Celastrol-Based Hybrid Prodrug Ameliorates ALI by Spatiotemporally Consecutive Dual-Targeting GLUT1/Drp1 to Reestablish Mitochondrial Homeostasis

Abstract

Aberrant activation of macrophages and their amplification of inflammatory responses constitute the core pathological basis driving the progression of acute lung injury (ALI). Celastrol (CE), despite its potent anti-inflammatory activity, suffers from poor aqueous solubility and substantial systemic toxicity, which severely limit its clinical translation. Capitalizing on the metabolic signature of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages, specifically their high expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), we designed a glucose-modified CE prodrug that self-assembled into carrier-free nanoparticles CG NPs. With markedly improved solubility and systemic stability, CG NPs rapidly and persistently accumulated in the inflammatory lungs of LPS-induced ALI mice facilitated by GLUT1-mediated targeting and uptake by M1 macrophages. Compared with free CE, CG NPs exhibited enhanced overall therapeutic efficacy while significantly reducing hepatorenal toxicity. Mechanistic studies revealed that by targeting Drp1, CG NPs disrupt Drp1-MiD51 interaction, thus inhibiting excessive mitochondrial fission and ROS accumulation, which blocks NF-κB-mediated inflammatory signaling and M1-driven cytokine release. Molecular docking suggested that glucose conjugation may confer CG with a superior ability to regulate mitochondrial homeostasis over CE, potentially driven by its unique U-shaped conformation that inserts into Drp1 and forms a denser hydrogen-bond network, which could contribute to enhanced binding affinity. In summary, this study proposes a nanoprodrug strategy that combines precise targeting with mitochondrial protection, offering a promising therapeutic avenue for inflammatory diseases such as ALI.