A mitochondrial perspective on cell death.

The role of mitochondria as crucial participants in cell death programs is well established, yet the mechanisms responsible for the release of mitochondrial activators and the role of BCL2 family proteins in this process remain controversial. Here, we point out the limitations of current approaches used to monitor the physiological responses of mitochondria during cell death, the implications arising from modern views of mitochondrial structure, and briefly assess two proposed mechanisms for the release of mitochondrial proteins during apoptosis.

Ca2+-mediated action of long-chain acyl-CoA on liver mitochondria energy-linked processes.

The decrease of steady-state transmembrane potential (delta psi) and loss of accumulated Ca2+ are magnified if palmitoyl-CoA is added to rat liver mitochondria exposed to Ca2+ and phosphate. The extent of this damage increases with increasing concentration of long-chain acyl-CoA. Addition of L-carnitine with or without the addition of palmitoyl-CoA considerably delays the deenergization. In the latter case, there is a substantial decrease in the assayed endogenous long-chain acyl-CoA content. This protective action of L-carnitine is abolished by L-aminocarnitine, a powerful inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyl transferase (palmitoyl-CoA: L-carnitine O-palmitoyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.21.). The removal of Ca2+ by EGTA, or the inhibition of its uptake by Ruthenium red or Mg2+ further enhances the degree of protection.

Uptake of spermine by rat liver mitochondria and its influence on the transport of phosphate.

Spermine, a polyamine present in the mammalian cells at rather high concentration, has, among other actions, a remarkable stabilizing effect on mitochondria, functions which have generally been attributed to the capability of this and other polyamines to bind to membrane anionic sites. In the present paper evidence is provided that at physiological concentrations spermine may also be transported into rat liver mitochondrial matrix space, provided that mitochondria are energized and inorganic phosphate is simultaneously transported. The close dependence of spermine transport is also demonstrated by the concurrent efflux of spermine and inorganic phosphate when mitochondria preloaded with the two ionic species are deenergized either with uncouplers or respiratory chain inhibitors. Furthermore, Mersalyl, the known inhibitor of phosphate transport, prevents both spermine uptake and release. Mg2+ inhibits the transport of spermine conceivably by competing for the some binding sites on the mitochondrial membrane. The physiological significance of these results is discussed.

The role of mitochondria in the salvage and the injury of the ischemic myocardium.

The relationships between mitochondrial derangements and cell necrosis are exemplified by the changes in the function and metabolism of mitochondria that occur in the ischemic heart. From a mitochondrial point of view, the evolution of ischemic damage can be divided into three phases. The first is associated with the onset of ischemia, and changes mitochondria from ATP producers into powerful ATP utilizers. During this phase, the inverse operation of F0F1 ATPase maintains the mitochondrial membrane potential by using the ATP made available by glycolysis. The second phase can be identified from the functional and structural alterations of mitochondria caused by prolongation of ischemia, such as decreased utilization of NAD-linked substrates, release of cytochrome c and involvement of mitochondrial channels. These events indicate that the relationship between ischemic damage and mitochondria is not limited to the failure in ATP production. Finally, the third phase links mitochondria to the destiny of the myocytes upon post-ischemic reperfusion. Indeed, depending on the duration and the severity of ischemia, not only is mitochondrial function necessary for cell recovery, but it can also exacerbate cell injury.

Metabolic changes induced by maximal exercise in human subjects following L-carnitine administration.

In double-blind cross-over experiments, ten moderately trained male subjects were submitted to two bouts of maximal cycle ergometer exercise separated by a 3 day interval. Each subject was randomly given either L-carnitine (2 g) or placebo orally 1 h before the beginning of each exercise session. At rest L-carnitine supplementation resulted in an increase of plasma-free carnitine without a change in acid-soluble carnitine esters. Treatment with L-carnitine induced a significant post-exercise decrease of plasma lactate and pyruvate and a concurrent increase of acetylcarnitine. The determination of the individual carnitine esters in urine collected for 24 h after the placebo exercise trial revealed a decrease of acetyl carnitine and a parallel increase of a C4 carnitine ester, probably isobutyrylcarnitine. Conversely, acetylcarnitine was strongly increased and C4 compounds were almost suppressed in the L-carnitine loading trial. These results suggest that L-carnitine administration prior to high-intensity exercise stimulates pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, thus diverting pyruvate from lactate to acetylcarnitine formation.

