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Role of mitochondrial DNA mutations in human aging: implications for the central nervous system and muscle.

It has been proposed that one mechanism for nerve and muscle dysfunction with age involves the mitochondria. Mitochondria contain the only DNA outside the nucleus in mammalian cells. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has a high mutation rate, and low levels of pathogenic mutations have been found in tissues from elderly subjects. However, the role of these mutations in the aging process is uncertain unless a mechanism can be identified that would lead to a biochemical defect. In muscle tissue from normal elderly subjects we show that there are muscle fibers with very low activity of cytochrome c oxidase, suggestive of a mtDNA defect. In these cytochrome c oxidase-deficient fibers we have found very high levels of mutant mtDNA. In addition, different mtDNA mutations are present in different fibers, which explains why there is a low overall incidence of an individual mutation in tissues from elderly subjects. These studies show a direct age-related correlation between a biochemical and genetic defect in normal human tissues and that mtDNA abnormalities are involved in the aging process in human muscle.

Aged↗

The effect of age and lung pathology on cytochrome a,a3 redox levels in rat cerebral cortex.

The steady-state reduction/oxidation (redox) ratio of cytochrome a,a3 in the non-stressed or 'resting' cerebral cortex was compared in 'healthy' mature and aged rats and in animals with varying degrees of lung pathology present. By using noninvasive dual wavelength spectrophotometry, cytochrome a,a3 was found to be approximately 30% reduced under 'resting' conditions in both mature and 'aged' brain. Although no significant age-related or strain differences were apparent, the 'resting' redox level of cytochrome a,a3 was markedly affected by the presence of lung pathology. The redox ratio was lower in animals where lung lesion involvement was not extensive, and higher (indicative or cellular hypoxia) in animals having both extensive acute and chronic lung pathology. These studies demonstate that, regardless of age or lung pathology, the cortical cytochrome a,a3 redox state is labile to changes in the amount of inspired oxygen, a condition differing from that of isolated mitochondria. These results indicate that dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is not a direct or primary consequence of chronlogical aging in the 'resting' brain.

Aging↗

The PKC delta inhibitor, rottlerin, induces apoptosis of haematopoietic cell lines through mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspases' cascade.

Rottlerin is a widely selective protein kinase C delta (PKCdelta) inhibitor isolated from Mallotus philippinensis. It shown to be effective against several human tumor cell lines and in potentiating chemotherapy-induced cytotoxcicity. Using the trypan blue exclusion assay, we demonstrated that rottlerin reduced the viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner of human leukemia HL60 cells, human acute T cell leukemia Jurkat cells and mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Rottlerin caused apoptosis and the apaptotic processing was inhibited by a caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, in these haematopoietic cells. The apoptosis-inducing activities were determined by nuclear condensation, sub-G1 appearance, DNA fragmentation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsim), release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytoplasm and proteolytic activation of caspase 9 and 3. Expression of PKCdelta and Bcl-2 protein inhibited Deltapsim change and repressed cell death. These studies suggest that the cytotoxic effects of rottlerin through inhibition of PKCdelta cause mitochondrial dysfunction, cytochrome c release from mitochondria into cytoplasm and the activation of caspases' cascade.

Acetophenones↗

Effects of the spin trap-alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) in transient forebrain ischaemia in the rat.

The free radical spin trap alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) has previously been shown markedly to reduce infarct size in permanent or transient focal ischaemia in rats. The mechanisms of action have not been clearly defined, but data obtained in focal ischaemia suggest microvessels or mitochondria as targets. Since microvascular dysfunction and/or mitochondrial failure are probably not the immediate causes of delayed neuronal damage following forebrain ischaemia in rats, we induced 15 min of two-vessel occlusion ischaemia in anaesthetized rats, and assessed brain damage by histopathological techniques 7 days later. Animals were treated either before (30 min) or after ischaemia (30 min or 6 h) with PBN or its vehicle. Other animals received a more soluble PBN analogue (2'-sulfonyl PBN), and received the drug 30 min prior to 12 or 15 min of ischaemia. PBN reduced neuronal necrosis in the neocortex when given 30 min post-treatment, but not when given before or 6 h after ischaemia, and it failed to reduce damage to the CA 1 sector of the hippocampus, or the caudoputamen. The sulphonyl derivative of PBN failed to reduce damage in any region. The results provide important hints as to the action of PBN. It is tentatively concluded that the nitrones ameliorate either the microvascular dysfunction or the mitochondrial failure, which could be the crucial events leading to infarction in focal ischaemia, but that they have only a weak effect on the mechanisms that yield selective neuronal necrosis in transient ischaemia of brief duration.

