C. Keriel

Abnormalities of mitochondrial functioning can partly explain the metabolic disorders encountered in sarcopenic gastrocnemius

Aging triggers several abnormalities in muscle glycolytic fibers including increased proteolysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis. Since the mitochondria are the main site of substrate oxidation, ROS production and programmed cell death, we tried to know whether the cellular disorders encountered in sarcopenia are due to abnormal mitochondrial functioning. Gastrocnemius mitochondria were extracted from adult (6 months) and aged (21 months) male Wistar rats. Respiration parameters, opening of the permeability transition pore and ROS production, with either glutamate (amino acid metabolism) or pyruvate (glucose metabolism) as a respiration substrate, were evaluated at different matrix calcium concentrations. Pyruvate dehydrogenase and respiratory complex activities as well as their contents measured by Western blotting analysis were determined. Furthermore, the fatty acid profile of mitochondrial phospholipids was also measured. At physiological calcium concentration, state III respiration rate was lowered by aging in pyruvate conditions (−22%), but not with glutamate. The reduction of pyruvate oxidation resulted from a calcium‐dependent inactivation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase system and could provide for the well‐known proteolysis encountered during sarcopenia. Matrix calcium loading and aging increased ROS production. They also reduced the oxidative phosphorylation. This was associated with lower calcium retention capacities, suggesting that sarcopenic fibers are more prone to programmed cell death. Aging was also associated with a reduced mitochondrial superoxide dismutase activity, which does not intervene in toxic ROS overproduction but could explain the lower calcium retention capacities. Despite a lower content, cytochrome c oxidase displayed an increased activity associated with an increased n−6/n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio of mitochondrial phospholipids. In conclusion, we propose that mitochondria obtained from aged muscle fibers display several functional abnormalities explaining the increased proteolysis, ROS overproduction and vulnerability to apoptosis exhibited by sarcopenic muscle. These changes appear to be related to modifications of the fatty acid profile of mitochondrial lipids.

On the regulation of cellular energetics in health and disease

Very recent experimental data, obtained by using the permeabilized cell technique or tissue homogenates for investigation of the mechanisms of regulation of respiration in the cells in vivo, are shortly summarized. In these studies, surprisingly high values of apparent Km for ADP, exceeding that for isolated mitochondria in vitro by more than order of magnitude, were recorded for heart, slow twitch skeletal muscle, hepatocytes, brain tissue homogenates but not for fast twitch skeletal muscle. Mitochondrial swelling in the hypo-osmotic medium resulted in the sharp decrease of the value of Km for ADP in correlation with the degree of rupture of mitochondrial outer membrane, as determined by the cytochrome c test. Very similar effect was observed when trypsin was used for treatment of skinned fibers, permeabilized cells or homogenates. It is concluded that, in many but not all types of cells, the permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane for ADP is controlled by some cytoplasmic protein factor(s). Since colchicine and taxol were not found to change high values of the apparent Km for ADP, the participation of microtubular system seems to be excluded in this kind of control of respiration but studies of the roles of other cytoskeletal structures seem to be of high interest.

Macrocompartmentation of total creatine in cardiomyocytes revisited

Distribution of total creatine (free creatine + phosphocreatine) between two subcellular macrocompartments – mitochondrial matrix space and cytoplasm – in heart and skeletal muscle cells was reinvestigated by using a permeabilized cell technique. Isolated cardiomyocytes were treated with saponin (50 μg/ml for 30 min or 600 μg/ml for 1 min) to open the outer cellular membrane and release the metabolites from cytoplasm (cytoplasmic fraction, CF). All mitochondrial population in permeabilized cells remained intact: the outer membrane was impermeable for exogenous cytochrome c, the acceptor control index of respiration exceeded 10, the mitochondrial creatine kinase reaction was fully coupled to the adenine nucleotide translocator. Metabolites were released from mitochondrial fraction (MF) by 2–5% Triton X100. Total cellular pool of free creatine + phosphocreatine (69.6 ± 2.1 nmoles per mg of protein) was found exclusively in CF and was practically absent in MF. When fibers were prepared from perfused rat hearts, cellular distribution of creatine was not dependent on functional state of the heart and only slightly modified by ischemia. It is concluded that there is no stable pool of creatine or phosphocreatine in the mitochondrial matrix in the intact muscle cells, and the total creatine pool is localized in only one macrocompartment – cytoplasm.

