Reprint of: Production of Superoxide Radicals and Hydrogen Peroxide by NADH- Ubiquinone Reductase and Ubiquinol-Cytochrome c Reductase from Beef-Heart Mitochondria.

Complex I (NADH-ubiquinone reductase) and Complex III (ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase) supplemented with NADH generated O2-at maximum rates of 9.8 and 6.5 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively, while, in the presence of superoxide dismutase, the same systems generated H2O2 at maximum rates of 5.1 and 4.2 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. H2O2 was essentially produced by disproportionation of O2-, which constitutes the precursor of H2O2. The effectiveness of the generation of oxygen intermediates by Complex I in the absence of other specific electron acceptors was 0.95 mol of O2- and 0.63 mol of H2O2/mol of NADH. A reduced form of ubiquinone appeared to be responsible for the reduction of O2 to O2-, since (a) ubiquinone constituted the sole common major component of Complexes I and III, (b) H202 generation by Complex I was inhibited by rotenone, and (c) supplementation of Complex I with exogenous ubiquinones increased the rate of H2O2 generation. The efficiency of added quinones as peroxide generators decreased in the order Q1 > Q0 > Q2 > Q6 = Q10, in agreement with the quinone capacity of acting as electron acceptor for Complex I. In the supplemented systems, the exogenous quinone was reduced by Complex I and oxidized nonenzymati- cally by molecular oxygen. Additional evidence for the role of ubiquinone as peroxide generator is provided by the generation of O2- and H2O2 during autoxidation of quinols. In oxygenated buffers, ubiquinol (Q0H2), benzoquinol, duroquinol and menadiol generated O2-with k3 values of 0.1 to 1.4 M-1 s-1 and H2O2 with k4 values of 0.009 to 4.3 m-1·s-1.

(+)-Catechin inhibits heart mitochondrial complex I and nitric oxide synthase: functional consequences on membrane potential and hydrogen peroxide production.

In order to study the in vitro effect of flavan-3-ol (+)-catechin on the enzymatic activities of mitochondrial complex I and nitric oxide synthase (mtNOS), as well as the consequences on the membrane potential and H2O2 production rate, isolated mitochondria from rat heart were exposed to 3 nM to 100 µM (+)-catechin. NADH-Q1 reductase (complex I) and mtNOS activities were inhibited 25% and 50%, respectively, by the addition of 10 nM (+)-catechin to the reaction medium. Moreover, in the nM range, (+)-catechin decreased state 4 mitochondrial membrane potential by about 10 mV, but failed to change the membrane potential measured in the presence of ADP. (+)-Catechin (10 nM) inhibited not only complex I activity, but also the H2O2 production rate (35%) sustained by malate-glutamate, in accordance with the decrease observed in mitochondrial membrane potential. Considering (+)-catechin concentrations lower than 10 nM, linear and positive correlations were obtained between mitochondrial complex I activity and either NO (r2 = 0.973) or H2O2 production rates (r2 = 0.958), suggesting a functional association among these parameters. Altogether, the results indicate that (+)-catechin, at nM concentrations, inhibits mitochondrial complex I activity, leading to membrane potential decline and consequently to reduction in H2O2 and NO production rates. The decrease in mtNOS activity could also be a consequence of the direct action of (+)-catechin on the NOS structure, this effect being in accordance with the functional interaction between complex I and mtNOS, as previously reported.

Complex I syndrome in striatum and frontal cortex in a rat model of Parkinson disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction named complex I syndrome was observed in striatum mitochondria of rotenone treated rats (2 mg rotenone/kg, i. p., for 30 or 60 days) in an animal model of Parkinson disease. After 60 days of rotenone treatment, the animals showed: (a) 6-fold increased bradykinesia and 60% decreased locomotor activity; (b) 35-34% decreases in striatum O2 uptake and in state 3 mitochondrial respiration with malate-glutamate as substrate; (c) 43-57% diminished striatum complex I activity with 60-71% decreased striatum mitochondrial NOS activity, determined both as biochemical activity and as functional activity (by the NO inhibition of active respiration); (d) 34-40% increased rates of mitochondrial O2•- and H2O2 productions and 36-46% increased contents of the products of phospholipid peroxidation and of protein oxidation; and (e) 24% decreased striatum mitochondrial content, likely associated to decreased NO-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis. Intermediate values were observed after 30 days of rotenone treatment. Frontal cortex tissue and mitochondria showed similar but less marked changes. Rotenone-treated rats showed mitochondrial complex I syndrome associated with cellular oxidative stress in the dopaminergic brain areas of striatum and frontal cortex, a fact that describes the high sensitivity of mitochondrial complex I to inactivation by oxidative reactions.

