Tumor necrosis factor-α impairs oligodendroglial differentiation through a mitochondria-dependent process.

Mitochondrial defects, affecting parameters such as mitochondrial number and shape, levels of respiratory chain complex components and markers of oxidative stress, have been associated with the appearance and progression of multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, mitochondrial physiology has never been monitored during oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) differentiation, especially in OPCs challenged with proinflammatory cytokines. Here, we show that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibits OPC differentiation, accompanied by altered mitochondrial calcium uptake, mitochondrial membrane potential, and respiratory complex I activity as well as increased reactive oxygen species production. Treatment with a mitochondrial uncoupler (FCCP) to mimic mitochondrial impairment also causes cells to accumulate at the progenitor stage. Interestingly, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) levels increase during TNF-α exposure and inhibit OPC differentiation. Overall, our data indicate that TNF-α induces metabolic changes, driven by mitochondrial impairment and AMPK activation, leading to the inhibition of OPC differentiation.

Ciprofloxacin inhibits proliferation and promotes generation of aneuploidy in Jurkat cells.

Ciprofloxacin is widely used in antimicrobial therapy. However it also inhibits mitochondrial topoisomerase II and therefore affects cellular energy metabolism. At a concentration exceeding 80 microg/ml ciprofloxacin induces apoptosis, while at 25 microg/ml it inhibits proliferation of Jurkat cells without any symptoms of cell death. The aim of this study was to explain the mechanisms of ciprofloxacin-evoked perturbations of the cell cycle. Human lymphoidal cells (Jurkat) were exposed to ciprofloxacin (25 microg/ml) for 4-11 days and effects of the drug on cell proliferation (light microscopy), cell cycle (flow cytometry), cell size and morphology (confocal microscopy) as well as number of chromosomes (chromosomal spread analysis) were investigated. Exposition of Jurkat cells to ciprofloxacin inhibited cell proliferation,increased proportion of cells in the G2/M-phase of the cell cycle, compromised formation of the mitotic spindle and induced aneuploidy. These observations indicate that ciprofloxacin applied at concentrations insufficient for induction of apoptosis may stop cell proliferation by inhibition of mitosis. Chromosomal instability of such cells may, at least potentially, increase a risk of cancer development.

Age-related changes in levels of p66Shc and serine 36-phosphorylated p66Shc in organs and mouse tissues.

Mammalian life span can be controlled by p66Shc protein through regulation of cellular response to oxidative stress. We investigated age-related changes in the amount of p66Shc and its Ser36-phosphorylated form in various mouse organs and tissues and correlated it with the level of antioxidant enzymes. Comparing to the newborn, in adult 6-month-old mice, the level of p66Shc was increased particularly in liver, lungs, skin and diaphragm. In older animals the level of p66Shc decreased while signaling pathway responsible for Ser36 phosphorylation of p66Shc protein seemed to be continually enhanced. The amount of p66Shc phosphorylated at Ser36, significantly increased with age, resulted in higher free radical production and, in consequence accumulation of damages caused by free radicals. The increased amount of Ser36-phosphorylated p66Shc in livers of 12- and 23-month-old mice was correlated with the decreased level of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, we found that p66Shc is a resident of mitochondria- and plasma membrane-associated membranes and that its level there depends on the age of animal.

Mitochondrial uncoupling does not influence the stability of the intracellular signal activating plasma membrane calcium channels.

The effects of various concentrations of thapsigargin, a specific inhibitor of Ca2+-ATPase in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, on calcium homeostasis in lymphoidal T cells (Jurkat) were investigated. Preincubation of these cells suspended in nominally calcium-free medium with 0.1 microM thapsigargin resulted in a complete release of Ca2+ from intracellular calcium stores. When the medium was supplemented with 3 mM CaCl2 the cells maintained constantly elevated level of cytosolic Ca2+. However, thapsigargin applied at lower concentration produced only a partial depletion of the stores. For example, in the cells pretreated with 1 nM thapsigargin and suspended in calcium-free medium approximately 75% of the calcium content was released from the intracellular stores. The addition of 3 mM CaCl2 to such cell suspension led to a transient increase in cytosolic calcium concentration, followed by a return to a lower steady-state. This phenomenon, related to the refilling of the ER by Ca2+, allowed to estimate the half-time for the process of cell recovery after activation of store-operated calcium channels. By this approach we have found that carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, which has been documented to inhibit calcium entry into Jurkat cells, does not influence the stability of the intracellular signal involved in the activation of store-operated calcium channels.

