Mayumi Yamato

Overexpression of Mitochondrial Peroxiredoxin-3 Prevents Left Ventricular Remodeling and Failure After Myocardial Infarction in Mice

Background— Mitochondrial oxidative stress and damage play major roles in the development and progression of left ventricular (LV) remodeling and failure after myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that overexpression of the mitochondrial antioxidant, peroxiredoxin-3 (Prx-3), could attenuate this deleterious process. Methods and Results— We created MI in 12- to 16-week-old, male Prx-3–transgenic mice (TG+MI, n=37) and nontransgenic wild-type mice (WT+MI, n=39) by ligating the left coronary artery. Prx-3 protein levels were 1.8 times higher in the hearts from TG than WT mice, with no significant changes in other antioxidant enzymes. At 4 weeks after MI, LV thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances in the mitochondria were significantly lower in TG+MI than in WT+MI mice (mean±SEM, 1.5±0.2 vs 2.2±0.2 nmol/mg protein; n=8 each, P<0.05). LV cavity dilatation and dysfunction were attenuated in TG+MI compared with WT+MI mice, with no significant differences in infarct size (56±1% vs 55±1%; n=6 each, P=NS) and aortic pressure between groups. Mean LV end-diastolic pressures and lung weights in TG+MI mice were also larger than those in WT+sham-operated mice but smaller than those in WT+MI mice. Improvement in LV function in TG+MI mice was accompanied by a decrease in myocyte hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and apoptosis in the noninfarcted LV. Mitochondrial DNA copy number and complex enzyme activities were significantly decreased in WT+MI mice, and this decrease was also ameliorated in TG+MI mice. Conclusions— Overexpression of Prx-3 inhibited LV remodeling and failure after MI. Therapies designed to interfere with mitochondrial oxidative stress including the antioxidant Prx-3 might be beneficial in preventing cardiac failure.

Reverse of Age-Dependent Memory Impairment and Mitochondrial DNA Damage in Microglia by an Overexpression of Human Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A in Mice

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is highly susceptible to injury induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). During aging, mutations of mtDNA accumulate to induce dysfunction of the respiratory chain, resulting in the enhanced ROS production. Therefore, age-dependent memory impairment may result from oxidative stress derived from the respiratory chain. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is now known to have roles not only in the replication of mtDNA but also its maintenance. We herein report that an overexpression of TFAM in HeLa cells significantly inhibited rotenone-induced mitochondrial ROS generation and the subsequent NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB) nuclear translocation. Furthermore, TFAM transgenic (TG) mice exhibited a prominent amelioration of an age-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and a decline in the activities of complexes I and IV in the brain. In the aged TG mice, deficits of the motor learning memory, the working memory, and the hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) were also significantly improved. The expression level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and mtDNA damages, which were predominantly found in microglia, significantly decreased in the aged TG mice. The IL-1β amount markedly increased in the brain of the TG mice after treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), whereas its mean amount was significantly lower than that of the LPS-treated aged wild-type mice. At the same time, an increased mtDNA damage in microglia and an impaired hippocampal LTP were also observed in the LPS-treated aged TG mice. Together, an overexpression of TFAM is therefore considered to ameliorate age-dependent impairment of the brain functions through the prevention of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions in microglia.

Ultrahighly sensitive in situ metabolomic imaging for visualizing spatiotemporal metabolic behaviors

A sensitive and simultaneous analytical technique for visualizing multiple endogenous molecules is now strongly required in biological science. Here, we show the applicability of a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) system for getting chemically diverse metabolite profiles on a single-mammalian cell. This ultrahighly sensitive MALDI-MS technique enabled a spatially resolved detection of a broad range of metabolites including nucleotides, cofactors, phosphorylated sugars, amino acids, lipids, and carboxylic acids in normal mouse brain tissue with their unique distributions. Furthermore, a combination of MS imaging and metabolic pathway analysis of a rat transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model visualized a spatiotemporal behavior of metabolites in the central metabolic pathway regulated by an ischemia reperfusion. These findings highlight potential applications of an in situ metabolomic imaging technique to visualize spatiotemporal dynamics of the tissue metabolome, which will facilitate biological discovery in both preclinical and clinical settings.

