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    Abstract:
    Induced in high glucose-1 (IHG-1) is a conserved mitochondrial protein associated with diabetic nephropathy (DN) that amplifies profibrotic transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1 signaling and increases mitochondrial biogenesis. Here we report that inhibition of endogenous IHG-1 expression results in reduced mitochondrial respiratory capacity, ATP production, and mitochondrial fusion. Conversely, overexpression of IHG-1 leads to increased mitochondrial fusion and also protects cells from reactive oxygen species–induced apoptosis. IHG-1 forms complexes with known mediators of mitochondrial fusion— mitofusins (Mfns) 1 and 2—and enhances the GTP-binding capacity of Mfn2, suggesting that IHG-1 acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor. IHG-1 must be localized to mitochondria to interact with Mfn1 and Mfn2, and this interaction is necessary for increased IHG-1–mediated mitochondrial fusion. Together, these findings indicate that IHG-1 is a novel regulator of both mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetic function and contributes to cell survival following oxidant stress. We propose that in diabetic kidney disease increased IHG-1 expression protects cell viability and enhances the actions of TGF-b ,l eading to renal proximal tubule dedifferentiation, an important event in the pathogenesis of this devastating condition.
    Keywords:
    MFN1
    MFN2
    DNAJA3
    Bioenergetics
    Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in age-related degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Maintenance of mitochondrial dynamics is essential for regulating mitochondrial function. Aβ oligomers (AβOs), the typical cause of AD, lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal loss. AβOs have been shown to induce mitochondrial fragmentation, and their inhibition suppresses mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal cell death. Oxidative stress is one of the earliest hallmarks of AD. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) may cause oxidative stress by disrupting the antioxidant system, including Prx2. Cdk5 is also regarded as a modulator of mitochondrial fission; however, a precise mechanistic link between Cdk5 and mitochondrial dynamics is lacking. We estimated mitochondrial morphology and alterations in mitochondrial morphology-related proteins in Neuro-2a (N2a) cells stably expressing the Swedish mutation of amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is known to increase AβO production. We demonstrated that mitochondrial fragmentation by AβOs accompanies reduced mitofusin 1 and 2 (Mfn1/2) levels. Interestingly, the Cdk5 pathway, including phosphorylation of the Prx2-related oxidative stress, has been shown to regulate Mfn1 and Mfn2 levels. Furthermore, Mfn2, but not Mfn1, over-expression significantly inhibits the AβO-mediated cell death pathway. Therefore, these results indicate that AβO-mediated oxidative stress triggers mitochondrial fragmentation via decreased Mfn2 expression by activating Cdk5-induced Prx2 phosphorylation. Mitochondrial fragmentation induced by amyloid-beta oligomer (AβOs) which is generated from the Swedish mutation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) accompanies reduced Mfn1/2 levels. Interestingly, the Cdk5 pathway, including phosphorylation of the Prx2-related oxidative stress, has been shown to regulate Mfn1/2. Furthermore, Mfn2 over-expression significantly inhibits the AβO-mediated neuronal cells death pathway, but not Mfn1 over-expression. Therefore, these results indicate that AβO-mediated oxidative stress triggers mitochondrial fragmentation via decreased Mfn2 expression by activating Cdk5-induced Prx2 phosphorylation. ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Bax, Bcl-2-associated X protein; Bcl-2, B-cell lymphoma 2; Cdk5, Cyclin-dependent kinase; Cyt C, cytochrome C; Mfn2, mitofusin 2; Prx2, peroxiredoxin 2; ROS, reactive oxygen species.