Abnormal calcium homeostasis in fibroblasts from patients with Leigh disease.

Recently, we reported that in various cell lines under conditions of deenergization of the mitochondrial membrane, the release of Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) does not produce the expected activation of store-operated calcium channels (SOCs) in the plasma membrane. In the present work, we examined the activation of SOCs in fibroblasts derived from three patients with Leigh disease (LS). We identified mutations in the SURF-1 gene in all these cells. Consequently, cytochrome oxidase (COX) deficiency was found in all these (LS(COX)) cell lines and, thus, the main mitochondrial mechanism of generation of the electrochemical proton gradient on the mitochondrial membrane was naturally depressed. We demonstrated that, in untreated LS(COX) fibroblasts, the rate of Ca(2+)-inflow through SOCs was low compared to the fibroblasts from healthy individuals even after thapsigargin-induced maximal release of Ca(2+) from the ER. Moreover, the pretreatment of LS(COX) fibroblasts with a protonophore did not modify this rate. Thus, in LS(COX) fibroblasts, the activation of SOCs was naturally impaired. Our findings suggest that altered calcium metabolism, apart from severe energy production failure, may also contribute to developing pathological conditions in patients with COX-deficient Leigh disease related to SURF-1 gene mutation.

The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in regulation of store-operated calcium channels in glioma C6 and human fibroblast cells.

The store-operated calcium influx into electrically non-excitable cells is greatly modified under the condition of deenergized mitochondria in situ. The rate of calcium influx into cells with empty intracellular calcium stores is greatly diminished when cells were pretreated with 2 microM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (a mitochondrial uncoupler) or with 4 microM myxothiazol (an inhibitor of the respiratory chain). We demonstrate that this general phenomenon takes place in the case of transformed (glioma C6 and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells) as well as non-transformed (human fibroblasts) cells. We also demonstrate that the deenergization of mitochondria affects the cellular calcium influx rate and not the calcium pump on the plasma membrane.

The role of mitochondria in the regulation of calcium influx into Jurkat cells.

In electrically nonexcitable cells the activity of the plasma membrane calcium channels is controlled by events occurring in mitochondria, as well as in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. Thapsigargin, a specific inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, produces the release of calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum and thus, activation of store-operated calcium channels in the plasma membrane. However, thapsigargin failed to produce significant activation of the channels in Jurkat cells that had been pretreated with mitochondria-directed agents: an uncoupler (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone) and oligomycin. This is in spite of the fact that Jurkat cells pretreated with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone plus oligomycin are otherwise energetically competent, due to a high rate of glycolysis and the inhibition of mitochondrial F1Fo-ATPase by oligomycin. The pool of intracellular ATP was found not to be influenced by the pretreatments of cells with oligomycin or with oligomycin plus carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. In the control cells, we found that the ATP pool amounted to 23.2 +/- 1.9 nmoles per 107 cells (n = 4). In cells pretreated with oligomycin the level of ATP was 21.8 +/- 1.9 nmoles per 107 cells (n = 4), and in cells pretreated with both oligomycin and an uncoupler the level of ATP was 22.1 +/- 0.2 nmoles per 107 cells (n = 3). Moreover, in cells pretreated with oligomycin plus carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and suspended in a nominally calcium-free medium, thapsigargin produces transient increases in cytosolic calcium identical to those in the control cells. Thus, this pretreatment does not modify either the content of intracellular calcium stores and/or the activity of calcium ATPase in the plasma membrane. Similar results were obtained when Jurkat cells were challenged by myxothiazol, a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 oxidoreductase. Thapsigargin, although producing calcium release from intracellular stores, was ineffective in triggering the activation of calcium channels in the plasma membrane in the case of cells pretreated with myxothiazol and oligomycin. Our results suggest that coupled mitochondria participate directly in the control of calcium channel activity in the plasma membrane of Jurkat cells. When the mitochondrial protonmotive force is collapsed, either by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone or myxothiazol, the channel remains inactive even under conditions of empty intracellular calcium stores.

Participation of phospholipase A2 isoforms in the control of calcium influx into electrically non-excitable cells.

