High passage numbers induce resistance to apoptosis in C2C12 muscle cells

Cell lines with high passage numbers exhibit alterations in cell morphology and functions. In the present work, C2C12 skeletal muscle cells with either low (<20) or high (>60) passage numbers (identified as l-C2C12 or h-C2C12, respectively) were used to investigate the apoptotic response to H2O2 as a function of culture age h-C2C12. We found that older cultures (h-C2C12 group) were depleted of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). When we analyzed the behavior of Bad, Bax, caspase-3 and mitochondrial transmembrane potential, we observed that cells in the h-C2C12 group were resistant to H2O2 induction of apoptosis. We propose serially cultured C2C12 cells as a refractory model to H2O2-induced apoptosis. In addition, the data obtained in this work suggest that mtDNA is required for apoptotic cell death in skeletal muscle C2C12 cells.(AU)

Knockdown of apoptosis-inducing factor disrupts function of respiratory complex I

Recent findings suggest that apoptotic protein apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) may also play an important non-apoptotic function inside mitochondria. AIF was proposed to be an important component of respiratory chain complex I that is the major producer of superoxide radical. The possible role of AIF is still controversial. Superoxide production could be used as a valuable measure of complex I function, because the majority of superoxide is produced there. Therefore, we employed superoxide-specific mitochondrial fluorescence dye for detection of superoxide production. We studied an impact of AIF knockdown on function of mitochondrial complex I by analyzing superoxide production in selected cell lines. Our results show that tumoral telomerase-positive (TP) AIF knockdown cell lines display significant increase in superoxide production in comparison to control cells, while a non-tumoral cell line and tumoral telomerase-negative cell lines with alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) show a decrease in superoxide production. According to these results, we can conclude that AIF knockdown disrupts function of complex I and therefore increases the superoxide production in mitochondria. The distinct effect of AIF depletion in various cell lines could result from recently discovered activity of telomerase in mitochondria of TP cancer cells, but this hypothesis needs further investigation.(AU)

Importancia clínica del estudio estructural y funcional de las mitocondrias en las diferentes miocardiopatías / Clinical significance of structural and functional study of mitochondria in different cardiomyopathies

Los principales mecanismos que intervienen en la génesis y progresión de la insuficiencia cardiaca no se encuentran aclarados totalmente. El presente estudio se llevó a cabo para analizar la participación de las mitocondrias en la insuficiencia cardíaca y el posible paralelismo que hubiere entre el músculo cardíaco y el músculo esquelético en relación a los síntomas clínicos y el daño mitocondrial. También se analizaron los factores de riesgo para enfermedad cardiovascular en los diferentes grupos de estudio, y como se vinculan con las alteraciones estructurales y funcionales de las mitocondrias; así como se estudiaron en un modelo experimental, las posibles modificaciones de las mitocondrias cardíacas y esqueléticas producidas por los distintos fármacos utilizados para el tratamiento de la insuficiencia cardíaca.Veintisiete (27) pacientes que se sometieron a cirugía cardiovascular por diferentes razones y aceptaron participar en este estudio se incluyeron.Los criterios de inclusión para el grupo de control (n = 6) fueron pacientes de ambos sexos con fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda normal (FEVI) (> 60%), sin enfermedad reumatológica, diabetes, hipertensión arterial, dislipemia, obstrucción de vasos coronarios, siendo la comunicación interauricular el diagnóstico único para la cirugía.(AU)

Abstract: The fundamental mechanisms involved in the genesis and progression of heart failure are not clearly understood. Present study was conducted to analyze the cardiac mitochondrial involvement in heart failure, the possible parallelism between cardiac and skeletal muscle and if there is a link between clinical symptoms and mitochondrial damage. The risk factors were also analyzed in the different groups under study and the possible modification upon cardiac and skeletal mitochondria produced by the different drugs used for cardiac failure treatment was also studied in an experimental model. Twenty seven patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery for different reasons and accepted to participate in this study were included.(AU)