Subcellular distribution of ERK phosphorylation in tyrosine and threonine depends on redox status in murine lung cells.

Activation of ERK1/2 implies the phosphorylation of tyrosine (pTyr) and threonine (pThr) by MEK1/2; both reactions were thought to be cytoplasmic, promoting ERK to reach the nucleus where it activates several transcription factors. In addition, H2O2 concentrations are known to modulate ERK intracellular translocation, which impacts on cellular proliferation. In this context, the objective of this work was to study the sequence of ERK phosphorylation under two redox conditions and to analyze a putative mitochondrial contribution to this process, in LP07 murine lung cells. A time-course of H2O2 administration was used and ERK phosphorylation was analyzed in cytosol, mitochondria and nuclei. At 1µM H2O2, a proliferative redox stimulus, immunoblot revealed a fast and transient increase in cytosol pTyr and a sustained increase in mitochondrial pTyr content. The detection for pThr/pTyrERK (2pERK) showed in cytosol a marked increase at 5 minutes with a fast dephosphorylation after that time, for both H2O2 concentrations. However, at 50 µM H2O2, an anti-proliferative condition, 2pERK was gradually retained in mitochondria. Interestingly, these results were confirmed by in vivo experiments using mice treated with a highly oxidizing agent [H2O2]. By the use of two ERK2 mutant constructions, where Tyr and Thr were replaced by alanine, we confirmed that 2pERK relied almost completely on pThr183. Confocal microscopy confirmed ERK subcellular distribution dependence on the incidence of cytosolic pTyr and mitochondrial pThr at 1µM H2O2. This work shows for the first time, both in vitro and in vivo, an ERK cycle involving a cross-talk between cytosol and mitochondria phosphorylation events, which may play a significant role in cell cycle progression, proliferation or differentiation under two different redox conditions.

Hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and ATP are molecules involved in cardiac mitochondrial biogenesis in Diabetes.

This study, in an experimental model of type I Diabetes Mellitus in rats, deals with the mitochondrial production rates and steady-state concentrations of H2O2 and NO, and ATP levels as part of a network of signaling molecules involved in heart mitochondrial biogenesis. Sustained hyperglycemia leads to a cardiac compromise against a work overload, in the absence of changes in resting cardiac performance and of heart hypertrophy. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by a single dose of Streptozotocin (STZ, 60mg × kg-1, ip.). After 28 days of STZ-injection, rats were sacrificed and hearts were isolated. The mitochondrial mass (mg mitochondrial protein × g heart-1), determined through cytochrome oxidase activity ratio, was 47% higher in heart from diabetic than from control animals. Stereological analysis of cardiac tissue microphotographs showed an increase in the cytosolic volume occupied by mitochondria (30%) and in the number of mitochondria per unit area (52%), and a decrease in the mean area of each mitochondrion (23%) in diabetic respect to control rats. Additionally, an enhancement (76%) in PGC-1α expression was observed in cardiac tissue of diabetic animals. Moreover, heart mitochondrial H2O2 (127%) and NO (23%) productions and mtNOS expression (132%) were higher, while mitochondrial ATP production rate was lower (~ 40%), concomitantly with a partial-mitochondrial depolarization, in diabetic than in control rats. Changes in mitochondrial H2O2 and NO steady-state concentrations and an imbalance between cellular energy demand and mitochondrial energy transduction could be involved in the signaling pathways that lead to the novo synthesis of mitochondria. However, this compensatory mechanism triggered to restore the mitochondrial and tissue normal activities, did not lead to competent mitochondria capable of supplying the energetic demands in diabetic pathological conditions.

Copper(II) and iron(III) ions inhibit respiration and increase free radical-mediated phospholipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria: Effect of antioxidants.