The participation of phospholipase A2 isoforms in capacitative store-operated Ca2+ influx into Jurkat leukemic T and MDCK cells was investigated. Preincubation of Jurkat cells with either bromophenacyl bromide (an inhibitor of secreted phospholipase A2, sPLA2) or Helss (an inhibitor of calcium independent phospholipase A2--iPLA2) resulted in a significant inhibition of the calcium influx. The extent of this inhibition depended on the pH of the extracellular millieu; it increased with alkalisation. The rate of Ca2+ influx into MDCK cells was reduced by bromophenacyl bromide. Preincubation of these cells with Helss resulted in the stimulation of the influx. These observations suggest the participation of different PLA2 isoforms in the regulation of Ca2+ influx. They also show that the extent that PLA2 isoforms control the influx depends on the pH of the medium. Finally, these data indicate that various phospholipase A2 isoforms may play a role in the control of Ca2+ influx in different cell lines.

Role of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 in the regulation of calcium influx into Jurkat cells.

The role of phospholipases A2 in calcium metabolism is briefly reviewed. Some data are presented indicating that calcium-independent phospholipase A2 may modify the activity of store-activated calcium channels in the plasma membrane of Jurkat cells. Helss, a specific inhibitor of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 blocks the store-operated signal that is transmitted from ER to the plasma membrane.

Effect of glucose and deoxyglucose on the redistribution of calcium in ehrlich ascites tumour and Zajdela hepatoma cells and its consequences for mitochondrial energetics. Further arguments for the role of Ca(2+) in the mechanism of the crabtree effect.

The distribution of Ca(2+) in intact cells was monitored with fluorescent probes: fura-2 for cytosolic [Ca(2+)] and rhod-2 for mitochondrial [Ca(2+)]. It was found that in neoplastic cells, such as Ehrlich ascites tumour and Zajdela hepatoma, but not in non-malignant cells, such as fibroblasts, glucose and deoxyglucose elicited release of Ca(2+) from endoplasmic reticulum stores and an increase in Ca(2+) concentration in the cytosol. Parallel to this, a decrease in the rate of Ca(2+) extrusion from the cell and an enhanced uptake of Ca(2+) by mitochondria were observed. The increase in mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] was accompanied by an increase in the mitochondrial membrane potential and the reduction state of nicotinamide nucleotides. F(1)F(o)-ATPase in submitochondrial particles of Zajdela hepatoma was strongly inhibited in the presence of micromolar Ca(2+) concentrations, whereas this activity in submitochondrial particles from rat liver appeared to be less sensitive to Ca(2+). Indications of glycosylation of Ehrlich ascites tumour cell proteins were also obtained. These data strengthen the proposal [Bogucka, K., Teplova, V.V., Wojtczak, L. and Evtodienko, Y. V. (1995) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1228, 261-266] that the Crabtree effect is produced by mobilization of cell calcium, which is subsequently taken up by mitochondria and inhibits F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase.

Hormone-regulated Ca2+ channel in rat hepatocytes revealed by whole cell patch clamp.

An inward current responsible for hormone regulated Ca2+ entry has been identified in cultured rat hepatocytes using whole cell patch clamp. Addition of 20 nM vasopressin or of 100 microM ATP induced the inward current, which could be observed more clearly after blocking an outward K+ current. This large outward K+ current, which appeared after addition of vasopressin or ATP, could be blocked either by replacing K+ with Cs+ in the external medium and in the pipette solution, or by simply including 0.5 microM apamin in the K(+)-containing external medium. The outward current appears to be carried by a Ca2+ activated K+ channel. In the presence of apamin, hepatocytes pretreated with vasopressin in a Ca(2+)-free media reveal an inward current on addition of external Ca2+ (5 mM). The current could also be elicited by addition of vasopressin when cells are preincubated in the presence of 5 mM external Ca2+. No current is seen on addition of Ca2+ in the absence of vasopressin. Initially, the inward current was ca 200-300 pA at -60 mV, but it declined rapidly over 3 min to ca 20 pA. The current approached zero, as an asymptote at positive potential, and appeared to be somewhat inwardly rectifying. Additions of 5 mM Mn2+ or 5 mM Ba2+ in place of Ca2+ produced little or no current. An inhibitor of ER Ca(2+)-ATPase, thapsigargin, could also trigger the cascade of events leading to plasma membrane conductance of Ca2+. The data suggest that hormone-stimulated Ca2+ entry into hepatocytes is mediated by a Ca(2+)-release activated channel highly specific for Ca2+. This is the first demonstration of such a channel in hepatocytes, though similar ones have been described in mast cells, in vascular endothelial cells and T-lymphocytes.

Effect of cyclosporin A on Ca2+ fluxes and the rate of respiration in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells.