Ultrastructural changes of the olfactory bulb in manganese-treated mice

The effect of manganese toxicity on the ultrastructure of the olfactory bulb was evaluated. Male albino mice were injected intraperitoneally with MnCl2 (5 mg/Kg/day) five days per week during nine weeks. The control group received NaCl (0.9%). The olfactory bulbs of five mice from each group were processed for transmission electron microscopy after 2, 4, 6 and 9 weeks of manganese treatment. On week 2, some disorganization of the myelin sheaths was observed. After 4 weeks, degenerated neurons with dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum and swollen mitochondria appeared. A certain degree of gliosis with a predominance of astrocytes with swollen mitochondria, disorganization of the endomembrane system, dilation of the perinuclear cisternae and irregularly shaped nuclei with abnormal chromatin distribution were observed after 6 weeks. Some glial cells showed disorganization of the Golgi apparatus. On week 9, an increase in the number of astrocytes, whose mitochondrial cristae were partially or totally erased, and a dilation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum were found. Neurons appear degenerated, with swollen mitochondria and a vacuolated, electron dense cytoplasm. These changes seem to indicate that the olfactory bulb is sensitive to the toxic effects of manganese.(AU)

La redistribución dinámica mitocondria-núcleo de la inmunofilina FKBP51 es regulada por pka para modular la expresión de genes durante el proceso de adipogénesis / [The dynamic mitochondria-nuclear redistribution of FKBP51 during the process of adipocyte differentiation is regulated by PKA].

Glucocorticoids play an important role in adipogenesis via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) that forms a heterocomplex with Hsp90-Hsp70 and a high molecular weight immunophilin FKBP51 or FKBP52. We have found that FKBP51 level of expression progressively increases, FKBP52 decreases, whereas Hsp90, Hsp70, and p23 remain unchanged when 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiate. Interestingly, FKBP51 translocates from mitochondria to the nucleus at the onset of adipogenesis. FKBP51 transiently concentrates in the nuclear lamina, at a time that this nuclear compartment undergoes its reorganization. FKBP51 nuclear localization is transient, after 48 h it cycles back to mitochondria. We found that the dynamic FKBP51 mitochondrial-nuclear shuttling is regulated by glucocorticoids and mainly on cAMP-PKA signaling since PKA inhibition by myristoilated-PKI, abrogated FKBP51 nuclear translocation induced by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). It has been reported that PKA interacts with GR in a ligand dependent manner potentiating its transcriptional capacity. GR transcriptional capacity is reduced when cells are incubated in the presence of IBMX, forskolin or dibutyryl-cAMP, compounds that induced nuclear translocation of FKBP51, therefore PKA may exert a dual role in the control of GR. In summary, the presence of FKBP51 in the nucleus may be critical for GR transcriptional control, and possibly for the control of other transcription factors that are not members of the nuclear receptor family but are regulated by PKA signaling pathway, when transcription has to be strictly controlled to succeed in the acquisition of the adipocyte phenotype.

Behavior of mesenchymal stem cells stained with 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) in osteogenic and non osteogenic cultures

4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) is a DNA dye widely used to mark and trace stem cells in therapy. We here studied the effect of DAPI staining on the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells cultured in either a control, non-osteogenic medium or in an osteogenic differentiation medium. In the control medium, the number of stem cells/field, as well as the number of fluorescent cells/field increased up to the sixth day in both control and DAPI-treated cultures. Afterwards, both the number of fluorescent cells and their fluorescence intensity decreased. Control cells were fusiform and with some long extensions that apparently linked them to neighboring cells, while DAPI-treated cells were mostly round cells with fine and short extensions. The trypan-blue exclusion method showed 99% cell viability in both groups, however, both alkaline phosphatase activity and the thiazolyl blue formazan assay (indicative of mitochondrial metabolism) gave significantly lower values in DAPI-marked cells The mitochondrial mass, as indicated by specific staining and flow cytometry, showed no differences between groups. Mesenchymal stem cells gave origin to mineralized nodules in the osteogenic differentiation medium and there were not DAPI-marked cells on the ninth day of culture. Alkaline phosphatase activity, viability assay and number of cells/field and of mineralized nodules/field were similar in both groups. So, DAPI treatment did not change cell viability and proliferation during osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. However, since these cells loose DAPI marking after 9 days in osteogenic cultures suggests that DAPI may not be an effective marker for mesenchymal stem cells implanted in bone tissue for long periods.(AU)