    MFN1
    MFN2
    DNAJA3
    Cyclin-dependent kinase 5
    PINK1
    Mitochondrial apoptosis-induced channel
    Citations (81)
    During tumorigenesis many oncogenic pathways are reprogrammed and modulate mitochondrial metabolism, decreasing oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) activity. They inhibit ATP synthesis and ROS production from OXPHOS complexes favoring metabolic switching toward a more glycolytic metabolism and tumor growth. This metabolic rewiring is well established in solid tumor but very little is known about this event in non-solid tumors such as leukemias. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), cells show a high OXPHOS activity and elevated ROS levels. Notably, expression of the p66Shc protein, whose mitochondrial fraction modulates cell bioenergetics and increases ROS generation, is lost during B-CLL tumorigenesis. I investigate the effects of the expression of p66Shc on bioenergetics and viability of B-CLL cells. After p66Shc expression in MEC-1 cells, a B-CLL cell model, a fraction of it is in the intermembrane space of mitochondria. p66Shc expression decreases both basal and maximal respiration, decreases mitochondrial membrane potential, total ATP levels and renders cells less dependent from OXPHOS to ATP supply without changes mitochondrial mass. I propose that decreased mitochondrial respiration is due to decreased activity of respiratory complex I and II. In more detail, there is a decrease in complex I assembly with a consequent inhibition of its activity, and a decrease in complex II activity caused by a multi-protein complex in which TRAP1 and active ERK are involved. p66Shc expression in MEC-1 cells increases mitochondrial ERK activation. The mitochondrial fraction of ERK contribute to tumor cell survival by inhibiting opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP), a mitochondrial channel whose opening irreversibly commits cells to death. I check the effect of p66Shc expression on cell viability. Although its pro-apoptotic function well described in many cell models, in MEC-1 cells p66shc protects cells from death induced by mitochondrial-derived oxidative stress derived from starvation, EM20-25 and CisPlatin treatments. In depletion conditions, p66Shc expression correlates with more active mitochondrial ERK and the inhibition of ERK decreases cell viability. Inhibition of mitochondrial chaperones activity with Cyclosporine A, an inhibitor of CyP-D, or 17AAG, an inhibitor of TRAP1, also affects cell viability under depletion condition, thus supporting the hypothesis that mitochondrial ERK is involved in survival mechanism induced by p66Shc expression. Taken together these data indicate that regulation of RC complex activity can be linked to regulation of cell survival. We hypothesize that the mitochondrial branch of the Ras-ERK signaling pathway regulates mitochondrial bioenergetics by affecting SDH activity and resistance to apoptosis of B-CLL cells. Through the activation of mitochondrial ERK and inhibition of SDH activity, p66Shc can decrease OXPHOS activity and ROS production, a condition that is necessary in the early stages of tumorigenesis. It can also support tumour cell growth making mPTP less sensitive to opening by activating mitochondrial ERK.
    Bioenergetics
    Mitochondrial ROS
    Citations (0)
    Mitochondria are potential targets for the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the role of the mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) protein in regulating mitochondrial fusion and cell survival has not been investigated. In the present study, an adenovirus-mediated Mfn2 overexpression assay was performed to understand the effects of Mfn2 on mitochondrial function and cell damage during cardio-cerebrovascular I/R injury. After exposure to I/R injury in vitro , the transcription and expression of Mfn2 were significantly downregulated, which correlated with decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis. By contrast, overexpression of Mfn2 significantly repressed I/R-mediated cell death through modulation of glucose metabolism and oxidative stress. Furthermore, Mfn2 overexpression improved mitochondrial fusion in cells, an effect that was followed by increased mitochondrial membrane potential, improved mitophagy, and inhibition of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Our data also demonstrated that Mfn2 overexpression was associated with activation of the AMPK/Sirt3 signaling pathway. Inhibition of the AMPK/Sirt3 pathway abolished the protective effects of Mfn2 on I/R-induced cell injury arising from mitochondrial damage. Our results indicate that Mfn2 protects against cardio-cerebrovascular I/R injury by augmenting mitochondrial fusion and activating the AMPK/Sirt3 signaling pathway.