Rat liver mitochondria (1.5-2.1mg protein·mL-1) supplemented with either 25 and 100µM Cu2+ or 100 and 500µM Fe3+ show inhibition of active respiration (O2 consumption in state 3) and increased phospholipid peroxidation . Liver mitochondria were supplemented with the antioxidants reduced glutathione, N-acetylcysteine or butylated hydroxitoluene, to evaluate their effects on the above-mentioned alterations. Although the mitochondrial dysfunction is clearly associated to phospholipid peroxidation, the different responses to antioxidant supplementation indicate that the metal ions have differences in their mechanisms of toxicity. Mitochondrial phospholipid peroxidation through the formation of hydroxyl radical by a Fenton/Haber-Weiss mechanism seems to precede the respiratory inhibition and to be the main fact in Fe-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. In the case of Cu2+, it seems that the ion oxidizes glutathione, and low molecular weight protein thiol groups in a direct reaction, as part of its intracellular redox cycling. The processes involving phospholipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and mitochondrial respiratory inhibition characterize a redox dyshomeostatic situation that ultimately leads to cell death. However, Cu2+ exposure involves an additional, yet unidentified, toxic event as previous reduction of the metal with N-acetylcysteine has only a minor effect in preventing the mitochondrial damage.

Loss of dystrophin is associated with increased myocardial stiffness in a model of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Transition from compensated to decompensated left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is accompanied by functional and structural changes. Here, the aim was to evaluate dystrophin expression in murine models and human subjects with LVH by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and aortic stenosis (AS), respectively. We determined whether doxycycline (Doxy) prevented dystrophin expression and myocardial stiffness in mice. Additionally, ventricular function recovery was evaluated in patients 1 year after surgery. Mice were subjected to TAC and monitored for 3 weeks. A second group received Doxy treatment after TAC. Patients with AS were stratified by normal left ventricular end-diastolic wall stress (LVEDWS) and high LVEDWS, and groups were compared. In mice, LVH decreased inotropism and increased myocardial stiffness associated with a dystrophin breakdown and a decreased mitochondrial O2 uptake (MitoMVO2). These alterations were attenuated by Doxy. Patients with high LVEDWS showed similar results to those observed in mice. A correlation between dystrophin and myocardial stiffness was observed in both mice and humans. Systolic function at 1 year post-surgery was only recovered in the normal-LVEDWS group. In summary, mice and humans present diastolic dysfunction associated with dystrophin degradation. The recovery of ventricular function was observed only in patients with normal LVEDWS and without dystrophin degradation. In mice, Doxy improved MitoMVO2. Based on our results it is concluded that the LVH with high LVEDWS is associated to a degradation of dystrophin and increase of myocardial stiffness. At least in a murine model these alterations were attenuated after the administration of a matrix metalloprotease inhibitor.

Seasonal and ontogenetic changes modulate oxygen consumption and antioxidant defenses in the cutlassfish Trichiurus lepturus (Pisces, Trichiuridae).

Several oxidative stress markers and liver oxygen consumption were measured in different tissues of the marine fish Trichiurus lepturus in late summer and late winter, as well as in juveniles and adult females. Oxygen consumption in liver, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in liver, red cells, lens and roe, vitamin E, ubiquinol10, ß-carotene in liver, red cells, and roe, as well as contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipoperoxidation (TBARS) in red cells were evaluated. Regarding ontogeny, compared to adult fish, juveniles showed significant higher SOD activity in liver and lens, as well as higher liver contents of vitamin E. In contrast, adult females showed higher contents of vitamin E in roe, ubiquinol10 in liver and roe, and higher GSH levels in red cells, while the other markers remained unchanged. Regarding seasonal changes, no differences were detected in adult females for liver CAT and ubiquinol10, CAT in roe, vitamin E in roe and in red cells, liver and red cell ubiquinol10, and in GSH in red cells. However, and coinciding with the spawning period of late summer, liver oxygen consumption, SOD and CAT activity and ubiquinol10 contents in roe and SOD activity in red cells, and red cell TBARS contents were higher compared to late winter. These temporal antioxidant adjustments of Trichiurus lepturus seem to be parallel to the higher oxygen consumption typical of juvenile forms and also to the intense spawning and foraging activities of adult females in late summer.

Characterization of Tunneling Nanotubes in Wharton's jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells. An Intercellular Exchange of Components between Neighboring Cells.

