could play a role in dysregulated calcium homeostasis observed in FA cells [38].
The OxPhos efficiency depends on the balance between fusion and fission processes [39], which regulate mitochondrial dynamics [40]. Fusion activation induces mitochondrial elongation and increased development of the mitochondrial network, promoting the OxPhos functionality and the interaction between mitochondria and other cellular organelles, including the endoplasmic reticulum [41]. Conversely, fission determines the breakdown of the mitochondrial network, a necessary condition during cell division [41]. However, isolated mitochondria appear much less efficient in energy production than those organized in a reticulum [42]. Based on the WB analysis shown in Figure 3, FA cells show similar expression of CLUH, an RNA-binding protein involved in mitochondria biogenesis, and OPA1 and MFN2, two proteins involved in fusion, but higher levels of DRP1, a GTPase involved in fission. Consequently, cells mutated for FANC-A display altered mitochondrial dynamics biased toward mitochondrial reticulum disaggregation, as shown by confocal microscopy images. On the other hand, literature and data reported in Figure 1 report that mitochondria in FA cells appear smaller and swollen with poorly defined ridges [10,[13][14][15][16], all characteristics attributable to increased mitochondrial fission. On the contrary, the Parkin and Beclin1 expression appears lower than in FAcorr cells, data in line with the alteration in mitophagy and autophagy reported in the literature, and that may justify the damaged mitochondrial accumulation [22][23][24][25].
The pivotal role of DRP1 overexpression in the metabolic dysfunction in FA cells is confirmed by the partial restoration of the mitochondrial dynamic and functionality observed after treatment with P110, a specific DRP1 inhibitor [26]. In detail, cells treated with P110 show a DRP1 expression like the control and a better-organized mitochondrial network. In addition, treatment with P110 improves mitochondrial function and efficiency, as the electron transport between complexes I and III is partially restored, resulting in an amelioration of OCR and ATP synthesis through the pathway led by complex I. In addition, treatment with P110 also reduces the expression of UCP2, improving energy efficiency. The aerobic metabolism improvement is associated with a lower accumulation of fatty acids and subsequent lipid peroxidation, improving the cell's overall redox state. On the other hand, Shyamsunder et al. have already suggested that DRP1 is involved in autophagy and mitophagy alteration in FA cells [22].
However, the mechanisms linking altered mitochondrial dynamics to FA gene mutations are still unclear. In this regard, Gueiderikh et al. recently demonstrated the involvement of FA protein in transcription as involved in ribosome biogenesis and nucleolar maintenance [43], which could explain the altered expression of proteins belonging to different pathways. Furthermore, an altered expression profile of miRNAs could also be involved [44].
Thus, although the link between the FA mutation and altered mitochondrial dynamics remains to be elucidated, this work suggests that the mitochondrial dynamic modulation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of FA and that its restoration could be considered a therapeutic target.

Materials
All chemical compounds were of the highest chemical grade (i.e., Tris-HCl, KCl, EGTA, MgCl 2 , sulfuric acid, trichloroacetic acid, and HCl) and were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Cellular Models and Treatment
Three different FANC-A lymphoblast cell lines (Lympho FA) and three different FANC-A primary fibroblast cell lines (Fibro FA) derived from four patients who carried out different mutations of FANC-A gene were obtained from the "Cell Line and DNA Biobank from Patients affected by Genetic Diseases" (G. Gaslini Institute)-Telethon Genetic Biobank Network (Project No. GTB07001) [10]. In addition, isogenic FA-corr cell lines, generated by the same FANC-A lymphoblast and fibroblast cell lines corrected with S11FAIN retrovirus (Lympho FAcorr and Fibro FAcorr), were employed as a control to maintain the characteristics of the FA cell lines except for the FANC-A gene mutation [10].

F o F 1 ATP-Synthase Activity Assay
The F o F 1 ATP-synthase activity was evaluated by incubating 10 5

P/O Ratio
The P/O value was calculated as the ratio between the aerobic synthesized ATP and the consumed oxygen and represents a measure of OxPhos efficiency. Efficient mitochondria have a P/O value of around 2.5 or 1.5 when stimulated with pyruvate and malate or succinate, respectively, as respiring substrates. A P/O ratio lower than 2.5 for pyruvate and malate or lower than 1.5 for malate indicates that oxygen is not completely used for energy production but contributes to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production [45].