Fine structural study of the red seaweed Gymnogongrus torulosus (Phyllophoraceae, Rhodophyta)

The present study analyzed several characters of the red seaweed Gymnogongrus torulosus, such as cellular structure of the thallus, cuticle, pit plug and cell wall ultrastructure, and morphology of some organelles like plastids, Golgi bodies and mitochondria. Also, anomalous chloroplasts with thylakoid disorganization were found in medullary cells. The significance of this thylakoid disposition is still unclear. This is one of the first studies focused on the fine structure of a red alga recorded in Argentina. (AU)

Apoptogenic effect of the lipophilic o-naphthoquinone CG 10-248 on rat hepatocytes: light and electron microscopy studies

CG 10-248 (3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-9-chloro-2H-naphtho[1,2b]pyran-5,6-dione; CG-NQ), a beta-lapachone analogue, modified the ultrastructure of rat hepatocytes, as demonstrated by light and electron microscopy. After 4 h incubation with 100 microM CG-NQ, the following effects were observed: (a) nuclear chromatin condensation; (b) chromatin fragmentation; (c) displacement of mitochondria, concentrated around the nucleus; (d) disruption or expansion of mitochondrial outer or inner membranes, respectively; (e) displacement and alteration of endoplasmic reticulum (rough and smooth); (f) decrease of microvilli; (g) blebbing of plasma membrane and production of apoptotic bodies formed by folding of plasma membrane fragments around mitochondria or peroxysomes; and (h) production of hydrogen peroxide. Expression of such effects varied according to hepatocyte samples and taken together strongly support an apoptotic action of CG-NQ dependent on reactive oxygen species. (AU)

Cardiomiopatía Mitocondrial de Presentación Neonatal / Mitochondrial cardiomyopathy Neonatal Presentation

La función cardiaca depende principalmente de la producción de energía por parte de las mitocondrias. De allí que casi el 30 % de la masa miocárdica corresponde a estas organelas. La cardiomiopatía mitocondrial neonatal o infantil resulta de una disfunción en algunos de los pasos de generación de energía a nivel de esas organelas y frecuentemente se presenta con las características de una cardiopatía hipertrófica. En muchas oportunidades la heteroplasmía y heterogeneidad mitocondrial genera confusión para el diagnostico por lo que el mismo requiere una investigación en forma multidisciplinaria. Presentamos el caso de un RN con una cardiomiopatía mitocondrial típica cuyo diagnostico fue corroborado por los hallazgos clínicos, de laboratorio y anátomo-patológico

Mitochondrial apoptotic pathways

Apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD) is a physiological process characteristic of pluricellular organisms leading to self-destruction of the cell. It is therefore involved in development, homeostasis and host defense. However, a significant difference has been shown between mammalian cell apoptosis and non-mammalian cell apoptosis: mitochondria are implicated only in the former. Execution of PCD includes the release of several proapoptotic proteins from the intermembrane space of mitochondria. They could exert their actions through a caspase dependent as well as a caspase independent way. On the other hand, regulation of PCD is mainly given by the Bcl-2 family members, which are in turn essentially regulated by activation of death receptors and/or DNA damage. Nowadays, execution of apoptosis is better known than its regulation. Nevertheless, we are still far of a complete understanding of the apoptotic process

Apoptosis y cáncer / Apoptosis and Cancer

Apoptosis is a basic biological phenomenon with wide-ranging implications in tissue kinetics. This article describes several concepts related to apoptosis regulators and their role in tumor genesis, with special reference to its significance in cancer and in cancer therapy. Molecular aspects of cell death and disease and cytometry in cell necrobiology with analysis of accidental cell death are considered. Mitochondria as the central control pint of apoptosis, considering definition, mechanisms and relevance, are referred. The implications of basic research for clinical oncology are considered, describing recent concepts of mechanism and significance