Intercellular communication is one of the most important events in cell population behavior. In the last decade, tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) have been recognized as a new form of long distance intercellular connection. TNT function is to allow molecular and subcellular structure exchange between neighboring cells via the transfer of molecules and organelles such as calcium ions, prions, viral and bacterial pathogens, small lysosomes and mitochondria. New findings support the concept that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can affect cell microenvironment by the release of soluble factors or the transfer of cellular components to neighboring cells, in a way which significantly contributes to cell regulation and tissue repair, although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. MSCs have many advantages for their implementation in regenerative medicine. The TNTs in these cell types are heterogeneous in both structure and function, probably due to their highly dynamic behavior. In this work we report an extensive and detailed description of types, structure, components, dynamics and functionality of the TNTs bridging neighboring human umbilical cord MSCs obtained from Wharton"s jelly. Characterization studies were carried out through phase contrast, fluorescence, electron microscopy and time lapse images with the aim of describing cells suitable for an eventual regenerative medicine.

Rat liver mitochondrial dysfunction by addition of copper(II) or iron(III) ions.

Increased copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) levels in liver and brain are associated to oxidative stress and damage with increased phospholipid oxidation process. The aim of this work was to assess the toxic effects of Cu2+ and Fe3+ addition to rat liver mitochondria by determining mitochondrial respiration in states 3 (active respiration) and 4 (resting respiration), and phospholipid peroxidation. Both, Cu2+ and Fe3+ produced decreases in O2 consumption in a concentration-dependent manner in active state 3: both ions by 42% with malate-glutamate as complex I substrate (concentration for half maximal response (C50) 60µM Cu2+ and 1.25mM Fe3+), and with succinate as complex II substrate: 64-69% with C50 of 50µM Cu2+ and with C50 of 1.25mM of Fe3+. Respiratory control decreased with Cu2+ (C50 50µM) and Fe3+ (C50 1.25-1-75mM) with both substrates. Cu2+ produced a 2-fold increase and Fe3+ a 5-fold increase of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) content from 25µM Cu2+ (C50 40µM) and from 100µM Fe3+ (C50 1.75mM). Supplementations with Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions induce mitochondrial dysfunction with phospholipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria. Although is proved that a Fenton/Haber Weiss mechanism of oxidative damage occurs in metal-ion induced mitochondrial toxicity, slightly different responses to the metal ions suggest some differences in the mechanism of intracellular toxicity. The decreased rates of mitochondrial respiration and the alteration of mitochondrial function by phospholipid and protein oxidations lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular dyshomeostasis and cell death.

Diabetes impairs heart mitochondrial function without changes in resting cardiac performance.

Diabetes is a chronic disease associated to a cardiac contractile dysfunction that is not attributable to underlying coronary artery disease or hypertension, and could be consequence of a progressive deterioration of mitochondrial function. We hypothesized that impaired mitochondrial function precedes Diabetic Cardiomyopathy. Thus, the aim of this work was to study the cardiac performance and heart mitochondrial function of diabetic rats, using an experimental model of type I Diabetes. Rats were sacrificed after 28days of Streptozotocin injection (STZ, 60mgkg-1, ip.). Heart O2 consumption was declined, mainly due to the impairment of mitochondrial O2 uptake. The mitochondrial dysfunction observed in diabetic animals included the reduction of state 3 respiration (22%), the decline of ADP/O ratio (∼15%) and the decrease of the respiratory complexes activities (22-26%). An enhancement in mitochondrial H2O2 (127%) and NO (23%) production rates and in tyrosine nitration (58%) were observed in heart of diabetic rats, with a decrease in Mn-SOD activity (∼50%). Moreover, a decrease in contractile response (38%), inotropic (37%) and lusitropic (58%) reserves were observed in diabetic rats only after a ß-adrenergic stimulus. Therefore, in conditions of sustained hyperglycemia, heart mitochondrial O2 consumption and oxidative phosphorylation efficiency are decreased, and H2O2 and NO productions are increased, leading to a cardiac compromise against a work overload. This mitochondrial impairment was detected in the absence of heart hypertrophy and of resting cardiac performance changes, suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction could precede the onset of diabetic cardiac failure, being H2O2, NO and ATP the molecules probably involved in mitochondrion-cytosol signalling.

Mitochondrial nitric oxide production supported by reverse electron transfer.

