Natural photosynthetic system for restoring homeostasis of animal organelle interaction network

Disruption of organelle interactions due to metabolic stress is a crucial factor in the pathological processes of many degenerative diseases. Current treatments usually focus on individual organelles while ignoring the role of organelle interactions in cell damage caused by cascade reactions. There is an urgent need to develop a systematic and effective method to restore homeostasis of the organelle interaction network. Compared with animal cells, the participation of chloroplasts enables plant cells to show defensive adaptation under stress. Therefore, delivering plant-derived photosynthetic systems into animal cells may help to establish a more stable organelle interaction network. In this study, plant-derived photosynthetic systems effectively restored homeostasis of the interaction network of animal organelles. Specifically, plant-derived nanothylakoid units provided energy to animal cells, regulated intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lipid unsaturation and global membrane fluidity, reduced abnormal contact between mitochondria and ER, and alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction. By combining implantable light-emitting diodes with wireless charging, we expanded photosynthesis therapy, enabling smarter and more effective treatments for deeper tissues. This study provides a proof-of-concept for disease treatment based on the regulation of organelle interaction networks by natural photosynthetic systems and establishes a novel therapeutic approach for treating deep tissues.