2,4 DINITROPHENOL-UNCOUPLING EFFECT ON DELTA PSI IN LIVING HEPATOCYTES DEPENDS ON REDUCING-EQUIVALENT SUPPLY

Mitochondrial uncouplers, such as 2,4 dinitrophenol (DNP), increase the cellular respiration by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi). We show that this respiratory effect can be transient or even prevented in isolated liver cells depending on the exogenous substrate used (dihydroxyacetone vs. octanoate or proline). Moreover the decrease in ATP/ADP ratio induced by DNP is partially restored by addition of octanoate or proline. By using rhodamine 123 (Rh123) monitored by flow cytometry in living hepatocytes, we were able to follow in time delta psi in such DNP-uncoupled cells incubated with various substrates. The ability of this method to evaluate delta psi changes was assessed by using myxothiazol (3.6 microM), an inhibitor of the b-c1 complex of the respiratory chain which decreased delta psi (65%), or oligomycin (6 microg/ml), an inhibitor of the F0F1-ATPase which increased it (50%). Although DNP induced a dose-dependent decrease of delta psi, we found that octanoate or proline addition prevented such effect. We propose that octanoate or proline may counteract the uncoupling effect of DNP by providing a high supply of reducing equivalents to the respiratory chain.

Is oxygen supply sufficient to induce normoxic conditions in isolated rat heart

SummaryThe aim of this study is to assess whether oxygen supply is sufficient to induce normoxic conditions in isolated rat hearts. Hearts are perfused with a Krebs medium supplemented with 11mM glucose, 0.6 mM lactate, 0.06 mM pyruvate, non delipidated albumin (0.1 mM fatty acids), and either 1.78 mM or 0.76 mM free calcium, at 10ml.min−1. Graded hypoxia is induced by a stepwise decrease of partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) from 660 to 52 mmHg. Contractile performance, oxygen uptake and lactate plus pyruvate balance are assessed. With high calcium, left ventricular developed pressure, dP/dt max and oxygen uptake increase linearly with PO2 up to 660 mmHg; heart rate increases with PO2 up to 250 mmHg and then tends to stabilize. With low calcium, all parameters reach a plateau over 400 mmHg. Lactate plus pyruvate production suggests a stimulation of glycolysis with high calcium, even at 660 mmHg; conversely, there is no lactate plus pyruvate production with low calcium over 250 mmHg. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that, under a high level of calcium at a constant flow of 10 ml.min−1, cardiac function is always limited by O2 supply, except for heart rate. This raises the question as to the definition of a normoxic state. The better preservation of heart rate during hypoxia, compared to other dynamic parameters, could be explained by a contribution of glycolytic ATP.

The intramyocardial fate of [1-14C] palmitate, iodopalmitate and iodophenylpentadecanoate in isolated rat hearts. A contribution to the choice of an iodinated fatty acid as a tracer of myocardial metabolism

Labeled iodinated fatty acids (FAs) have been proposed to explore myocardial metabolism by external detection in man. We have chosen a 16-carbon FA, iodinated in omega position, whereas other authors use an iodophenylated FA. To explore the influence of the presence of an iodine or of an iodophenyl radical on the metabolism of the FA, we have compared, in isolated rat hearts perfused in a recirculating system, the intramyocardial fate of palmitate (PA), iodopalmitate (IPA), and iodophenylpentadecanoate (IPPA), the 3 of them being labeled with C14 in position 1. The addition of the iodine atom brings about a hindrance to the esterification of the FA into triglycerides, but not modification of the myocardial uptake and of the CO2 produced. The addition of the iodophenyl radical impairs both the FA storage and its oxidation, leading to a very high level of free FA. The phospholipid distribution is also modified. Apart from their myocardial use in the isolated rat heart, the 3 FAs were assayed in vitro as a substrate for acylCoA-synthase. As IPA more closely mimics native FA metabolism, it is therefore more suitable than IPPA as a tracer of myocardial metabolism.

Intramyocardial fate of 15-p-iodophenyl-?-methylpentadecanoic acid (IMPPA): Is it a good tracer of fatty acid myocardial uptake?