Heart phosphorylating electron transfer particles (ETPH) produced NO at 1.2 ± 0.1 nmol NO. min(-1) mg protein(-1) by the mtNOS catalyzed reaction. These particles showed a NAD(+) reductase activity of 64 ± 3 nmol min(-1) mg protein(-1) sustained by reverse electron transfer (RET) at expenses of ATP and succinate. The same particles, without NADPH and in conditions of RET produced 0.97 ± 0.07 nmol NO. min(-1) mg protein(-1). Rotenone inhibited NO production supported by RET measured in ETPH and in coupled mitochondria, but did not reduce the activity of recombinant nNOS, indicating that the inhibitory effect of rotenone on NO production is due to an electron flow inhibition and not to a direct action on mtNOS structure. NO production sustained by RET corresponds to 20% of the total amount of NO released from heart coupled mitochondria. A mitochondrial fraction enriched in complex I produced 1.7 ± 0.2 nmol NO. min(-1) mg protein(-1) and reacted with anti-75 kDa complex I subunit and anti-nNOS antibodies, suggesting that complex I and mtNOS are located contiguously. These data show that mitochondrial NO production can be supported by RET, and suggest that mtNOS is next to complex I, reaffirming the idea of a functional association between these proteins.

Thioredoxin-1 Attenuates Ventricular and Mitochondrial Postischemic Dysfunction in the Stunned Myocardium of Transgenic Mice.

AIM: We evaluated the effect of thioredoxin1 (Trx1) system on postischemic ventricular and mitochondrial dysfunction using transgenic mice overexpressing cardiac Trx1 and a dominant negative (DN-Trx1) mutant (C32S/C35S) of Trx1. Langendorff-perfused hearts were subjected to 15 min of ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion (R). We measured left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP, mmHg), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP, mmHg), and t63 (relaxation index, msec). Mitochondrial respiration, SERCA2a, phospholamban (PLB), and phospholamban phosphorylation (p-PLB) Thr17 expression (Western blot) were also evaluated. RESULTS: At 30 min of reperfusion, Trx1 improved contractile state (LVDP: Trx1: 57.4 ± 4.9 vs. Wt: 27.1 ± 6.3 and DN-Trx1: 29.2 ± 7.1, p < 0.05); decreased myocardial stiffness (LVEDP: Wt: 24.5 ± 4.8 vs. Trx1: 11.8 ± 2.9, p < 0.05); and improved the isovolumic relaxation (t63: Wt: 63.3 ± 3.2 vs. Trx1: 51.4 ± 1.9, p < 0.05). DN-Trx1 mice aggravated the myocardial stiffness and isovolumic relaxation. Only the expression of p-PLB Thr17 increased at 1.5 min R in Wt and DN-Trx1 groups. At 30 min of reperfusion, state 3 mitochondrial O2 consumption was impaired by 13% in Wt and by 33% in DN-Trx1. ADP/O ratios for Wt and DN-Trx1 decrease by 25% and 28%, respectively; whereas the Trx1 does not change after ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Interestingly, baseline values of complex I activity were increased in Trx1 mice; they were 24% and 47% higher than in Wt and DN-Trx1 mice, respectively (p < 0.01). INNOVATION AND CONCLUSION: These results strongly suggest that Trx1 ameliorates the myocardial effects of I/R by improving the free radical-mediated damage in cardiac and mitochondrial function, opening the possibility of new therapeutic strategies in coronary artery disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 25, 78-88.

Role of thioredoxin-1 in ischemic preconditioning, postconditioning and aged ischemic hearts.

Thioredoxin is one of the most important cellular antioxidant systems known to date, and is responsible of maintaining the reduced state of the intracellular space. Trx-1 is a small cytosolic protein whose transcription is induced by stress. Therefore it is possible that this antioxidant plays a protective role against the oxidative stress caused by an increase of reactive oxygen species concentration, as occurs during the reperfusion after an ischemic episode. However, in addition to its antioxidant properties, it is able to activate other cytoplasmic and nuclear mediators that confer cardioprotection. It is remarkable that Trx-1 also participates in myocardial protection mechanisms such as ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning, activating proteins related to cellular survival. In this sense, it has been shown that Trx-1 inhibition abolished the preconditioning cardioprotective effect, evidenced through apoptosis and infarct size. Furthermore, ischemic postconditioning preserves Trx-1 content at reperfusion, after ischemia. However, comorbidities such as aging can modify this powerful cellular defense leading to decrease cardioprotection. Even ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning protocols performed in aged animal models failed to decrease infarct size. Therefore, the lack of success of antioxidants therapies to treat ischemic heart disease could be solved, at least in part, avoiding the damage of Trx system.