    MFN2
    SIRT3
    Citations (25)
    Cardiomyocyte death caused by hypoxia is one of the main causes of myocardial infarction or heart failure, and mitochondria play an important role in this process. Agrimonolide (AM) is a monomeric component extracted from Agrimonia pilosa L. and has antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of AM in improving hypoxia-induced H9c2 cell damage. The results showed that low AM concentrations promote H9c2 cell proliferation and increase cellular ATP content. Transcriptome sequencing showed that AM induces differential expression of genes in H9c2 cells. Gene ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses revealed that these genes were concentrated in mitochondrial function. Subsequent experiments confirmed that AM regulates hypoxia-induced cell cycle arrest. AM inhibited the rate of apoptosis by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, reducing the level of cleaved Caspase 3 and Bax, and increasing the level of Bcl2, thereby protecting H9c2 cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. AM restored the mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited the generation of ROS, maintained the normal shape of the mitochondria, improved the level of the mitochondrial functional proteins OPA1, MFN1, MFN2, Tom20, and increased the level of ATP. In conclusion, AM protects H9c2 cells from hypoxia-induced cell damage.
    KEGG
    MFN2
    Hypoxia
    Citations (8)
    Although mitochondrial fission has been reported to increase proliferative capacity and collagen production, it can also contribute to mitochondrial impairment, which is detrimental to cell survival. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of mitochondrial fission in cardiac fibroblasts (CF) activation and explore the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial health under this condition. For this, changes in the levels of mitochondrial fission/fusion-related proteins were assessed in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-activated CF, whereas the role of mitochondrial fission during this process was also elucidated, as were the underlying mechanisms. The interaction between mitochondrial fission and mitophagy, the main defense mechanism against mitochondrial impairment, was also explored. The results showed that the mitochondria in TGF-β1-treated CF were noticeably more fragmented than those of controls. The expression of several mitochondrial fission-related proteins was markedly upregulated, and the levels of fusion-related proteins were also altered, but to a lesser extent. Inhibiting mitochondrial fission resulted in a marked attenuation of TGF-β1-induced CF activation. The TGF-β1-induced increase in glycolysis was greatly suppressed in the presence of a mitochondrial inhibitor, whereas a glycolysis-specific antagonist exerted little additional antifibrotic effects. TGF-β1 treatment increased cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggered mitophagy, but this effect was reversed following the application of ROS scavengers. For the signals mediating mitophagy, the expression of Pink1, but not Bnip3l/Nix or Fundc1, exhibited the most significant changes, which could be counteracted by treatment with a mitochondrial fission inhibitor. Pink1 knockdown suppressed CF activation and mitochondrial fission, which was accompanied by increased CF apoptosis. In conclusion, mitochondrial fission resulted in increased glycolysis and played a crucial role in CF activation. Moreover, mitochondrial fission promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to mitophagy and the consequent degradation of the impaired mitochondria, thus promoting CF survival and maintaining their activation.
    Mitochondrial ROS
    PINK1
    Citations (16)
    Rise in plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) represents a major risk factor for obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. Saturated FFAs cause a progressive decline in insulin secretion by promoting pancreatic β-cell death through increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recent studies have demonstrated that palmitate (a C16-FFA)-induced rise in ROS causes β-cell death by triggering mitochondrial fragmentation, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Using the INS1-832/13 β-cell line, here we demonstrate that palmitate generates the ROS required for mitochondrial fission by activating NOX (NADPH oxidase)-2. More importantly, we show that chemical inhibition, RNAi-mediated silencing and knockout of ROS-sensitive TRPM (transient receptor potential melastatin)-2 channels prevent palmitate-induced mitochondrial fission. Although TRPM2 activation affects the intracellular dynamics of Ca2+ and Zn2+, chelation of Zn2+ alone was sufficient to prevent mitochondrial fission. Consistent with the role of Zn2+, palmitate caused a rise in mitochondrial Zn2+, leading to Zn2+-dependent mitochondrial recruitment of Drp-1 (a protein that catalyses mitochondrial fission) and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. In agreement with the previous reports, Ca2+ caused Drp-1 recruitment, but it failed to induce mitochondrial fission in the absence of Zn2+. These results indicate a novel role for Zn2+ in mitochondrial dynamics. Inhibition or knockout of TRPM2 channels in mouse islets and RNAi-mediated silencing of TRPM2 expression in human islets prevented FFA/cytokine-induced β-cell death, findings that are consistent with the role of abnormal mitochondrial fission in cell death. To conclude, our results reveal a novel, potentially druggable signalling pathway for FFA-induced β-cell death. The cascade involves NOX-2-dependent production of ROS, activation of TRPM2 channels, rise in mitochondrial Zn2+, Drp-1 recruitment and abnormal mitochondrial fission.