Deficiencia de la 2-metilacetoacetil-CoA tiolasa mitocondrial en Argentina / Mitochondrial 2-methylacetoacetyl-CoA thiolase deficiency in Argentina

A partir de la descripción de dos pares de hermanos, pertenecientes a familias no emparentadas, una argentina con antecedentes de consanguinidad y de ancestros irlandeses y la otra oriunda del Paraguay, en quienes se reconoció la deficiencia de la 2-metilacetoacetil-CoA tiolasa mitocondrial, comúnmente conocida como la deficiencia de la Beta-cetotiolasa (DCT; McKusick 203750; EC 2.3.1.9), intentamos delinear las consecuencias clínicas y bioquímicas de este defecto genético en el sexto paso del catabolismo de la isoleucina. La expresión fenotípica que presentaron los pacientes, correspondió a la forma clásica de DCT; el cuadro clínico uniforme se inició entre los 7 y 15 meses de edad y comprendió esencialmente, una asociación de uno o varios severos ataques cetoacidóticos e hiperglucemia constatada en dos de ellos. La demonstración por cromatografía en capa delgada de la tiglilglicina, dinitrofenilhidrazona de la butanona, aminoacidemia y aminoaciduria normales y un perfil único de ácidos orgánicos obtenido por cromatografía en fase gaseosa y espectrometría de masa (CG/EM) con excreción de grandes cantidades de los metabolitos característicos de la enfermedad, 2-metil-3-hidroxibutirato, 2-metil-acetato, tiglilglicina y 2-etilhidracrilato permitieron establecer el diagnóstico bioquímico de la DCT. El ensayo de la Beta-cetotiolasa en linfocitos y polimorfos nucleares de la única sobreviviente (VT), demostró una falta de activación por el ión K+ cuando se utilizó el acetoacetil-CoA como sustrato. Esta primera comunicación argentina sobre la DCT, permite inscribir tres aspectos ampliatorios respecto a las referencias previas: incorpora otros distintos orígenes étnicos de los pacientes, señala un análisis morfológico de material de autopsia sin cambios estructurales en cerebro, hígado y riñon y marca en la paciente VT, una disociación entre una clínica asintomática a partir de los 7 años y la persistente anormalidad bioquímica hasta la edad actual de 16 años. El conocimiento de la existencia de estas patologías en nuestro medio, aunado a la disponibilidad y acceso a la CG/EM de alta precisión y rapidez, permitirán reconocimientos precoces y mejores resultados terapéuticos. (AU)

An ultrastructural stereologic study of mitochondria in the neonatal adrenal cortex of the rat

Se describen los cambios ultraestructurales observados durante el período neonatal en la corteza adrnal de la rata. Las celulas de la zona yuxtamedular presentan mitocondria sredondeadas con crestas vesiculares y retículo endoplásmico desarrollado. Se determinaron esteriológicamente por medio de métodos morfométricos variaciones en el número de crestas por superficie mitocondrial. Las células corticales de 1 y 10 días de edad, muestran un retículo endoplásmico bien desarrollado. Los análisis morfométrico indican que el número de las crestas aumenta el tercer día, seguido luego por un descenso, observándose el décimo día un segundo incremento. También se midió corticosterona en plasma. Los niveles más altos de esta hormona se encontraron los días 1, 2 y 10 de edad. En los días 3 a 8 se observó un descenso. Estos resultados son coincidentes con los cambios observados en el desarrollo mitocondrial y del retículo endoplásmico en el período neonatal. El incremento en el número de crestas mitocondriales en el tercer día de edad post natal, puede ser considerado como la expresión d ela mayor sensibilidad de la glándula en este período, en que se halla aún bajo la influencia materna. Los cambios morfológicos y metabólicos más relevantes observados la segunda semana de vida se deberían a la maduración del eje hipotálamo-hipofisiario. La corteza adrenal neonatal ya ha comenzado a funcionar en forma independiente, dejando de estar bajo la influencia materna (AU)