Nitric oxide interacts with mitochondrial complex III producing antimycin-like effects.

The effect of NO between cytochromes b and c of the mitochondrial respiratory chain were studied using submitochondrial particles (SMP) from bovine heart and GSNO and SPER-NO as NO sources. Succinate-cytochrome c reductase (complex II-III) activity (222 ± 4 nmol/min. mg protein) was inhibited by 51% in the presence of 500 µM GSNO and by 48% in the presence of 30 µM SPER-NO, in both cases at ~1.25 µM NO. Neither GSNO nor SPER-NO were able to inhibit succinate-Q reductase activity (complex II; 220 ± 9 nmol/min. mg protein), showing that NO affects complex III. Complex II-III activity was decreased (36%) when SMP were incubated with l-arginine and mtNOS cofactors, indicating that this effect is also produced by endogenous NO. GSNO (500 µM) reduced cytochrome b562 by 71%, in an [O2] independent manner. Hyperbolic increases in O2(•-) (up to 1.3 ± 0.1 nmol/min. mg protein) and H2O2 (up to 0.64 ± 0.05 nmol/min. mg protein) productions were observed with a maximal effect at 500 µM GSNO. The O2(•-)/H2O2 ratio was 1.98 in accordance with the stoichiometry of the O2(•-) disproportionation. Moreover, H2O2 production was increased by 72-74% when heart coupled mitochondria were exposed to 500 µM GSNO or 30 µM SPER-NO. SMP incubated in the presence of succinate showed an EPR signal (g=1.99) compatible with a stable semiquinone. This EPR signal was increased not only by antimycin but also by GSNO and SPER-NO. These signals were not modified under N2 atmosphere, indicating that they are not a consequence to the effect of NOx species on complex III area. These results show that NO interacts with ubiquinone-cytochrome b area producing antimycin-like effects. This behaviour comprises the inhibition of electron transfer, the interruption of the oxidation of cytochromes b, and the enhancement of [UQH(•)]ss which, in turn, leads to an increase in O2(•-) and H2O2 mitochondrial production rates.

Brain antioxidant responses to acute iron and copper intoxications in rats.

Dose- and time-dependent antioxidant responses to Fe (0-60 mg kg(-1)) and Cu overloads (0-30 mg kg(-1)) in rat brains are described by the C50 and the t1/2, the brain metal concentration and the time for half maximal oxidative responses. Brain GSH and the GSH/GSSG ratio markedly decreased after Fe and Cu treatments (50-80%) with a t1/2 of 9-10 h for GSH and of 4 h for GSH/GSSG for both metals. The GSH/GSSG ratio was the most sensitive indicator of brain oxidative stress. The decrease of GSH and the increase of in vivo chemiluminescence had similar time courses. The C50 for brain chemiluminescence, GSH and hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants were in similar ranges (32-36 µg Fe g(-1) brain and 10-18 µg Cu g(-1) brain), which indicated a unique free-radical mediated process for each metal. The brain concentration of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants decreased after Fe and Cu loads; hydrophilic antioxidants decreased by 46-68% with a t1/2 of 10-11 h and lipophilic antioxidants decreased by 75-45% with a t1/2 of 10-12 h. Cu,Zn-SOD and CAT activities and the protein expression were adaptively increased (100-90% after Fe and Cu loads), with a t1/2 of 8-12 h. GPx-4 activity decreased after both metal loads by 73-27% with a t1/2 of 8-4 h with decreased protein expression.

Rat liver antioxidant response to iron and copper overloads.

The rat liver antioxidant response to Fe and Cu overloads (0-60mg/kg) was studied. Dose- and time-responses were determined and summarized by t1/2 and C50, the time and the liver metal content for half maximal oxidative responses. Liver GSH (reduced glutathione) and GSSG (glutathione disulfide) were determined. The GSH content and the GSH/GSSG ratio markedly decreased after Fe (58-66%) and Cu (79-81%) loads, with t1/2 of 4.0 and 2.0h. The C50 were in a similar range for all the indicators (110-124µgFe/g and 40-50µgCu/g) and suggest a unique free-radical mediated process. Hydrophilic antioxidants markedly decreased after Fe and Cu (60-75%; t1/2: 4.5 and 4.0h). Lipophilic antioxidants were also decreased (30-92%; t1/2: 7.0 and 5.5h) after Fe and Cu. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities (Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD) and protein expression were adaptively increased after metal overloads (Cu,Zn-SOD: t1/2: 8-8.5h and Mn-SOD: t1/2: 8.5-8.0h). Catalase activity was increased after Fe (65%; t1/2: 8.5h) and decreased after Cu (26%; t1/2: 8.0h), whereas catalase expression was increased after Fe and decreased after Cu overloads. Glutathione peroxidase activity decreased after metal loads by 22-39% with a t1/2 of 4.5h and with unchanged protein expression. GSH is the main and fastest responder antioxidant in Fe and Cu overloads. The results indicate that thiol (SH) content and antioxidant enzyme activities are central to the antioxidant defense in the oxidative stress and damage after Fe and Cu overloads.