Animals↗

Maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD): unusual occult exocrine pancreatic manifestation in an affected German family.

The mitochondrial (mt) 3243 DNA mutation is an underlying cause of maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) syndrome and the syndrome of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). We report an affected German MIDD pedigree with maternal lineage over three generations. The index patient, her mother, her maternal aunt and her maternal grandmother all suffered from diabetes and premature hearing loss and were positive on testing for the mt 3243 DNA mutation. The 27-year-old index patient had a history of grand mal seizures. As sequela of abdominal ultrasound and confirmed by magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreaticography, she was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic calcifications and pancreatic duct dilation, although she was completely asymptomatic and with no signs of steatorrhoea. She did not have gallstones and the common bile duct was normal. A possible etiopathogenic pathway for pancreatitis could be a suppressive effect of the mt 3243 mutation on the oxidative phosphorylation in affected mitochondria. Although pancreatitis and pancreatic dysfunction in association with the mt 3243 mutation, especially in patients with comorbidity of MELAS and diabetes, has previously been described as a rare manifestation, this case is specific because of the discrepancy of advanced morphological pancreatic alterations and complete lack of pancreatogenic symptoms.

Adult↗

Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by fatty acid ethyl esters, myocardial metabolites of ethanol.

Mechanisms responsible for alcohol-induced heart muscle disease have been difficult to elucidate partly because of previously obscure, demonstrable cardiac metabolism of ethanol. Recently, fatty acid ethyl esters were identified in our laboratory and found to be myocardial metabolites of ethanol. In the present study, they have been shown to induce mitochondrial dysfunction. Incubation of isolated myocardial mitochondria with fatty acid ethyl esters led to a concentration-dependent reduction of the respiratory control ratio index of coupling of oxidative phosphorylation and decrement of maximal rate of oxygen consumption. Furthermore, fatty acid ethyl esters were demonstrated to bind to mitochondria in vitro, and, importantly, 72% of intracellularly synthesized ethyl esters were found to bind to mitochondria isolated from intact tissue incubated with ethanol. Protein binding of fatty acid ethyl esters was markedly less than that of fatty acids. Because uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation correlated with the cleavage of fatty acid ethyl ester shown to be initially bound to mitochondria, with resultant generation of fatty acid, a potent uncoupler, in a locus in or near the mitochondrial membrane, fatty acid ethyl esters may contribute to a potentially toxic shuttle for fatty acid with transport from physiological intracellular binding sites to the mitochondrial membrane; direct effects of fatty acid ethyl esters may also be deleterious. Operation of this shuttle as a result of ethanol ingestion and subsequent accumulation of fatty acid ethyl esters may account for the impaired mitochondrial function and inefficient energy production associated with toxic effects of ethanol on the heart.

Animals↗

Ca2+-induced permeabilization promotes free radical release from rat brain mitochondria with partially inhibited complex I.

Mitochondrial complex I dysfunction has been implicated in a number of brain pathologies, putatively owing to an increased rate of reactive oxygen species (ROS) release. However, the mechanisms regulating the ROS burden are poorly understood. In this study we investigated the effect of Ca2+ loads on ROS release from rat brain mitochondria with complex I partially inhibited by rotenone. The addition of 20 nm rotenone to brain mitochondria increased ROS release. Ca2+ (100 microm) alone had no effect on ROS release, but greatly potentiated the effects of rotenone. The effect of Ca2+ was decreased by ruthenium red. Ca2+-challenged mitochondria lose about 88% of their glutathione and 46% of their cytochrome c under these conditions, although this depends only on Ca2+ loading and not complex I inhibition. ADP in combination with oligomycin decreased the loss of glutathione and cytochrome c and free radical generation. Cyclosporin A alone was ineffective in preventing these effects, but augmented the protection provided by ADP and oligomycin. Non-specific permeabilization of mitochondria with alamethicin also increased the ROS signal, but only when combined with partial inhibition of complex I. These results demonstrate that Ca2+ can greatly increase ROS release by brain mitochondria when complex I is impaired.

Animals↗

Mitochondria in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a trigger and a target.