Iodinated fatty acids (FAs) are now used in Nuclear Medicine to assess, by external detection, myocardial metabolism. Methylated FAs have been proposed as tracers of FA myocardial uptake. IMPPA is a new FA analogue in which a methyl group have been introduced in β position to inhibit β-oxidation and a terminal phenyl group prevents a possible omega oxidation. We have compared the intramyocardial behaviour of this FA with the 15-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (IPPA), the straight chain analogue, and with the 15-phenyl-β-methylpentadecanoic acid (MPPA), the 3 of them being labelled with C14 on the carboxyl group, in isolated rat hearts perfused in a recirculating system.

Effect of exogenous adenosine and monensin on glycolytic flux in isolated perfused normoxic rat hearts: Role of pyruvate kinase

We studied the effect of exogenous adenosine in isolated perfused normoxic rat hearts on glycolytic flux through pyruvate kinase (PK). We compared its effect with that of myxothiazol, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP production. Moreover, we tested whether an increase of membrane ionic flux with monensin is linked to a stimulation of glycolytic flux through PK. After a 20-min stabilization period adenosine, myxothiazol or monensin were administrated to the perfusate continuously at various concentrations during 10 min. The contraction was monitored and the lactate production in coronary effluents evaluated. The amount of adenine nucleotides and phosphoenolpyruvate was measured in the frozen hearts. Myxothiazol induced a decrease of the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP : −40%) together with a stimulation of glycolytic flux secondary to PK activation. In contrast, adenosine primarily reduced heart rate (HR: −30%) with only marginal effects on LVDP. This was associated with an inhibition of glycolysis at the level of PK. The Na+ ionophore monensin affected HR (+14%) and LVDP (+25%). This effect was associated with a stimulation of glycolysis secondary to the stimulation of PK. These results provide new information of action of adenosine in the heart and support the concept of a direct coupling between glycolysis and process regulating sarcolemmal ionic fluxes.

An experimental model of hypoxia on isolated rat heart, in a recirculating system: Study of fatty acid metabolism with an iodinated fatty acid

An experimental model of hypoxia was developed on isolated rat heart to study the effects of hypoxia on cardiac performance and metabolism. Fatty acid (FA) metabolism was explored by external detection with a labelled FA, iodohexadecenoic acid (IHA). Hearts, after 30 min preperfusion in an open system, were transferred in a recirculating system for 40 min and perfused with oleate, glucose, lactate, pyruvate and IHA, either in normoxia (pO2 = 660 mmHg) or in hypoxia (pO2 = 220 mmHg). After 40 min hypoxic recirculation, oxygen uptake and dynamic parameters, except the heart rate, decreased respectively by 56% and 44%, and remained constant throughout the perfusion. Glucose utilization increased 2 fold, endogenous glycogen fell by 50% and lactate + pyruvate production increased 3 fold, showing a stimulation of glycolysis. Oleate uptake decreased by 28%, while triglycerides content remained higher. The ATP/ADP ratio decreased by 24%. Conversely to oleate, IHA uptake was not significantly modified, but its intracellular fate showed a higher radioactivity in all lipid fractions: polar lipids, diglycerides, free FAs and triglycerides. beta oxidation of IHA, evidenced by iodide production, decreased by 39%. The external detection of cardiac radioactivity allowed us to obtain time-activity curves that were analyzed with a 4-compartment mathematical model. The data evidenced an esterification ratio significantly higher in hypoxia. The metabolism of IHA as estimated by the intracellular analysis or, in a non-invasive way, by external detection, was similar to the metabolism of oleate. Thus, lipid metabolism, in hypoxia, can be explored by external detection with IHA.

Assessment of iodohexadecenoic acid as a tracer of fatty acid metabolism by external detection: a study on isolated rat heart

Labelled fatty acids have been proposed to explore cardiac metabolism. For the analysis of the external detection curve obtained with 16-iodo 9-hexadecenoic acid (IHA), we developed a mathematical 4-compartment model with compartments 0, 1, 2 and 3 representing vascular IHA, intracellular IHA, esterified forms and iodide, respectively. This model, used here for isolated rat hearts perfused in a recirculating system, is validated by an intracellular analysis, then tested in various metabolic conditions. Thus, the mathematical analysis of the external detection curve gives us numerical data on IHA metabolism, especially the distribution between degradation and storage. Our results confirm the suitability of IHA for assessing myocardial metabolism.