Electron Microscopy Analysis
FA and FAcorr lymphoblast and fibroblast pellets were fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde 0.1 M cacodylate buffer pH 7.6 for 1 h at room temperature. After post-fixation with 1% OsO4 in cacodylate buffer for 1 h, pellets were dehydrated in an ethanol series and embedded in Epon resin. Ultrathin sections stained with uranyl-acetate and lead citrate were observed with a Jeol Jem-1011 transmission electron microscope [14].

Cell Homogenate Preparation
Fibroblast cell lines, which grow in adhesion, were detached from the culture flask by trypsinization for 5 min at 37 • C, after the culture medium removal and a wash in PBS (#14190250, ThermoFisher Scientifics, Waltham, MA, USA) to remove any traces of FBS. Then, trypsin (Trypsin-EDTA 1X in PBS, #ECB3052D, Euroclone, Milano, Italy) was blocked with a fresh culture medium, and the cells were collected. Lymphoblastoid cell lines growing in suspension were only collected. All cells were then centrifuged at 1000× g for 5 min to remove the growth medium. Next, pellets were washed twice in PBS and centrifuged again. All pellets were resuspended in an appropriate volume of Milli-Q water and sonicated (Microson XL Model DU-2000, Misonix Inc., Farmingdale, NY, USA) twice for 10 seconds each with a 30-second interval in between and in ice to prevent heating. Total protein content was evaluated according to the Bradford method [46].

Electron Transport between Complexes I and III Evaluation
The electron transfer between respiratory complex I and III was analyzed spectrophotometrically, following the reduction of cytochrome c, at 550 nm. For each assay, 50 µg of total protein was used. The reaction mix contained 100 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4 and 0.03% of oxidized cytochrome c (#C2867, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). The assay started with the addition of 0.7 mM NADH. If the electron transport between Complex I and Complex III is conserved the electrons pass from NADH to Complex I, then to Complex III via coenzyme Q, and finally to cytochrome c [12].

Lipid Content Evaluation
The lipid content was evaluated by the Sulfo-Phospho-Vanillin assay. Briefly, samples were incubated with 95% sulfuric acid at 95 • C for 20 min, quickly cooled, and evaluated at 535 nm. Afterward, a solution of 0.2 mg/mL vanillin (#V1104, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) in 17% aqueous phosphoric acid was added to the samples, incubated for 10 min in the dark, and reevaluated at 535 nm. A mix of triglycerides (#17810, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) was used to obtain a standard curve [12].

Malondialdehyde Level Evaluation
The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was evaluated by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. This test is based on the reaction of MDA, a breakdown product of lipid peroxides, with thiobarbituric acid (#T5500, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). The TBARS solution contained 15% trichloroacetic acid in 0.25 N HCl and 26 mM thiobarbituric acid. To evaluate the basal concentration of MDA, 600 µL of TBARS solution was added to 50 µg of total protein dissolved in 300 µL of Milli-Q water. The mix was incubated for 40 min at 95 • C. After the sample was centrifuged at 20,000× g for 2 min, the supernatant was analyzed spectrophotometrically at 532 nm [12].

Confocal Microscopy Analysis
Cells were cultured in chamber-slides for 24 h in the absence or presence of P110. After PBS washes, cells were fixed with 0.3% paraformaldehyde (#P6148, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and permeabilized with 0.1% triton (#X100, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). Cells were incubated overnight at 4 • C with the antibody against TOM20 (#42406S, Cell Signaling Technology, Danvers, MA, USA). After PBS washes, cells were incubated for 1 h at 25 • C with the Alexa-546-conjugated anti-rabbit antiserum (#A11010, Invitrogen, Waltham, MA, USA) as a secondary antibody. After PBS wash, chamber slides were mounted in mowiol. Immunofluorescence confocal laser scanner microscopy (CLSM) imaging was performed using a laser scanning spectral confocal microscope TCS SP2 AOBS (Leica, Wetzlar, Germany), equipped with Argon ion, He-Ne 543 nm, and He-Ne 633 nm lasers. Images were acquired through a HCX PL APO CS 40×/1.25 oil UV objective and processed with Leica. Images were acquired as single transcellular optical sections.
To evaluate the mitochondrial network shape, fibroblasts were scored depending on the morphology of most of their mitochondrial population as elongated or intermediated/short following the method described in [47].

Statistical Analysis
Data were analyzed appropriately using unpaired t-test or one-way ANOVA, using Prism 8 Software. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and are representative of at least three independent experiments. An error with a probability of p < 0.05 was considered significant.