Strong evidence shows that mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but despite the fact that mitochondria play a central role in excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and apoptosis, the intimate underlying mechanism linking mitochondrial defects to motor neuron degeneration in ALS still remains elusive. Morphological and functional abnormalities occur in mitochondria in ALS patients and related animal models, although their exact nature and extent are controversial. Recent studies postulate that the mislocalization in mitochondria of mutant forms of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), the only well-documented cause of familial ALS, may account for the toxic gain of function of the enzyme, and hence induce motor neuron death. On the other hand, mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS does not seem to be restricted only to motor neurons as it is also present in other tissues, particularly the skeletal muscle. The presence of this 'systemic' defect in energy metabolism associated with the disease is supported in skeletal muscle tissue by impaired mitochondrial respiration and overexpression of uncoupling protein 3. In addition, the lifespan of transgenic mutant SOD1 mice is increased by a highly energetic diet compensating both the metabolic defect and the motorneuronal function. In this review, we will focus on the mitochondrial dysfunction linked to ALS and the cause-and-effect relationships between mitochondria and the pathological mechanisms thought to be involved in the disease.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗

A study of oxidative phosphorylative activity and calcium-induced respiration of rat liver mitochondria following living Escherichia coli injection.

Mechanisms of subcellular dysfunction of the liver in sepsis are still obscure. The present study investigates changes in oxidative phosphorylative activity and calcium-induced respiration of rat liver mitochondria following live Escherichia coli injection (E coli, Serotype: 0--18. A 1.25--1.5 X 10(9)/100 gm body wt inoculum of E coli bacteria was injected via the tail vein, causing a 100% mortality rate within 24 hours after injection. In order to determine alteration of liver mitochondrial membrane permeability, serum ornithine carbamoyltransferase activity was measured following E coli injection. This activity increased ten to 100-fold over that of controls with time following injection. However, the yield of liver mitochondria from treated rats, estimated by the amount of collected mitochondrial protein and the recovery rate of succinate dehydrogenase activity in the final mitochondrial suspensions, was not significantly different from that of controls. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylative activity measured using glutamate as a substrate was enhanced throughout all period to death (P less than 0.01 at three and six hours, P less than 0.05 in the fatal stage) and was associated with concomitant increases in respiratory control ratios. Similar results were obtained using beta-hydroxybutyrate as a substrate. This enhancement was accompanied by an increase in 2-4-dinitrophenol-stimulated ATPase activity (160% at three hours and 130% in the fatal stage). Calcium-induced stimulation of mitochondrial respiration as well as initial calcium uptake rate linked to respiration, using glutamate as a substrate, were higher in liver mitochondria from rats with E coli treatment than in those of controls throughout all periods (P less than 0.01 or less). These results suggest the coexistence of hyperfunctioning as well as deteriorated mitochondria following lethal treatment with E coli.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Neuron-specific conditional expression of a mitochondrially targeted fluorescent protein in mice.

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of both acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Quantification of mitochondrial bioenergetic properties generally requires the use of isolated brain mitochondria. However, the involvement of neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction in these disorders is limited by the lack of markers, and therefore isolation procedures, that distinguish neuronal compared with astrocyte mitochondria. To address this and other issues concerning neuronal mitochondria in the CNS, transgenic mice were generated that express a fluorescent protein targeted specifically to neurons. A neuron-specific promoter, CaMKIIalpha (calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase IIalpha) driven tTA (tetracycline transactivator) mice were crossed with TRE (tetracycline responsive element) driven mitochondrial targeted enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) mice. Expression of eYFP in the bigenic mouse brain was observed only in neuronal mitochondria of striatum, forebrain, and hippocampus and was enhanced by the removal of the tetracycline analog doxycycline (Dox) in the diet. The respiratory control ratio of synaptic and nonsynaptic mitochondria isolated from eYFP-expressing mice was the same as control mice, suggesting that neuronal mitochondria expressing eYFP maintain normal bioenergetic functions. More importantly, the development of Dox-inducible, neuron targeted mito/eYFP transgenic mice offer a unique in vivo model for delineating the participation of neuronal mitochondria in neuronal survival and death.

Animals↗

Mitochondrial dysfunction and possible treatments in Parkinson's disease--a review.

Mitochondria are central not only to the bioenergetics of the cell but also to the process of apoptotic cell death. Substantial data indicate mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly of complex I of the electron transport chain, in some patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and it appears likely that mitochondria contribute to the pathogenic processes that occurs in this disorder. Treatments targeted at mitochondrial function hold promise to slow the progression of PD.

Journal Article↗

Transcriptional profiling for understanding the basis of mitochondrial involvement in disease and toxicity using the mitochondria-specific MitoChip.

