Both ANT and ATPase are essential for mitochondrial permeability transition but not depolarization.

An increase in permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane, mitochondrial permeability transition (PT), is the central event responsible for cell death and tissue damage in conditions such as stroke and heart attack. PT is caused by the cyclosporin A (CSA)-dependent calcium-induced pore, the permeability transition pore (PTP). The molecular details of PTP are incompletely understood. We utilized holographic and fluorescent microscopy to assess the contribution of ATP synthase and adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) toward PTP. In cells lacking either ATP synthase or ANT, we observed CSA-sensitive membrane depolarization, but not high-conductance PTP. In wild-type cells, calcium-induced CSA-sensitive depolarization preceded opening of PTP, which occurred only after nearly complete mitochondrial membrane depolarization. We propose that both ATP synthase and ANT are required for high-conductance PTP but not depolarization, which presumably occurs through activation of the low-conductance PT, which has a molecular nature that is different from both complexes.

Electrophysiological properties of the mitochondrial permeability transition pores: Channel diversity and disease implication.

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is a channel that, when open, is responsible for a dramatic increase in the permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane, a process known as the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT). mPTP activation during Ca2+ dyshomeostasis and oxidative stress disrupts normal mitochondrial function and induces cell death. mPTP opening has been implicated as a critical event in many diseases, including hypoxic injuries, neurodegeneration, and diabetes. Discoveries of recent years indicate that mPTP demonstrates very complicated behavior and regulation, and depending on specific induction or stress conditions, it can function as a high-conductance pore, a small channel, or a non-specific membrane leak. The focus of this review is to summarize the literature on the electrophysiological properties of the mPTP and to evaluate the evidence that it has multiple molecular identities. This review also provides perspective on how an electrophysiological approach can be used to quantitatively investigate the biophysical properties of the mPTP under physiological, pharmacological, pathophysiological, and disease conditions.

Mitochondrial permeability transition pore induction is linked to formation of the complex of ATPase C-subunit, polyhydroxybutyrate and inorganic polyphosphate.

Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening allows free movement of ions and small molecules leading to mitochondrial membrane depolarization and ATP depletion that triggers cell death. A multi-protein complex of the mitochondrial ATP synthase has an essential role in mPTP. However, the molecular identity of the central 'pore' part of mPTP complex is not known. A highly purified fraction of mammalian mitochondria containing C-subunit of ATPase (C-subunit), calcium, inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) forms ion channels with properties that resemble the native mPTP. We demonstrate here that amount of this channel-forming complex dramatically increases in intact mitochondria during mPTP activation. This increase is inhibited by both Cyclosporine A, an inhibitor of mPTP and Ruthenium Red, an inhibitor of the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter. Similar increases in the amount of complex formation occurs in areas of mouse brain damaged by ischemia-reperfusion injury. These findings suggest that calcium-induced mPTP is associated with de novo assembly of a channel comprising C-subunit, polyP and PHB.

Contribution of inorganic polyphosphate towards regulation of mitochondrial free calcium.

BACKGROUND: Calcium signaling plays a key role in the regulation of multiple processes in mammalian mitochondria, from cellular bioenergetics to the induction of stress-induced cell death. While the total concentration of calcium inside the mitochondria can increase by several orders of magnitude, the concentration of bioavailable free calcium in mitochondria is maintained within the micromolar range by the mitochondrial calcium buffering system. This calcium buffering system involves the participation of inorganic phosphate. However, the mechanisms of its function are not yet understood. Specifically, it is not clear how calcium-orthophosphate interactions, which normally lead to formation of insoluble precipitates, are capable to dynamically regulate free calcium concentration. Here we test the hypothesis that inorganic polyphosphate, which is a polymerized form of orthophosphate, is capable to from soluble complexes with calcium, playing a significant role in the regulation of the mitochondrial free calcium concentration. METHODS: We used confocal fluorescence microscopy to measure the relative levels of mitochondrial free calcium in cultured hepatoma cells (HepG2) with variable levels of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP). RESULTS: The depletion of polyP leads to the significantly lower levels of mitochondrial free calcium concentration under conditions of pathological calcium overload. These results are coherent with previous observations showing that inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) can inhibit calcium-phosphate precipitation and, thus, increase the amount of free calcium. CONCLUSIONS: Inorganic polyphosphate plays an important role in the regulation of mitochondrial free calcium, leading to its significant increase. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Inorganic polyphosphate is a previously unrecognized integral component of the mitochondrial calcium buffering system.

Synergistic neuroprotection by epicatechin and quercetin: Activation of convergent mitochondrial signaling pathways.