Cyclosporin A at micromolar concentration decreases the respiration of Ehrlich ascites tumour cells (with pyruvate as substrate) but prevents the inhibition of oxygen uptake produced by glucose or deoxyglucose (the Crabtree effect). Cyclosporin A also diminishes the increase of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration elicited by deoxyglucose and almost completely abolishes this increase induced by extracellular ATP and thapsigargin but does not decrease the size of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores as revealed after addition of ionomycin. It is concluded that cyclosporin A inhibits the inositol trisphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ channel and the passive permeability of the endoplasmic reticulum to Ca2+ in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells.

The role of cytoplasmic [Ca2+] in glucose-induced inhibition of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells: a novel mechanism of the Crabtree effect.

The effect of Ca2+ on energy-coupling parameters of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma was studied in digitonin-permeabilized cells. In nominally Ca-free medium the permeabilized cells respond to the addition of ADP by increased oxygen uptake with externally added respiratory substrates (succinate or pyruvate), decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi) and alkalinization of the medium. This typical behaviour is drastically changed if Ca2+ is added. The subsequent addition of ADP induces neither State 3 respiration, nor decrease of delta psi, nor alkalinization of the medium, indicating a complete block of ATP synthesis. These effects are produced by both a single pulse of 100 microM Ca2+ and a preincubation for 2 min with 0.4-1.0 microM Ca2+. Preincubation of the cells with glucose or deoxyglucose prior to permeabilization makes them sensitive to Ca2+ concentrations as low as 0.3 microM. In view of the previous finding that glucose and deoxyglucose produce an increase of cytoplasmic [Ca2+] in Ehrlich ascites cells [Teplova VV. Bogucka K. Czyz A. Evtodienko YuV. Duszynski J. Wojtczak L. (1993) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 196, 1148-1154; Czyz A. Teplova VV. Sabala P. Czarny M. Evtodienko YuV. Wojtczak L. (1993) Acta Biochim. Polon., 40, 539-544], the present results suggest that cytoplasmic Ca2+ plays a crucial role in the Crabtree effect.

Effect of glucose and deoxyglucose on cytoplasmic [Ca2+] in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Concentration of free cytoplasmic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, measured using fura-2, amounted to 170-300 nM and was increased by 50-160 nM after addition of 10 mM D-glucose or D-2-deoxyglucose but not 3-O-methylglucose at pH 7.4. In the range of external pH between 6.8 and 7.8 the increase was higher at higher pH. This increase occurred within 30-60 s after addition of hexose and lasted for at least 10 min. This [Ca2+]i rise was observed both in presence and virtual absence of Ca2+ in the external medium. Pretreatment of the cells with thapsigargin resulted in a much smaller [Ca2+]i increase after addition of glucose or deoxyglucose. The mechanism of [Ca2+] in the external medium. Pretreatment of the cells with thapsigargin resulted in a much smaller [Ca2+]i increase after addition of glucose or deoxyglucose. The mechanism of [Ca2+]i rise evoked by glucose and deoxyglucose and its importance in switching cell metabolism from oxidative to glycolytic are discussed.

A method of determining electrical potential gradient across mitochondrial membrane in perfused rat hearts.

The electrical potential gradient across the mitochondrial membrane (delta psi m) in perfused rat hearts was estimated by calculating the equilibrium distribution of the lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+), using measured kinetic constants of uptake and release of TPP+. First-order rate constants of TPP+ uptake were measured during 30-min perfusions of intact rat hearts with tracer amounts (5.0 nM) of tritium-labeled TPP+ ([3H]TPP+) in the perfusate. This was followed by a 30-min washout, during which the first-order rate constant of efflux was estimated. Values of [3H]TPP+ outside the heart and total [3H]TPP+ inside the heart at equilibrium were calculated. From this information and separately estimated time-averaged plasma membrane potentials (delta psi c) it was possible to calculate free cytosolic [3H]TPP+ at equilibrium. It was also possible to calculate free intramitochondrial [3H]TPP+ at equilibrium as the difference between total tissue [3H]TPP+ minus free cytosolic TPP+ and the sum of all the bound [3H]TPP+. Bound [3H]TPP+ was determined from [3H]TPP+ binding constants measured in separate experiments, using both isolated mitochondria and isolated cardiac myocytes under conditions where both delta psi m and delta psi c were zero. Delta psi m was calculated from the intramitochondrial and cytosolic free TPP+ concentrations using the Nernst equation. Values of delta psi m were 144.9 +/- 2.0 mV in hearts perfused with 5 mM pyruvate and 118.2 +/- 1.4 mV in hearts perfused with 11 mM glucose, in good agreement with delta psi m obtained from isolated rat heart mitochondria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of cardiac work on electrical potential gradient across mitochondrial membrane in perfused rat hearts.