Intramitochondrial free calcium in cardiac myocytes in relation to dehydrogenase activation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to quantitate intramitochondrial free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]m) in cardiac myocytes under conditions of stimulation previously shown to cause activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase. METHODS: [Ca2+]m was monitored in single, isolated rat cardiac myocytes using fluorescence microscopy following the loading of the cells with the fluorescent chelating agent indo-1, in its permeant acetoxymethylester form, and the selective quenching of cytosolic fluorescence with MnCl2. The extent of contraction upon electrical stimulation was also measured. RESULTS: Electrical stimulation at 2 Hz and higher frequency raised [Ca2+]m significantly, and this was potentiated by exposure to isoprenaline. However, isoprenaline had no effect in quiescent cells, in which [Ca2+]m was raised above resting values by partial replacement of Na+ in the medium. The mitochondrial uncoupling agent carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) raised [Ca2+]m in unstimulated cells, but lowered it in cells subjected to electrical stimulation at 2 Hz or more, to partial Na+ replacement, or to the alkaloid veratridine. CONCLUSIONS: The values of [Ca2+]m in quiescent myocytes (approximately 100 nmol.litre-1) would be associated with very little activation by Ca2+ of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase, based on determination of K0.5 value of 650 nmol.litre-1 in work with mitochondrial suspensions. By contrast, the values of [Ca2+]m associated with electrical stimulation at 2 Hz or greater in the presence of beta adrenergic activation (> 500 nmol.litre-1) would be associated with significant dehydrogenase activation. The effect of beta adrenergic activation is only seen in the presence of electrical stimulation and probably involves enhancement of systolic transients in cytosol [Ca2+]. Effects of uncoupling agents validate the conclusions on the direction and magnitude of the mitochondrial Ca2+ gradient in situ in living myocytes.

Pathophysiological relevance of mitochondria in NAD(+) metabolism.

Pyridine nucleotides are mostly stored within mitochondria where they are involved in different functions ranging from energy metabolism to cellular signaling. Here we discuss the mechanisms of mitochondrial NAD(+) metabolism and release that may contribute to the crucial roles played by these organelles as triggers or amplifiers of physiological and pathological events.

Modification of the xanthine-converting enzyme of perfused rat heart during ischemia and oxidative stress.

The reversible and irreversible conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase during ischemia/reperfusion and oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide or diamide and its relationship with glutathione and protein SH groups were studied. The direct spectrophotometric measurement of the various forms of the xanthine-converting enzyme indicates that, in the fresh rat heart or after normoxic perfusion, there always is a basal level of 80% xanthine dehydrogenase and 20% of xanthine oxidase (15% irreversible and 5% reversible) that could contribute to the background production of free radicals. There is no significant increase of irreversible xanthine oxidase during ischemia nor during reperfusion. After global ischemia the reversible oxidase shows almost no increase while, when ischemia is followed by reperfusion, there is a limited increase (less then 9%) of the reversible xanthine oxidase. In the latter conditions there is a decrease of glutathione and of SH groups of about 70% and 25%, respectively. Perfusion for 1 h with oxidizing agents like hydrogen peroxide (60 microM) or diamide (100 microM) determines a marked conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to reversible xanthine oxidase of about 40% and 60%, respectively; this oxidase activity partially reconverts to the dehydrogenase after withdrawing the oxidizing agents from the perfusion medium. The level of irreversible xanthine oxidase remains unchanged in all the conditions tested. Both hydrogen peroxide and diamide induce a strong decrease in SH groups and depletion of glutathione. The xanthine dehydrogenase----xanthine oxidase conversion thus appears to be sensitive to the redox state of thiol groups.

Effects of temperature on myocardial calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial function during ischemia and reperfusion.

An isolated rabbit heart preparation was used to characterize the effects of hypothermia on the deterioration in mitochondrial respiratory function and on the calcium overload that occurs during ischemia and reperfusion. Hearts were perfused aerobically with an asanguineous solution for 120 minutes or made totally ischemic for 90 minutes at 37 degrees, 34 degrees, 28 degrees, 22 degrees C, respectively, and reperfused for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C. Mitochondrial function was assessed by measuring calcium content, yield, oxygen consumption, and adenosine triphosphate-producing capacities. In addition, the mechanical function of the hearts was measured together with tissue adenosine triphosphate, creatine phosphate, and calcium content. In a separate series of experiments, the effect of temperature on the initial rate of respiration-supported calcium accumulation of mitochondria from freshly excised, nonperfused rabbit hearts was determined. The hearts made ischemic at 37 degrees C were severely depleted of tissue adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate. Their mitochondria accumulated calcium and the oxidative phosphorylating activity was impaired. During reperfusion, tissue and mitochondrial calcium levels were substantially increased, state 3 of mitochondrial respiration was further impaired, and the adenosine triphosphate-generating capacities were severely reduced. Diastolic pressure increased and there was no recovery of developed pressure. Isolated mitochondrial function of hearts made ischemic at 28 degrees and 22 degrees C was protected. There was a less marked increase in tissue and mitochondrial calcium, and the initial rate and total production of adenosine triphosphate were maintained. In these hearts there was an almost complete recovery of mechanical performance at reperfusion, whereas the ischemia-induced depletion of tissue adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate was not significantly reduced by hypothermia. The hearts made ischemic at 34 degrees C were only partially protected. These data suggest that a decrease in temperature from 37 degrees to 22 degrees C during ischemia did not significantly prevent depletion of adenosine triphosphate at the end of ischemia but reduced tissue and mitochondrial calcium overload, maintaining mitochondrial function. Thus in our experiments the protective effect of hypothermia might be related to a direct reduction of tissue and mitochondrial calcium accumulation rather than to a slowing in rates of energy utilization. This possibility is supported by the finding that in freshly excised, nonperfused rabbit hearts, hypothermia significantly reduced the initial rate of mitochondrial calcium transport.

