Alicia J. Kowaltowski

Mitochondrial permeability transition and oxidative stress

Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) is a non‐selective inner membrane permeabilization that may precede necrotic and apoptotic cell death. Although this process has a specific inhibitor, cyclosporin A, little is known about the nature of the proteinaceous pore that results in MPT. Here, we review data indicating that MPT is not a consequence of the opening of a pre‐formed pore, but the consequence of oxidative damage to pre‐existing membrane proteins.

Mitochondria and reactive oxygen species

Mitochondria are a quantitatively relevant source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the majority of cell types. Here we review the sources and metabolism of ROS in this organelle, including the conditions that regulate the production of these species, such as mild uncoupling, oxygen tension, respiratory inhibition, Ca2+ and K+ transport, and mitochondrial content and morphology. We discuss substrate-, tissue-, and organism-specific characteristics of mitochondrial oxidant generation. Several aspects of the physiological and pathological roles of mitochondrial ROS production are also addressed.

Tissue-, substrate-, and site-specific characteristics of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation

Reactive oxygen species are a by-product of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, derived from a small quantity of superoxide radicals generated during electron transport. We conducted a comprehensive and quantitative study of oxygen consumption, inner membrane potentials, and H(2)O(2) release in mitochondria isolated from rat brain, heart, kidney, liver, and skeletal muscle, using various respiratory substrates (alpha-ketoglutarate, glutamate, succinate, glycerol phosphate, and palmitoyl carnitine). The locations and properties of reactive oxygen species formation were determined using oxidative phosphorylation and the respiratory chain modulators oligomycin, rotenone, myxothiazol, and antimycin A and the uncoupler CCCP. We found that in mitochondria isolated from most tissues incubated under physiologically relevant conditions, reactive oxygen release accounts for 0.1-0.2% of O(2) consumed. Our findings support an important participation of flavoenzymes and complex III and a substantial role for reverse electron transport to complex I as reactive oxygen species sources. Our results also indicate that succinate is an important substrate for isolated mitochondrial reactive oxygen production in brain, heart, kidney, and skeletal muscle, whereas fatty acids generate significant quantities of oxidants in kidney and liver. Finally, we found that increasing respiratory rates is an effective way to prevent mitochondrial oxidant release under many, but not all, conditions. Altogether, our data uncover and quantify many tissue-, substrate-, and site-specific characteristics of mitochondrial ROS release.

Higher Respiratory Activity Decreases Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Release and Increases Life Span in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Increased replicative longevity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae because of calorie restriction has been linked to enhanced mitochondrial respiratory activity. Here we have further investigated how mitochondrial respiration affects yeast life span. We found that calorie restriction by growth in low glucose increased respiration but decreased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production relative to oxygen consumption. Calorie restriction also enhanced chronological life span. The beneficial effects of calorie restriction on mitochondrial respiration, reactive oxygen species release, and replicative and chronological life span could be mimicked by uncoupling agents such as dinitrophenol. Conversely, chronological life span decreased in cells treated with antimycin (which strongly increases mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation) or in yeast mutants null for mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (which removes superoxide radicals) and for RTG2 (which participates in retrograde feedback signaling between mitochondria and the nucleus). These results suggest that yeast aging is linked to changes in mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative stress and that mild mitochondrial uncoupling can increase both chronological and replicative life span.

Mild mitochondrial uncoupling in mice affects energy metabolism, redox balance and longevity

Caloric restriction is the most effective non‐genetic intervention to enhance lifespan known to date. A major research interest has been the development of therapeutic strategies capable of promoting the beneficial results of this dietary regimen. In this sense, we propose that compounds that decrease the efficiency of energy conversion, such as mitochondrial uncouplers, can be caloric restriction mimetics. Treatment of mice with low doses of the protonophore 2,4‐dinitrophenol promotes enhanced tissue respiratory rates, improved serological glucose, triglyceride and insulin levels, decrease of reactive oxygen species levels and tissue DNA and protein oxidation, as well as reduced body weight. Importantly, 2,4‐dinitrophenol‐treated animals also presented enhanced longevity. Our results demonstrate that mild mitochondrial uncoupling is a highly effective in vivo antioxidant strategy, and describe the first therapeutic intervention capable of effectively reproducing the physiological, metabolic and lifespan effects of caloric restriction in healthy mammals.

Mitochondria as a Source of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species: From Molecular Mechanisms to Human Health

Mitochondrially generated reactive oxygen species are involved in a myriad of signaling and damaging pathways in different tissues. In addition, mitochondria are an important target of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Here, we discuss basic mechanisms of mitochondrial oxidant generation and removal and the main factors affecting mitochondrial redox balance. We also discuss the interaction between mitochondrial reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and the involvement of these oxidants in mitochondrial diseases, cancer, neurological, and cardiovascular disorders.

