Manganese superoxide dismutase deficiency triggers mitochondrial uncoupling and the Warburg effect.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/onc.2014.355.

Manganese superoxide dismutase deficiency triggers mitochondrial uncoupling and the Warburg effect.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a mitochondrially localized primary antioxidant enzyme, known to be essential for the survival of aerobic life and to have important roles in tumorigenesis. Here, we show that MnSOD deficiency in skin tissues of MnSOD-heterozygous knockout (Sod2(+/-)) mice leads to increased expresson of uncoupling proteins (UCPs). When MnSOD is deficient, superoxide radical and its resulting reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate ligand binding to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), suggesting that the activation of PPARα signaling is a major mechanism underlying MnSOD-dependent UCPs expression that consequently triggers the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, leading to increased aerobic glycolysis. Knockdown of UCPs and mTOR suppresses lactate production and increases ATP levels, suggesting that UCPs contribute to increased glycolysis. These results highlight the existence of a free radical-mediated mechanism that activates mitochondria uncoupling to reduce ROS production, which precedes the glycolytic adaptation described as the Warburg Effect.

Redox proteomic identification of HNE-bound mitochondrial proteins in cardiac tissues reveals a systemic effect on energy metabolism after doxorubicin treatment.

Doxorubicin (DOX), one of the most effective anticancer drugs, is known to generate progressive cardiac damage, which is due, in part, to DOX-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). The elevated ROS often induce oxidative protein modifications that result in alteration of protein functions. This study demonstrates that the level of proteins adducted by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a lipid peroxidation product, is significantly increased in mouse heart mitochondria after DOX treatment. A redox proteomics method involving two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry and investigation of protein databases identified several HNE-modified mitochondrial proteins, which were verified by HNE-specific immunoprecipitation in cardiac mitochondria from the DOX-treated mice. The majority of the identified proteins are related to mitochondrial energy metabolism. These include proteins in the citric acid cycle and electron transport chain. The enzymatic activities of the HNE-adducted proteins were significantly reduced in DOX-treated mice. Consistent with the decline in the function of the HNE-adducted proteins, the respiratory function of cardiac mitochondria as determined by oxygen consumption rate was also significantly reduced after DOX treatment. Treatment with Mn(III) meso-tetrakis(N-n-butoxyethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin, an SOD mimic, averted the doxorubicin-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions as well as the HNE-protein adductions. Together, the results demonstrate that free radical-mediated alteration of energy metabolism is an important mechanism mediating DOX-induced cardiac injury, suggesting that metabolic intervention may represent a novel approach to preventing cardiac injury after chemotherapy.

Doxorubicin-induced central nervous system toxicity and protection by xanthone derivative of Garcinia mangostana.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a potent, broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic drug used around the world. Despite its effectiveness, it has a wide range of toxic side effects, many of which most likely result from its inherent pro-oxidant activity. It has been reported that Dox has toxic effects on normal tissues, including brain tissue. The present study tested the protective effect of a xanthone derivative of Garcinia Mangostana against Dox-induced neuronal toxicity. Xanthone can prevent Dox from causing mononuclear cells to increase the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). We show that xanthone given to mice before Dox administration suppresses protein carbonyl, nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxy-2'-nonenal (4HNE)-adducted proteins in brain tissue. The levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins p53 and Bax and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL were significantly increased in Dox-treated mice compared with the control group. Consistent with the increase of apoptotic markers, the levels of caspase-3 activity and TUNEL-positive cells were also increased in Dox-treated mice. Pretreatment with xanthone suppressed Dox-induced increases in all indicators of injury tested. Together, the results suggest that xanthone prevents Dox-induced central nervous system toxicity, at least in part, by suppression of Dox-mediated increases in circulating TNFα. Thus, xanthone is a good candidate for prevention of systemic effects resulting from reactive oxygen generating anticancer therapeutics.

Regulation of blood and vascular cell function by bioactive lysophospholipids.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), its sphingolipid homolog sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and several other related molecules constitute a family of bioactive lipid phosphoric acids that function as receptor-active mediators with roles in cell growth, differentiation, inflammation, immunomodulation, apoptosis and development. LPA and S1P are present in physiologically relevant concentrations in the circulation. In isolated cell culture systems or animal models, these lipids exert a range of effects that suggest that S1P and LPA could play important roles in maintaining normal vascular homeostasis and in vascular injury responses. LPA and S1P act on a series of G protein-coupled receptors, and LPA may also be an endogenous regulator of PPARgamma activity. In this review, we discuss potential roles for lysolipid signaling in the vasculature and mechanisms by which these bioactive lipids could contribute to cardiovascular disease.