Effect of dyskinetoplastic agents on ultrastructure and oxidative phosphorylation in Crithidia fasciculata

Ethidium bromide (EB) is an intercalating agent which binds specifically to the kinetoplast (mitochondrial) DNA (kDNA) of trypanosomatids. Accordingly, EB inhibits DNA replication, thus inducing dyskinetoplasty. Since in eukariotic organisms mitochondrial DNA encodes the genetic information for cytochromes b, aa3 and F0F1 ATPase, it seemed of interest to establish whether a similar effect occurs in Crithidia fasciculata, a trypanosomatid used for assay of potential trypanocidal drugs. Culturing of C. fasciculata in the presence of EB inhibited growth and induced dyskinetoplasty, as confirmed by electron microscopy. The kinetoplast of EB-cultured crithidia lost its characteristic arc shape, it was misplaced in the cell cytoplasm its matrix structure and membrane differentiation were specifically modified. Dyskinetoplasty decreased crithidia respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, as indicated by the lower ATP level, ATP/ADP ratio and adenylate energy charge. The interference of EB with kinetoplastic constituents synthesis was confirmed by the lack of action of EB on crithidia in the stationary phase of growth, that ruled out direct inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation enzymes. The lipophilic o-naphthoquinone beta-lapachone produced structural alterations in kinetoplast membranes, that correlated with inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. These latter effects involved free radicals since they were prevented by free radical scavengers.(AU)

Shock: conceptos para una definición / Shock: concepts to a definition

El síndrome de shock ha sido descripto en forma clásica como el producto de la disminución de la perfusión tisular y la disponibilidad de O2; sin embargo, en algunos tipos de shock como el séptico o el traumático ambos pueden hallarse aumentados en algunas circulaciones regionales. Hace ya una década se han descripto alteraciones mitocondriales consistentes en un desacomplamiento de la fosforilación oxidativa en el shock endotoxémico y hemorrágico experimentales y en el ser humano. Recientemente, el descubrimiento del óxido nítrico (NO) y su aumento en los estados de shock, ha abierto nuevas perspectivas en la comprensión del problema. El NO produce vasodilatación y al mismo tiempo, determina un aumento en la producción mitocondrial de especies activas del O(2), como del anión superóxido. Ambos radicales reaccionan entre sí y pueden formar otro oxidante con capacidad para nitrar residuos fenólicos de las proteínas: el peroxinitrito. Este efecto conlleva una alteración de la funcionalidad de diferentes enzimas mitocondriales como la succinato deshidrogenasa y la ATPasa y conduce a la disfunción mitocondrial, a una disminución de los niveles de compuestos de alta energia y a la insuficiencia multiorgánica. El aumento de la liberación de NO se debe al efecto de péptidos circulares y de neutrófilos adheridos al endotelio y a la indución por mediadores inflamatorios, como el TNF-alpha y las interleuquinas, de la NOS inducible (iNOS) en el endotelio y tejidos. Se propone que el estado de shock es la consecuencia de un disbalance entre el NO y el O(2) y sus metabolitos. (AU)

Efecto del carcinogeno dimetilnitrosamina sobre el rinon del vison / Efect of carcinogen dimethylnitrasamine on the kidney of mink

