The traditional herbal medicine Gastrodia elata Blume, in the water-extracted form as food supplement, improves locomotion and protects dopaminergic neurons in Lrrk2-G2019S Parkinson’s disease models through Nrf2 activation in glia.

Promoter studies identified BMP/Smad signaling as a transcriptional regulator of Ppif gene encoding cyclophilin D, a component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, and gain- and loss-of-function experiments determined how such regulation affects osteogenic differentiation.

The expansion of our understanding about the regulation of iron metabolism, erythropoiesis, and the crosstalk between them has enabled delineating the pathophysiology of multiple diseases and provided rationale for novel therapeutic interventions.