Carnitine: metabolism and clinical chemistry.

In man carnitine is synthesized from proteic trimethyllysine in liver, brain and kidney. Muscles which contain approximately 98% of carnitine must take it up from the blood in an exchange process with endogenous deoxycarnitine, the immediate precursor of carnitine. Uneven organ distribution of the enzymes catalyzing carnitine synthesis further implies an inter-organ transport of the intermediates. Assay of these intermediates in blood may assist causal definition of carnitine deficiency syndromes. Besides catalyzing the transport of long-chain acyls in mitochondria, carnitine is necessary for the export of intra-mitochondrially produced short-chain acyls and for trapping and elimination of unphysiological acyls (benzoic, pivalic, valproic acids etc.). Unlike the corresponding acyl-CoA, carnitine esters are capable of diffusing across cellular membranes, and may be eliminated in urine, distributed in tissues or both. Assay of physiological and unphysiological carnitine esters in urine is necessary for the diagnosis of carnitine insufficiencies.

6-Aminoquinolones: photostability, cellular distribution and phototoxicity.

Three selected aminoquinolones endowed with a potent antibacterial (compounds 1 and 2) and antiviral activity (compound 3) have been evaluated for their phototoxic properties in vitro. Photostability studies of these compounds indicate that compound 3 is photostable whereas compound 1 and in particular, compound 2 are rapidly photodegraded upon UVA irradiation, yielding a toxic photoproduct. Intracellular localization of these compounds has been evaluated by means of fluorescence microscopy using tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester and acridine orange, which are specific fluorescent probes for mitochondria and lysosomes, respectively. No co-staining was observed with lysosomal stain for all the test compounds. On the contrary compound 3 was found to be specifically incorporated in mitochondria. The compounds exhibited remarkable phototoxicity in two cell culture lines: human promyelocytic leukaemia (HL-60) and human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080). The quinolone-induced photodamage was also evaluated measuring the photosensitizing cross-linking in erythrocyte ghost membranes, the strand breaks activity and oxidative damage on plasmid DNA. The results show that these derivatives are able to photoinduce crosslink of erythrocytes spectrin, whereas do not significantly photocleavage DNA directly, but single strand breaks were observed after treatment of photosensitized DNA with two base excision repair enzymes, Fpg and Endo III respectively.

Imaging the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in intact cells.

The involvement of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MTP) in cellular processes is generally investigated by indirect means, such as changes in mitochondrial membrane potential or pharmacological inhibition. However, such effects could not be related univocally to MTP. In addition, source of errors could be represented by the increased retention of membrane potential probes induced by cyclosporin A (CsA) and the interactions between fluorescent probes. We developed a direct technique for monitoring MTP. Cells were co-loaded with calcein-AM and CoCl2, resulting in the quenching of the cytosolic signal without affecting the mitochondrial fluorescence. MTP inducers caused a rapid decrease in mitochondrial calcein fluorescence which, however, was not completely prevented by CsA. Besides the large and rapid efflux of calcein induced by MTP agonists, we also observed a constant and spontaneous decrease of mitochondrial calcein which was completely prevented by CsA. Thus, MTP likely fluctuates between open and closed states in intact cells.

Monoamine oxidase inhibition prevents mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in myoblasts from patients with collagen VI myopathies.