Noninvasive assessment of the brain redox status after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion using Overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the cell death that occurs after ischemia–reperfusion of the brain, which causes the production of reactive oxygen species and a decrease in antioxidants, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the invasive methods used to collect much of this evidence are themselves stress inducing, which could skew the results. In this study, we aimed at demonstrating brain redox alterations after ischemia–reperfusion noninvasively, using Overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The reduction rate of 3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-l-oxyl (methoxycarbonyl-PROXYL), a redox-sensitive contrast agent, was used as an index of the redox status in vivo. No changes were observed in the antioxidant concentration, the mitochondrial complex activity, or in the redox status image intensity after 3 h of reperfusion, following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion; however, after 24 h of reperfusion, the methoxycarbonyl-PROXYL reduction rate, calculated from continuous images, had decreased significantly. Concordantly, biochemical assays showed that the concentration of ascorbic acid in the ischemic hemisphere and the activity of mitochondrial complex II had also decreased. Thus, the noninvasive imaging of the brain redox alterations faithfully reflected changes in antioxidant levels and in mitochondrial complex II activity after ischemia–reperfusion.

Systemic Oxidative Stress Is Associated With Lower Aerobic Capacity and Impaired Skeletal Muscle Energy Metabolism in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE Systemic oxidative stress is associated with insulin resistance and obesity. We tested the hypothesis that systemic oxidative stress is linked to lower aerobic capacity and skeletal muscle dysfunction in metabolic syndrome (MetS). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The incremental exercise testing with cycle ergometer was performed in 14 male patients with MetS and 13 age-, sex-, and activity-matched healthy subjects. Systemic lipid peroxidation was assessed by serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and systemic antioxidant defense capacity was assessed by serum total thiols and enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). To assess skeletal muscle energy metabolism, we measured high-energy phosphates in the calf muscle during plantar flexion exercise and intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) in the resting leg muscle, using 31P- and 1proton-magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. RESULTS Serum TBARS were elevated (12.4 ± 7.1 vs. 3.7 ± 1.1 μmol/L; P < 0.01), and serum total thiols and SOD activity were decreased (290.8 ± 51.2 vs. 398.7 ± 105.2 μmol/L, P < 0.01; and 22.2 ± 8.4 vs. 31.5 ± 8.5 units/L, P < 0.05, respectively) in patients with MetS compared with healthy subjects. Peak VO2 and anaerobic threshold normalized to body weight were significantly lower in MetS patients by 25 and 31%, respectively, and inversely correlated with serum TBARS (r = −0.49 and r = −0.50, respectively). Moreover, muscle phosphocreatine loss during exercise was 1.4-fold greater in patients with MetS (P < 0.05), and IMCL content was 2.9-fold higher in patients with MetS (P < 0.01), indicating impaired skeletal muscle energy metabolism, and these indices positively correlated with serum TBARS (r = 0.45 and r = 0.63, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Systemic oxidative stress was associated with lower aerobic capacity and impaired skeletal muscle energy metabolism in patients with MetS.

Fatty acids increase the circulating levels of oxidative stress factors in mice with diet‐induced obesity via redox changes of albumin

Plasma concentrations of free fatty acids are increased in metabolic syndrome, and the increased fatty acids may cause cellular damage via the induction of oxidative stress. The present study was designed to determine whether the increase in fatty acids can modify the free sulfhydryl group in position 34 of albumin (Cys34) and enhance the redox‐cycling activity of the copper–albumin complex in high‐fat diet‐induced obese mice. The mice were fed with commercial normal diet or high‐fat diet and water ad libitum for 3 months. The high‐fat diet‐fed mice developed obesity, hyperlipemia, and hyperglycemia. The plasma fatty acid/albumin ratio also significantly increased in high‐fat diet‐fed mice. The increased fatty acid/albumin ratio was associated with conformational changes in albumin and the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups. Moreover, an ascorbic acid radical, an index of redox‐cycling activity of the copper–albumin complex, was detected only in the plasma from obese mice, whereas the plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid were not altered. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were significantly increased in the high‐fat diet group. These results indicate that the increased plasma fatty acids in the high‐fat diet group resulted in the activated redox cycling of the copper–albumin complex and excessive lipid peroxidation.