It is well documented that mitochondrial dysfunction significantly contributes to a number of degenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and drug- and chemical-induced toxicities. Thus far, information gained by several molecular and biochemical techniques used to delineate the mechanism of impaired mitochondrial activity underlying different diseases and various toxicities is still limited due to their low throughput potential. Here, we describe the development of mitochondria-specific mouse oligonucleotide microarray and its potential to define mechanisms of disease progression and drug toxicities associated with mitochondrial dysfunction at both nuclear and mitochondrial genome level.

Animals↗

Cocaine-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in primary cultures of rat cardiomyocytes.

Morphological alterations of cardiac mitochondria have been observed in rats chronically treated with cocaine. Whether cocaine directly causes heart mitochondrial dysfunction remains unclear. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of cocaine on mitochondrial function in cultured myocardial cells. Cells were incubated with cocaine (10(-5)-10(-3) M) for 3-72 h, using either a repeated or single exposure protocol. Cocaine (10(-3) M) produced severe cytotoxicity after repeated exposure (24-72 h), as elevated by leakage of lactate dehydrogenase. Treatment of the cultures with a single exposure protocol (10(-5)-10(-3) M for 24 h or less) produced a very modest cytotoxic effect, as shown by a small increase in LDH leakage. However, cellular ATP levels showed a time-dependent decline in cultures treated with the single exposure protocol. Experiments using a digitized fluorescence imaging system revealed that cocaine (single exposure protocol) caused a dose- and time-dependent decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and the decline in membrane potential occurred prior to manifestation of cytotoxicity shown with the repeated exposure protocol. Cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium levels, as determined by fura-2, were not affected during treatment with cocaine. Our results suggest that cocaine may compromise cardiac mitochondrial function and may lead to cardiotoxicity.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Water-soluble formulation of Coenzyme Q10 inhibits Bax-induced destabilization of mitochondria in mammalian cells.

Oxidative stress leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, which triggers the opening of the permeability transition pores (PTP) and the release of pro-apoptotic factors causing apoptotic cell death. In a limited number of cell systems, anti-oxidants and free-radical scavengers have been shown to block this response. We have previously reported that coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)), an electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, is involved in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) removal and prevention of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells. However, the mechanism of this protection has not been fully elucidated. In the present study we investigated the effects of CoQ(10) on the mitochondrial events characteristic to apoptosis, especially on the function of pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Our results demonstrated that following a brief exposure of two human cell lines (fibroblasts and HEK293 cells) to H(2)O(2) the intracellular levels of ROS and the association of Bax with the mitochondria significantly increased and the cells underwent apoptosis. Both of these events, as well as the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, were blocked by a 24 h pre-treatment with CoQ(10). It is therefore believed that CoQ(10) prevented the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential in response to the H(2)O(2) treatment. Recombinant Bax protein alone caused the ROS generation and release of cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria and, again, CoQ(10) inhibited these Bax-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions.

Apoptosis↗

Structural and functional damage sustained by mitochondria after traumatic brain injury in the rat: evidence for differentially sensitive populations in the cortex and hippocampus.

The cellular and molecular pathways initiated by traumatic brain injury (TBI) may compromise the function and structural integrity of mitochondria, thereby contributing to cerebral metabolic dysfunction and cell death. The extent to which TBI affects regional mitochondrial populations with respect to structure, function, and swelling was assessed 3 hours and 24 hours after lateral fluid-percussion brain injury in the rat. Significantly less mitochondrial protein was isolated from the injured compared with uninjured parietotemporal cortex, whereas comparable yields were obtained from the hippocampus. After injury, cortical and hippocampal tissue ATP concentrations declined significantly to 60% and 40% of control, respectively, in the absence of respiratory deficits in isolated mitochondria. Mitochondria with ultrastructural morphologic damage comprised a significantly greater percent of the population isolated from injured than uninjured brain. As determined by photon correlation spectroscopy, the mean mitochondrial radius decreased significantly in injured cortical populations (361 +/- 40 nm at 24 hours) and increased significantly in injured hippocampal populations (442 +/- 36 at 3 hours) compared with uninjured populations (Ctx: 418 +/- 44; Hipp: 393 +/- 24). Calcium-induced deenergized swelling rates of isolated mitochondrial populations were significantly slower in injured compared with uninjured samples, suggesting that injury alters the kinetics of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore activation. Cyclosporin A (CsA)-insensitive swelling was reduced in the cortex, and CsA-sensitive and CsA-insensitive swelling both were reduced in the hippocampus, demonstrating that regulated MPT pores remain in mitochondria isolated from injured brain. A proposed mitochondrial population model synthesizes these data and suggests that cortical mitochondria may be depleted after TBI, with a physically smaller, MPT-regulated population remaining. Hippocampal mitochondria may sustain damage associated with ballooned membranes and reduced MPT pore calcium sensitivity. The heterogeneous mitochondrial response to TBI may underlie posttraumatic metabolic dysfunction and contribute to the pathophysiology of TBI.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

A brief overview of mechanisms of mitochondrial toxicity from NRTIs.