Visones de un criadero que recibian alimentos, sobre la base de restos de pescado, evidenciaron un significativo aumento en su mortalidad, presencia de canceres hepaticos y alteraciones renales revelables histologicamente. Esos efectos fueron atribuibles a presencia, en el alimento, de dimetilnitrosamina (NDMA), en concentraciones 1,8 ug/g. En este trabajo se estudia en detalle el efecto de la NDMA sobre el rinon del vison. Visones que fueron tratados ip con NDMA(7 mg/kg en sol. fis.), mostraron dano evidenciable ultraestructuralmente en la corteza renal. El dano fue mayor en los tubulos proximales, que en los distales, pero era de naturaleza similar. Las celulas epiteliales tubulares de los animales intoxicados mostraron: a)Condensacion de la cromatina nuclear y dilatacion de la membrana perinuclear. b)Marcada hinchazon mitocondrial y ruptura de sus crestas con perdida de contenida de la matriz mitocondrial. c)Despegue de ribosomas y dilatacion del reticulo endoplasmico. d)Aumento del numero y tamano de las vacuolas autofagicas. e)Aparicion de gotas lipidicas en el citiplasma. En contraste con lo previamente establecido, para el caso de cancer hepatico del vison, el mecanismo del dano renal por NDMA no se pudo correlacionar directamente con la union de metabolitos reactivos de esta a proteinas o acidos nucleicos o la biotransformacion microsomal o mitocondrial de la NDMA o formaldehido. No obstante, el rinon biotransforma la NDMA a CO2, pero lo hace 3-4 veces menos intensamente que el rinon de rata. Los resultados sugeririan la presencia, en el caso del dano renal por NDMA, de mecanismos distintos de accion, a los habitualmente aceptados como responsables del dano hepatico o el renal en otras especies. Alternativamente, el dano renal puede deberse a dano hepatico concomitante

A brain soluble fraction inhibits synaptosomal membrane but not astrocyte ATPase activity

Since a brain soluble fraction (peak II) is known to be able to inhibit synaptosomal membrane Na+, K+-ATPase activity, here we attempted to compare its effect on cellular and subcellular brain components such as synaptosomal and astrocytic membranes, as well as mitochondrial preparations. Peak II highly inhibited total ATPase in synaptosomal membranes but failed to modify enzyme activity in astrocytic and mitochondrial preparations. Findings suggest cellular and subcellular specificity of peak II on brain ATPase activity.(AU)

Fuentes intracelulares de especies oxidantes en condiciones normales y patológicas / Intracellular fountain of oxidant species in pathologic and normal conditions

La generación de especies oxidantes es un proceso inevitable que ocurre como consecuencia de la adaptación de organismos a la vida en aerobiosis. La protección natural contra estos oxidantes es limitada y puede ser sobrepasada, en diferentes condiciones, llevando a lesiones y llevar, eventualmente, a la muerte celular (AU)

La redistribución dinámica mitocondria-núcleo de la inmunofilina FKBP51 es regulada por pka para modular la expresión de genes durante el proceso de adipogénesis. / [The dynamic mitochondria-nuclear redistribution of FKBP51 during the process of adipocyte differentiation is regulated by PKA].

Glucocorticoids play an important role in adipogenesis via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) that forms a heterocomplex with Hsp90-Hsp70 and a high molecular weight immunophilin FKBP51 or FKBP52. We have found that FKBP51 level of expression progressively increases, FKBP52 decreases, whereas Hsp90, Hsp70, and p23 remain unchanged when 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiate. Interestingly, FKBP51 translocates from mitochondria to the nucleus at the onset of adipogenesis. FKBP51 transiently concentrates in the nuclear lamina, at a time that this nuclear compartment undergoes its reorganization. FKBP51 nuclear localization is transient, after 48 h it cycles back to mitochondria. We found that the dynamic FKBP51 mitochondrial-nuclear shuttling is regulated by glucocorticoids and mainly on cAMP-PKA signaling since PKA inhibition by myristoilated-PKI, abrogated FKBP51 nuclear translocation induced by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). It has been reported that PKA interacts with GR in a ligand dependent manner potentiating its transcriptional capacity. GR transcriptional capacity is reduced when cells are incubated in the presence of IBMX, forskolin or dibutyryl-cAMP, compounds that induced nuclear translocation of FKBP51, therefore PKA may exert a dual role in the control of GR. In summary, the presence of FKBP51 in the nucleus may be critical for GR transcriptional control, and possibly for the control of other transcription factors that are not members of the nuclear receptor family but are regulated by PKA signaling pathway, when transcription has to be strictly controlled to succeed in the acquisition of the adipocyte phenotype.