    Mitochondrial ROS
    TRPM2
    Pancreatic Islets
    FIS1
    DNAJA3
    Citations (40)
    Melanoma is the most severe type of skin cancer. Its unique and heterogeneous metabolism, relying on both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, allows it to adapt to disparate conditions. Mitochondrial function is strictly interconnected with mitochondrial dynamics and both are fundamental in tumour progression and metastasis. The malignant phenotype of melanoma is also regulated by the expression levels of the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase). By modulating at transcriptional level A-SMase in the melanoma cell line B16-F1 cells, we assessed the effect of enzyme downregulation on mitochondrial dynamics and function. Our results demonstrate that A-SMase influences mitochondrial morphology by affecting the expression of mitofusin 1 and OPA1. The enhanced expression of the two mitochondrial fusion proteins, observed when A-SMase is expressed at low levels, correlates with the increase of mitochondrial function via the stimulation of the genes PGC-1alpha and TFAM, two genes that preside over mitochondrial biogenesis. Thus, the reduction of A-SMase expression, observed in malignant melanomas, may determine their metastatic behaviour through the stimulation of mitochondrial fusion, activity and biogenesis, conferring a metabolic advantage to melanoma cells.
    TFAM
    Acid sphingomyelinase
    MFN2
    Citations (14)
    Oxidative stress (OS) induces osteoblast apoptosis, which plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of osteoporosis. Although OS is closely associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, detailed mitochondrial mechanisms underlying OS-induced osteoblast apoptosis have not been thoroughly elucidated to date. In the present study, we found that mitochondrial abnormalities largely contributed to OS-induced osteoblast apoptosis, as evidenced by enhanced production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species; considerable reduction in mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and adenosine triphosphate production; abnormality in mitochondrial morphology; and alteration of mitochondrial dynamics. These mitochondrial abnormalities were primarily mediated by an imbalance in mitochondrial fusion and fission through a protein kinase B- (AKT-) glycogen synthase kinase 3β- (GSK3β-) optic atrophy 1- (OPA1-) dependent mechanism. Hydroxytyrosol (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol (HT)), an important compound in virgin olive oil, significantly prevented OS-induced osteoblast apoptosis. Specifically, HT inhibited OS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by decreasing OPA1 cleavage and by increasing AKT and GSK3β phosphorylation. Together, our results indicate that the AKT-GSK3β signaling pathway regulates mitochondrial dysfunction-associated OPA1 cleavage, which may contribute to OS-induced osteoblast apoptosis. Moreover, our results suggest that HT could be an effective nutrient for preventing osteoporosis development.
    Mitochondrial ROS
    Citations (39)
    To investigate a possible new physiological role of carbon monoxide (CO), an endogenous gas involved in cell signaling and cytotoxicity, we tested the hypothesis that the mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species by CO activates mitochondrial biogenesis in the heart. In mice, transient elevations of cellular CO by five- to 20-fold increased the copy number of cardiac mitochondrial DNA, the content of respiratory complex I-V and interfibrillar mitochondrial density within 24 hours. Mitochondrial biogenesis is activated by gene and protein expression of the nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and NRF2, of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1alpha, and of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which augmented the copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This is independent of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), as demonstrated by the identical responses in wild-type and endothelial NOS (eNOS)-deficient mice, and by the inhibition of inducible NOS (iNOS). In the heart and in isolated cardiomyocytes, CO activation involved both guanylate cyclase and the pro-survival kinase Akt/PKB. Akt activation was facilitated by mitochondrial binding of CO and by production of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Interference with Akt activity by blocking PI 3-kinase and by mitochondrial targeting of catalase to scavenge H(2)O(2) prevented binding of NRF1 to the Tfam promoter, thereby connecting mitochondrial H(2)O(2) to the pathway leading to mtDNA replication. The findings disclose mitochondrial CO and H(2)O(2) as new activating factors in cardiac mitochondrial biogenesis.
    TFAM
    NRF1
    PPARGC1A
    DNAJA3
    Citations (205)