In view of evidence that increased consumption of epicatechin (E) and quercetin (Q) may reduce the risk of stroke, we have measured the effects of combining E and Q on mitochondrial function and neuronal survival following oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Relative to mouse cortical neuron cultures pretreated (24h) with either E or Q (0.1-10µM), E+Q synergistically attenuated OGD-induced neuronal cell death. E, Q and E+Q (0.3µM) increased spare respiratory capacity but only E+Q (0.3µM) preserved this crucial parameter of neuronal mitochondrial function after OGD. These improvements were accompanied by corresponding increases in cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and the expression of CREB-target genes that promote neuronal survival (Bcl-2) and mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α). Consistent with these findings, E+Q (0.1 and 1.0µM) elevated mitochondrial gene expression (MT-ND2 and MT-ATP6) to a greater extent than E or Q after OGD. Q (0.3-3.0µM), but not E (3.0µM), elevated cytosolic calcium (Ca(2+)) spikes and the mitochondrial membrane potential. Conversely, E and E+Q (0.1 and 0.3µM), but not Q (0.1 and 0.3µM), activated protein kinase B (Akt). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition with L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (1.0µM) blocked neuroprotection by E (0.3µM) or Q (1.0µM). Oral administration of E+Q (75mg/kg; once daily for 5days) reduced hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. These findings suggest E and Q activate Akt- and Ca(2+)-mediated signaling pathways that converge on NOS and CREB resulting in synergistic improvements in neuronal mitochondrial performance which confer profound protection against ischemic injury.

[Peculiarities of diagnosis and surgical policy in elderly patients with pathological tortuosity of the internal carotid artery].

The study was aimed at optimizing surgical treatment management of elderly patients presenting with pathological tortuosity of the internal carotid artery (ICA). We examined a total of 94 patients with unilateral haemodynamically significant tortuosity of the ICA. Depending on the age, the patients were subdivided into two groups: Group One comprising forty-six (49%) 50-to-60-year-old patients and Group Two consisting of 48 (51%) patients above 60 years (from 61 to 84 years). 37% of patients had were found to have pathological tortuosity combined with haemodynamically significant ICA stenosis. In these patients linear blood velocity in the zone of the largest deformation was by 15% less than in patients with isolated tortuosity (p<0.05). All patients underwent reconstructive operations of carotid arteries with a good clinical effect. A combination of stenosis and pathological tortuosity of the ICA was treated by eversion carotid endarterectomy with lowering down and reimplantation of the artery into the previous ostium; microaneurysms present in the ICA wall were managed by resection of the artery's portion with autovenous prosthetic repair or bringing down the artery into the previous ostium. In 77% of patients above 60 years the operation was carried out under regional anaesthesia. According to the findings of duplex scanning, rectilinearity of the ICA after surgery was restored in 100% of cases, blood flow was of major type, with no turbulence registered. It was demonstrated that surgical management of elderly patients with pathological tortuosity is an effective method of prevention of ischaemic stroke. The complications rate in patients presenting with combined atherosclerotic lesions of the ICA and its pathological tortuosity, should adequate surgical policy be employed, falls within the framework of the accepted standards and does not depend on the type of ICA lesion.

A novel, high conductance channel of mitochondria linked to apoptosis in mammalian cells and Bax expression in yeast.

During apoptosis, proapoptotic factors are released from mitochondria by as yet undefined mechanisms. Patch-clamping of mitochondria and proteoliposomes formed from mitochondrial outer membranes of mammalian (FL5.12) cells has uncovered a novel ion channel whose activity correlates with onset of apoptosis. The pore diameter inferred from the largest conductance state of this channel is approximately 4 nm, sufficient to allow diffusion of cytochrome c and even larger proteins. The activity of the channel is affected by Bcl-2 family proteins in a manner consistent with their pro- or antiapoptotic properties. Thus, the channel activity correlates with presence of proapoptotic Bax in the mitochondrial outer membrane and is absent in mitochondria from cells overexpressing antiapoptotic Bcl-2. Also, a similar channel activity is found in mitochondrial outer membranes of yeast expressing human Bax. These findings implicate this channel, named mitochondrial apoptosis-induced channel, as a candidate for the outer-membrane pore through which cytochrome c and possibly other factors exit mitochondria during apoptosis.

[Respiratory insufficiency in adults with diphtheric polyneuropathy]. / Dykhatel'naia nedostatochnost' pri difteriinoi polineiropatii u vzroslykh.

Twenty-five adult patients with grave diphtheric polyneuropathy after toxic diphtheria were followed up. Two symptom complexes of neurologic disorders leading to the development of peripheral respiratory failure of different severity were distinguished: 1) predominating glossopharyngeal paralysis and 2) combination of glossopharyngeal paralysis with grave generalized sensorimotor polyneuropathy (with pareses and paralyses of the respiratory muscles). The major quantitative parameters of pulmonary functions associated with various manifestations of respiratory failure are characterized. The significance of information on the type of dysfunction of vocal cords is emphasized. A high efficacy of a complex of respiratory reanimation used in the treatment of patients with peripheral respiratory failure is demonstrated.