Rapid and convenient detection of ascorbic acid using a fluorescent nitroxide switch

Ascorbic acid is a small-molecule reductant with multiple functions in vivo. Reducing ascorbic acid intake leads to a lack of hydroxylation of prolines and lysines, causing a looser triple helix and resulting in scurvy. Ascorbic acid also acts as an antioxidant to prevent oxidative stress. Because ascorbic acid is related to disease states, rapid and convenient detection of ascorbic acid should be useful in diagnosis. Nitroxide is reduced to the corresponding hydroxylamine by ascorbic acid and a sensitive and novel approach to its detection employs covalent coupling of nitroxide with a fluorophore, leading to intramolecular quenching of fluorescence emission by electron-exchange interactions. Here, we developed a new fluorophore-nitroxide probe, Naph-DiPy nitroxide, for ascorbic acid. Naph-DiPy nitroxide rapidly reacted with ascorbic acid and showed fluorescence enhancement, but not in response to other reductants or reactive oxygen species. To confirm the practical usefulness of the fluorophore-nitroxide probe, we demonstrated the use of Naph-DiPy nitroxide for the measurement of ascorbic acid in the plasma of osteogenic disorder Shionogi rats when fed an ascorbic acid-deficient diet. The results suggest that this novel fluorophore-nitroxide probe could sensitively and easily detect ascorbic acid and be useful as a tool for the diagnosis of disease states.

In vivo evaluation of novel nitroxyl radicals with reduction stability

Nitroxyl radicals (nitroxide) have great potential advantages as spin probes, antioxidants, contrast agents, and radiation-protecting agents. However, they are readily reduced by reductants in cells and lose their paramagnetic nature. Recently, tetraethyl-substituted nitroxyl radicals have been reported to have high stability toward reduction by ascorbic acid (AsA). We report the general considerations of tetraethyl nitroxyl radicals for in vivo application. The reason for the low reactivity to AsA reduction was the positive value of Gibbs energy between the tetraethyl nitroxyl radical and AsA. Further, these compounds had an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation despite having AsA resistance. They had low antiproliferative effects in HepG2 cells and HUVECs and did not have a lowering effect on blood pressure in animals. Further, after intravenous injection, the ESR signal intensities of tetraethyl-substituted piperidine nitroxyl radicals were very stable in mice over 20 min. These results suggest that tetraethyl-substituted nitroxyl radicals have stability against bioreduction with reductants such as AsA and confer onto them features as antioxidants and paramagnetic tracers/contrast agents. Hence, they will be useful in identifying the foci of oxidative stress in vivo using redox-based imaging approaches.

In vivo imaging of mitochondrial function in methamphetamine-treated rats

Abuse of the powerfully addictive psychostimulant, methamphetamine, occurs worldwide. Recent studies have suggested that methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity is related to oxidative stress. In response to nerve activation, the mitochondrial respiratory chain is rapidly activated. The enhancement of mitochondrial respiratory chain activation may induce oxidative stress in the brain. However, there is little experimental evidence regarding the mitochondrial function after methamphetamine administration in vivo. Here, we evaluated whether a single administration of methamphetamine induces ATP consumption and overactivation of mitochondria. We measured mitochondrial function in two different ways: by monitoring oxygen partial pressure using an oxygen-selective electrode, and by imaging of redox reactions using a nitroxyl radical (i.e., nitroxide) coupled with Overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OMRI). A single administration of methamphetamine to Wistar rats induced dopaminergic nerve activation, ATP consumption and an increase in mitochondrial respiratory chain function in both the striatum and cortex. Furthermore, antioxidant TEMPOL prevented the increase in mitochondrial oxidative damage and methamphetamine-induced sensitization. These findings suggest that energy-supplying reactions after dopaminergic nerve activation are associated with oxidative stress in both the striatum and cortex, leading to abnormal behavior.

Integrated MALDI-MS imaging and LC–MS techniques for visualizing spatiotemporal metabolomic dynamics in a rat stroke model

Spatiotemporal information about biomolecules is indispensable for precise pathological analysis, but it remains largely unclear. Here we show a novel analytical platform combing mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) with its complementary technique, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), to elucidate more comprehensive metabolic behaviors, with spatiotemporal information, in tissues. Analysis of a rat transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) brain tissue after ischemia–reperfusion was performed to characterize the detailed metabolomic response to pathological alterations. To compare the spatially resolved metabolic state between ischemic and contralateral hemispheres of the MCAO brain, coronally sliced tissues were subjected to MSI. We also measured the metabolites extracted from three different cerebral regions, including whole cortex (CTX), hippocampus (HI) and corpus striatum (CPu), by LC–MS. In the ischemic hemisphere, significant metabolic changes at the CTX and CPu were observed after reperfusion, while not at the HI. A region-specific metabolic behavior was observed in amino acid and nucleotide metabolism, as well as in the TCA cycle. Correlation between MSI and LC–MS data was relatively high in the CTX and CPu. Combination of both MS platforms visualized the diverse spatiotemporal metabolic dynamics during pathological progress. Thus, our proposed strategy will contribute to the understanding of the complex pathogenesis of ischemia–reperfusion.