The myocardium responds to alterations in cardiac work by changing its rate of O2 consumption. This reflects an increase in the oxidative synthesis of ATP to meet the contractile demand for ATP. However, the biochemical mechanisms responsible for increased ATP synthesis are not fully understood. To localize the flux-controlling reaction(s) in the pathway of ATP synthesis, the effects of substrates and cardiac work on mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m), total tissue NADH-to-NAD+ ratio, and high-energy phosphate metabolites were examined in perfused rat hearts. Delta psi m was measured using the equilibrium distribution of tetraphenylphosphonium (33). Cytosolic phosphorylation potential, total tissue NADH-to-NAD+ ratio, and delta psi m were higher in hearts perfused with pyruvate than in those perfused with glucose. Increasing cardiac work induced a four-fold increase in O2 consumption, which was accompanied by 1) decreased or unaltered cytosolic ADP concentration, 2) increased tissue NADH-to-NAD+ ratio, and 3) decreased delta psi m. The results indicate that both NADH-generating reactions and the ATP synthase-catalyzed reaction are important in causing the increase in respiration that accompanies increased work. Because the activation of ATP synthase by cardiac work occurred in the absence of increases in delta psi m, ADP, and Pi, it is possible that the work-related acceleration in ATP synthesis may be due to modification of the kinetic properties of the ATP synthase.

Continuous recording of intramitochondrial pH with fluorescent pH indicators: novel probes and limitations of the method.

In addition to 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) used so far to monitor intramitochondrial pH, two other fluorescent pH indicators, 4',5'-dimethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (DMCF) and carboxyseminaphthofluorescein (carboxy-SNAFL-1), were applied for this purpose. These probes are taken up by isolated rat liver mitochondria in form of diacetate esters, hydrolyzed within mitochondria to free acids, and respond to changes of intramitochondrial pH by changing their fluorescence emission intensity. With all three probes energization of mitochondria by electron donors or acceptors was accompanied by fluorescence changes characteristic for alkalization, whereas deenergization by respiratory inhibitors or protonophores produced changes typical for acidification. Contrary to this, transition from State 4 to State 3, known to shift intramitochondrial pH towards acidification (equivalent to a decrease of delta pH), was accompanied by paradoxical responses of the fluorescent pH probes used: the fluorescence of DMCF increased as if the matrix compartment became more alkaline, the fluorescence of BCECF, measured in single excitation/emission wavelength mode, did not change, and the fluorescence of carboxy-SNAFL-1 could be interpreted as either alkalization or acidification, depending on the excitation/emission wavelength pair used. It was shown that depletion of intramitochondrial Mg2+ and Ca2+ using divalent metal ionophore A23187 decreased fluorescence intensity with all three probes examined, whereas subsequent addition of Mg2+ or Ca2+ increased the fluorescence. It is therefore proposed that the atypical response of intramitochondrial pH indicators upon State 4- State 3 transition is due to changes of intramitochondrial free Mg2+, as related to different complexing abilities of ATP and ADP towards magnesium.

Kinetic studies of ATP synthase: the case for the positional change mechanism.

The mitochondrial ATP synthases shares many structural and kinetic properties with bacterial and chloroplast ATP synthases. These enzymes transduce the energy contained in the membrane's electrochemical proton gradients into the energy required for synthesis of high-energy phosphate bonds. The unusual three-fold symmetry of the hydrophilic domain, F1, of all these synthases is striking. Each F1 has three identical beta subunits and three identical alpha subunits as well as three additional subunits present as single copies. The catalytic site for synthesis is undoubtedly contained in the beta subunit or an alpha, beta interface, and thus each enzyme appears to contain three identical catalytic sites. This review summarizes recent isotopic and kinetic evidence in favour of the concept, originally proposed by Boyer and coworkers, that energy from the proton gradient is exerted not directly for the reaction at the catalytic site, but rather to release product from a single catalytic site. A modification of this binding change hypotheses is favored by recent data which suggest that the binding change is due to a positional change in all three beta subunits relative to the remaining subunits of F1 and F0 and that the vector of rotation is influenced by energy. The positional change, or rotation, appears to be the slow step in the process of catalysis and it is accelerated in all F1F0 ATPases studied by substrate binding and by the proton gradient. However, in the mammalian mitochondrial enzyme, other types of allosteric rate regulation not yet fully elucidated seem important as well.