Although mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have been proposed to play a crucial role in several types of muscular dystrophy (MD), whether a causal link between these two alterations exists remains an open question. We have documented that mitochondrial dysfunction through opening of the permeability transition pore plays a key role in myoblasts from patients as well as in mouse models of MD, and that oxidative stress caused by monoamine oxidases (MAO) is involved in myofiber damage. In the present study we have tested whether MAO-dependent oxidative stress is a causal determinant of mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in myoblasts from patients affected by collagen VI myopathies. We find that upon incubation with hydrogen peroxide or the MAO substrate tyramine myoblasts from patients upregulate MAO-B expression and display a significant rise in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, with concomitant mitochondrial depolarization. MAO inhibition by pargyline significantly reduced both ROS accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction, and normalized the increased incidence of apoptosis in myoblasts from patients. Thus, MAO-dependent oxidative stress is causally related to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in myoblasts from patients affected by collagen VI myopathies, and inhibition of MAO should be explored as a potential treatment for these diseases.

The contribution of reactive oxygen species and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase to myofilament oxidation and progression of heart failure in rabbits.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is increased in heart failure (HF). However, the causal and mechanistic relationship of ROS formation with contractile dysfunction is not clear in detail. Therefore, ROS formation, myofibrillar protein oxidation and p38 MAP kinase activation were related to contractile function in failing rabbit hearts. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH AND KEY RESULTS: Three weeks of rapid left ventricular (LV) pacing reduced LV shortening fraction (SF, echocardiography) from 32 +/- 1% to 13 +/- 1%. ROS formation, as assessed by dihydroethidine staining, increased by 36 +/- 8% and was associated with increased tropomyosin oxidation, as reflected by dimer formation (dimer to monomer ratio increased 2.28 +/- 0.66-fold in HF vs. sham, P < 0.05). Apoptosis (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling staining) increased more than 12-fold after 3 weeks of pacing when a significant increase in the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase and HSP27 was detected (Western blotting). Vitamins C and E abolished the increases in ROS formation and tropomyosin oxidation along with an improvement of LVSF (19 +/- 1%, P < 0.05 vs. untreated HF) and prevention of apoptosis, but without modifying p38 MAP kinase activation. Inhibition of p38 MAP kinase by SB281832 counteracted ROS formation, tropomyosin oxidation and contractile failure, without affecting apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Thus, p38 MAP kinase activation appears to be upstream rather than downstream of ROS, which impacts on LV function through myofibrillar oxidation. p38 MAP kinase inhibition is a potential target to prevent or treat HF.

Mitochondrial contribution in the progression of cardiac ischemic injury.

The multifaceted relationship between mitochondria and the rest of the cell is reviewed in the context of myocardial ischemia. Paradoxically, mitochondria can exacerbate the ischemic damage, especially at the onset of reperfusion. Indeed, the recovery of oxidative phosphorylation in the presence of an excessive energy demand is likely to represent a crucial factor in the ensuing irreversible damage of cardiomyocytes. A major role in the progression towards cell death might be attributed to the opening of the permeability transition pore, which besides abolishing mitochondrial ATP production might amplify the damage by causing NAD+ release. This damaging role is balanced by the contribution of mitochondria in self-defense mechanisms operating in the ischemic cardiomyocytes. The mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channel and a slight increase in the production of reactive oxygen species appear to mediate the attempt of the heart to maintain its viability under conditions of acute and chronic ischemia. The significance of the various processes is discussed along with the critical evaluation of both the difficulties in studying mitochondria in situ and the possible sources of errors or misinterpretations.

Mitochondrial function as a determinant of recovery or death in cell response to injury.

Many pathological conditions can be the cause or the consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction. For instance anoxia, which is initiated by a critical reduction of oxygen availability for mitochondrial oxidations, is followed by a wide variety of mitochondrial alterations. A crucial role in the evolution of cell injury is to be attributed to the direction of operation of the F0F1 ATPase, which may turn mitochondria into the major consumers of cellular ATP in the futile attempt to restore the proton electrochemical gradient. On the other hand, functional mitochondria can paradoxically accelerate or exacerbate cell damage. This concept is particularly relevant for the ischemic myocardium. Indeed, inhibition of the respiratory chain or addition of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation can both limit the extent of enzyme release in the intact heart and prevent the onset of irreversible morphological changes in isolated myocytes. From studies on different tissues in a variety of pathological conditions a general consensus emerges on the role of intracellular Ca2+ overload as a pivotal link between cellular alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidative phosphorylation is reduced by a massive mitochondrial uptake of Ca2+, resulting in a vicious cycle whereby the reduced ATP availability is followed by a failure of the mechanisms which extrude Ca2+ from the sarcoplasm. In addition, the rise in [Ca2+]i could promote opening of the cyclosporin-sensitive mitochondrial permeability transition pore, leading to a sudden deltapsi(m) dissipation. Here, we review the changes in intracellular and intramitochondrial ionic homeostasis occurring during ischemia and reperfusion. In particular, we evaluate the potential contribution of the permeability transition pore to cellular damage and discuss the mechanisms which can determine the cellular fate from a mitochondrial point of view.