Oxidative damage to rat brain in iron and copper overloads.

This study reports on the acute brain toxicity of Fe and Cu in male Sprague-Dawley rats (200 g) that received 0 to 60 mg kg(-1) (ip) FeCl2 or CuSO4. Brain metal contents and time-responses were determined for rat survival, in situ brain chemiluminescence and phospholipid and protein oxidation products. Metal doses hyperbolically defined brain metal content. Rat survival was 91% and 60% after Fe and Cu overloads. Brain metal content increased from 35 to 114 µg of Fe per g and from 3.6 to 34 µg of Cu per g. Brain chemiluminescence (10 cps cm(-2)) increased 3 and 2 times after Fe and Cu overloads, with half maximal responses (C50) of 38 µg of Fe per g of brain and 15 µg of Cu per g of brain, and with half time responses (t1/2) of 12 h for Fe and 20 h for Cu. Phospholipid peroxidation increased by 56% and 31% with C50 of 40 µg of Fe per g and 20 µg of Cu per g and with t1/2 of 9 h and 14 h. Protein oxidation increased by 45% for Fe with a C50 of 40 µg of Fe per g and 18% for Cu with a C50 of 10 µg of Cu per g and a t1/2 of 12 h for both metals. Fe and Cu brain toxicities are likely mediated by Haber-Weiss type HO˙ formation with subsequent oxidative damage.

Mitochondrial energy metabolism and redox signaling in brain aging and neurodegeneration.

SIGNIFICANCE: The mitochondrial energy-transducing capacity is essential for the maintenance of neuronal function, and the impairment of energy metabolism and redox homeostasis is a hallmark of brain aging, which is particularly accentuated in the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases. RECENT ADVANCES: The communications between mitochondria and the rest of the cell by energy- and redox-sensitive signaling establish a master regulatory device that controls cellular energy levels and the redox environment. Impairment of this regulatory devise is critical for aging and the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases. CRITICAL ISSUES: This review focuses on a coordinated metabolic network-cytosolic signaling, transcriptional regulation, and mitochondrial function-that controls the cellular energy levels and redox status as well as factors which impair this metabolic network during brain aging and neurodegeneration. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Characterization of mitochondrial function and mitochondria-cytosol communications will provide pivotal opportunities for identifying targets and developing new strategies aimed at restoring the mitochondrial energy-redox axis that is compromised in brain aging and neurodegeneration.

The protective effect of menhaden oil in the oxidative damage and renal necrosis due to dietary choline deficiency.

Weanling rats fed a choline-deficient diet develop kidney oxidative damage, tubular and cortical kidney necrosis, renal failure and animal death. The effect of dietary menhaden oil was assayed on the mentioned sequence correlating oxidative stress with renal structure and function. Rats were fed ad libitum 4 different diets: (a) a choline-deficient diet with corn oil and sunflower hydrogenated oil as a source of fatty acids; (b) the same diet supplemented with choline; (c) a choline-deficient diet with menhaden oil as a source of fatty acids; and (d) the previous diet supplemented with choline. Animals were sacrificed at days 0, 2, 4 and 7. The histopathological study of the kidneys showed that renal necrosis was only observed at day 7 in choline-deficient rats receiving the vegetable oil diet, simultaneously with increased creatinine plasma levels. Homogenate chemiluminescence (BOOH-initiated chemiluminescence) and phospholipid oxidation indicate the development of oxidative stress and damage in choline-deficient rats fed vegetable oils as well as the protective effect of menhaden oil. Rats fed with the fish oil diet showed that oxidative stress and damage develop later, as compared with vegetable oil, with no morphological damage during the experimental period.