Fig. 8

Surgical stress leads to mitochondrial dynamics imbalance due to increased SOX2OT expression, promoting neuronal damage. SOX2OT negatively regulates SOX2 expression, which negatively regulates Drp1 expression. Surgical stress increases SOX2OT and Drp1 expression, leading to oxidative stress and mitochondrial-derived ROS production. Thus, the mitochondrial membrane potential is reduced and mitochondrial dysfunction occurs, leading to the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly mice. SOX2OT knockdown can reduce oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, alleviate apoptosis, and protect against inflammation-induced cognitive dysfunction