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in combinations with other antiretrovirals (highly active antiretroviral therapy, HAART) are the cornerstones of AIDS therapy, turning HIV infection into a manageable clinical entity. Despite the initial positive impact of NRTIs, therapeutic experience revealed serious side effects that appeared to originate in the mitochondria and which ultimately manifested as dysfunction of that organelle. It may be reasonable to consider that as the AIDS epidemic continues and as survival with HIV infection is prolonged by treatment with HAART, long-term side effects of NRTIs may become increasingly common. This consideration may be underscored in children who are born to HIV-infected mothers who received NRTI therapy in utero during gestation. The long-term effect of that NRTI exposure in utero is not clear yet. This review examines some proposed mechanisms of NRTI mitochondrial toxicity, including genetic predisposition, defects in mitochondria DNA replication, the encompassing "DNA pol-gamma hypothesis," the relationship between mitochondrial nucleotide and NRTI pools, mitochondrial DNA mutation and dysfunction, and oxidative stresses related to HIV infection and NRTIs. Mechanisms of mitochondrial toxicity are reviewed with respect to key cell biological, pathological, and pharmacological events.

Animals↗

Rapid increase in mitochondrial volume in nucleus magnocellularis neurons following cochlea removal.

Second-order auditory neurons in nucleus magnocellularis (NM) of the chick brainstem undergo a series of rapid metabolic changes following unilateral cochlea removal, culminating in the death of 25% of NM neurons. Within hours of cochlea removal, ipsilateral NM neurons show marked increases in histochemical staining for the mitochondrial enzymes succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase. We investigated corresponding ultrastructural changes in NM neurons by preparing animals undergoing unilateral cochlea removal for transmission electron microscopy. We quantified changes in NM mitochondrial volume by stereological methods and qualitatively compared mitochondrial morphology between NM neurons destined to survive and those destined to die after cochlea removal. Within hours of cochlea removal, ipsilateral NM neurons show striking increases in mitochondrial volume (84% at 6 hours and 236% at 12 hours after cochlea removal compared to unoperated, control animals). At 2 week survival times, ipsilateral NM neurons contain fewer mitochondria than contralateral neurons. Surprisingly, anesthesia alone causes short-term increases in NM mitochondrial volume. Animals anesthetized with pentobarbital and ketamine and sacrificed 6 or 12 hours later showed a 45% increase in mitochondrial volume compared to previously unanesthetized animals. NM neurons destined to die within days of cochlea removal can be identified within several hours after deafferentation by the appearance of their ribosomes. We observed qualitative differences in mitochondrial morphology in dying neurons. Mitochondria in neurons destined to die consistently showed mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization indicative of metabolic dysfunction. Similar mitochondrial changes have been reported when mitochondria take up excess calcium. Ultrastructural changes in NM after cochlea removal display features of both programmed and pathological cell death, in which increased intracellular calcium is thought to play a role.

Anesthesia↗

Decay of mitochondrial metabolic competence in the aging cerebellum.

Cytochemically evidenced cytochrome oxidase activity was morphometrically measured in the cerebellar cortex of adult and old rats. The ratio (R) between the area of the precipitate due to the cytochemical reaction and the overall area of each mitochondrion was calculated. While in adult rats an inverse correlation between mitochondrial size and R values (r = -.905) was envisaged, in old animals increasing values of R were paired by increases in mitochondrial area (r =.561). Paired-quartile comparisons of the R values from adult and old animals documented a marked age-related impairment of the mitochondrial metabolic competence in small (I quartile: -31.6%) and medium-sized (II quartile: -26.4; III quartile: -16.4) mitochondria, while large organelles showed the lowest age-related decrease (IV quartile: -3.0%). The present findings support that a marked dysfunction of small and medium-sized mitochondria contributes to the significant decay of energy metabolism currently reported in physiological aging.

Aging↗