Effect of Inorganic Phosphate Concentration on the Nature of Inner Mitochondrial Membrane Alterations Mediated by Ca Ions A PROPOSED MODEL FOR PHOSPHATE-STIMULATED LIPID PEROXIDATION

Addition of high concentrations (>1 mM) of inorganic phosphate (Pi) or arsenate to Ca-loaded mitochondria was followed by increased rates of H2O2 production, membrane lipid peroxidation, and swelling. Mitochondrial swelling was only partially prevented either by butylhydroxytoluene, an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, or cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. This swelling was totally prevented by the simultaneous presence of these compounds. At lower Pi concentrations (1 mM), mitochondrial swelling is reversible and prevented by cyclosporin A, but not by butylhydroxytoluene. In any case (low or high phosphate concentration) exogenous catalase prevented mitochondrial swelling, suggesting that reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in these mechanisms. Altogether, the data suggest that, at low Pi concentrations, membrane permeabilization is reversible and mediated by opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, whereas at high Pi concentrations, membrane permeabilization is irreversible because lipid peroxidation also takes place. Under these conditions, lipid peroxidation is strongly inhibited by sorbate, a putative quencher of triplet carbonyl species. This suggests that high Pi or arsenate concentrations stimulate propagation of the peroxidative reactions initiated by mitochondrial-generated ROS because these anions are able to catalyze C-aldehyde tautomerization producing enols, which can be oxidized by hemeproteins to yield the lower C-aldehyde in the triplet state. This proposition was also supported by experiments using a model system consisting of phosphatidylcholine/dicethylphosphate liposomes and the triplet acetone-generating system isobutanal/horseradish peroxidase, where phosphate and Ca cooperate to increase the yield of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances.

Protection against ischemic brain injury by inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Mitochondria are both targets and sources of oxidative stress. This dual relationship is particularly evident in experimental paradigms modeling ischemic brain injury. One mitochondrial metabolic enzyme that is particularly sensitive to oxidative inactivation is pyruvate dehydrogenase. This reaction is extremely important in the adult CNS that relies very heavily on carbohydrate metabolism, as it represents the sole bridge between anaerobic and aerobic metabolism. Oxidative injury to this enzyme and to other metabolic enzymes proximal to the electron transport chain may be responsible for the oxidized shift in cellular redox state that is observed during approximately the first hour of cerebral reperfusion. In addition to impairing cerebral energy metabolism, oxidative stress is a potent activator of apoptosis. The mechanisms responsible for this activation are poorly understood but likely involve the expression of p53 and possibly direct effects of reactive oxygen species on mitochondrial membrane proteins and lipids. Mitochondria also normally generate reactive oxygen species and contribute significantly to the elevated net production of these destructive agents during reperfusion. Approaches to inhibiting pathologic mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species include mild uncoupling, pharmacologic inhibition of the membrane permeability transition, and simply lowering the concentration of inspired oxygen. Antideath mitochondrial proteins of the Bcl-2 family also confer cellular resistance to oxidative stress, paradoxically through stimulation of mitochondrial free radical generation and secondary upregulation of antioxidant gene expression.

Binding, aggregation and photochemical properties of methylene blue in mitochondrial suspensions.

Abstract Methylene Blue (MB) has well-established photochemical properties and has been used in a variety of photochemical applications including photodynamic therapy. Despite the fact that most of MBs cytotoxic effects in cells are attributed to mitochondrial damage, the interactions of this dye with mitochondria and the consequent effects on photochemical properties have not yet been fully determined. We monitored MB binding, aggregation and its ability to release singlet oxygen (1O2) on irradiation when interacting with mitochondrial suspensions. MB actively binds to mitochondria and enters the matrix in a manner stimulated by the mitochondrial proton potential and by the increase in mitochondrial concentrations. The greater accumulation of MB in mitochondria with elevated proton potentials or those treated with high concentrations of MB results in the formation of MB dimers, previously shown to be less effective generators of 1O2. Accumulation of MB within mitochondria with high membrane potentials also results in the reduction of MB to the photochemically inactive leuco-MB. Indeed, irradiation of mitochondria with high proton potentials in the presence of MB results in the generation of approximately half the quantity of 1O2 compared with 1O2 generated in mitochondria with low proton potentials. These differences in photochemical properties should influence the cytotoxic effects of photodynamic treatment in the presence of MB.

Mitochondrial ATP‐sensitive K+ channel opening decreases reactive oxygen species generation

Mitochondrial ATP‐sensitive K+ channel (mitoKATP) opening was shown previously to slightly increase respiration and decrease the membrane potential by stimulating K+ cycling across the inner membrane. Here we show that mitoKATP opening reduces reactive oxygen species generation in heart, liver and brain mitochondria. Decreased H2O2 release is observed when mitoKATP is active both with respiration stimulated by oxidative phosphorylation and when ATP synthesis is inhibited. In addition, decreased H2O2 release is observed when mitochondrial ΔpH is enhanced, an effect expected to occur when mitoKATP is open. We conclude that mitoKATP is an effective pathway to trigger mild uncoupling, preventing reactive oxygen species release.