The Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore-Current Knowledge of Its Structure, Function, and Regulation, and Optimized Methods for Evaluating Its Functional State.

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is a calcium-dependent, ion non-selective membrane pore with a wide range of functions. Although the MPTP has been studied for more than 50 years, its molecular structure remains unclear. Short-term (reversible) opening of the MPTP protects cells from oxidative damage and enables the efflux of Ca2+ ions from the mitochondrial matrix and cell signaling. However, long-term (irreversible) opening induces processes leading to cell death. Ca2+ ions, reactive oxygen species, and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential regulate pore opening. The sensitivity of the pore to Ca2+ ions changes as an organism ages, and MPTP opening plays a key role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Most studies of the MPTP have focused on elucidating its molecular structure. However, understanding the mechanisms that will inhibit the MPTP may improve the treatment of diseases associated with its opening. To evaluate the functional state of the MPTP and its inhibitors, it is therefore necessary to use appropriate methods that provide reproducible results across laboratories. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the function and regulation of the MPTP. The latter part of the review introduces two optimized methods for evaluating the functional state of the pore under standardized conditions.

Acetaminophen toxicity in rat and mouse hepatocytes in vitro.

CONTEXT: Acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity is often studied in primary cultures of hepatocytes of various species, but there are only few works comparing interspecies differences in susceptibility of hepatocytes to APAP in vitro. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our work was to compare hepatotoxicity of APAP in rat and mouse hepatocytes in primary cultures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatocytes isolated from male Wistar rats and C57Bl/6J mice were exposed to APAP for up to 24 h. We determined lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in culture medium, activity of cellular dehydrogenases (WST-1) and activity of caspases 3 in cell lysate as markers of cell damage/death. We assessed content of intracellular reduced glutathione, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Respiration of digitonin-permeabilized hepatocytes was measured by high resolution respirometry and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was visualized (JC-1). RESULTS: APAP from concentrations of 2.5 and 0.75 mmol/L induced a decrease in viability of rat (p < 0.001) and mouse (p < 0.001) hepatocytes (WST-1), respectively. In contrast to rat hepatocytes, there was no activation of caspase-3 in mouse hepatocytes after APAP treatment. Earlier damage to plasma membrane and faster depletion of reduced glutathione were detected in mouse hepatocytes. Mouse hepatocytes showed increased glutamate + malate-driven respiration in state 4 and higher susceptibility of the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) to APAP-induced injury. CONCLUSION: APAP displayed dose-dependent toxicity in hepatocytes of both species. Mouse hepatocytes in primary culture however had approximately three-fold higher susceptibility to the toxic effect of APAP when compared to rat hepatocytes.

Impaired mitochondrial functions contribute to 3-bromopyruvate toxicity in primary rat and mouse hepatocytes.

A compound with promising anticancer properties, 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP) is a synthetic derivative of a pyruvate molecule; however, its toxicity in non-malignant cells has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, we elected to study the effects of 3-BP on primary hepatocytes in monolayer cultures, permeabilized hepatocytes and isolated mitochondria. After a 1-h treatment with 100 µM 3-BP cell viability of rat hepatocytes was decreased by 30 % as measured by the WST-1 test (p < 0.001); after 3-h exposure to ≥200 µM 3-BP lactate dehydrogenase leakage was increased (p < 0.001). Reactive oxygen species production was increased in the cell cultures after a 1-h treatment at concentrations ≥100 µmol/l (p < 0.01), and caspase 3 activity was increased after a 20-h incubation with 150 µM and 200 µM 3-BP (p < 0.001). This toxic effect of 3-BP was also proved using primary mouse hepatocytes. In isolated mitochondria, 3-BP induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential during a 10-min incubation both with Complex I substrates glutamate + malate or Complex II substrate succinate, although this decrease was more pronounced with the latter. We also measured the effect of 3-BP on respiration of isolated mitochondria. ADP-activated respiration was inhibited by 20 µM 3-BP within 10 min. Similar effects were also found in permeabilized hepatocytes of both species.

Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate on Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Rat Liver Mitochondria and Hepatocytes.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a green tea antioxidant with adverse effects on rat liver mitochondria and hepatocytes at high doses. Here, we assessed whether low doses of EGCG would protect these systems from damage induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP). Rat liver mitochondria or permeabilized rat hepatocytes were pretreated with EGCG and then exposed to tBHP. Oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and mitochondrial retention capacity for calcium were measured. First, 50 µM EGCG or 0.25 mM tBHP alone increased State 4 Complex I-driven respiration, thus demonstrating uncoupling effects; tBHP also inhibited State 3 ADP-stimulated respiration. Then, the coexposure to 0.25 mM tBHP and 50 µM EGCG induced a trend of further decline in the respiratory control ratio beyond that observed upon tBHP exposure alone. EGCG had no effect on MMP and no effect, in concentrations up to 50 µM, on mitochondrial calcium retention capacity. tBHP led to a decline in both MMP and mitochondrial retention capacity for calcium; these effects were not changed by pretreatment with EGCG. In addition, EGCG dose-dependently enhanced hydrogen peroxide formation in a cell- and mitochondria-free medium. Conclusion. Moderate nontoxic doses of EGCG were not able to protect rat liver mitochondria and hepatocytes from tBHP-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.

In vitro toxicity of epigallocatechin gallate in rat liver mitochondria and hepatocytes.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the main compound of green tea with well-described antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and tumor-suppressing properties. However, EGCG at high doses was reported to cause liver injury. In this study, we evaluated the effect of EGCG on primary culture of rat hepatocytes and on rat liver mitochondria in permeabilized hepatocytes. The 24-hour incubation with EGCG in concentrations of 10 µmol/L and higher led to signs of cellular injury and to a decrease in hepatocyte functions. The effect of EGCG on the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was biphasic. While low doses of EGCG decreased ROS production, the highest tested dose induced a significant increase in ROS formation. Furthermore, we observed a decline in mitochondrial membrane potential in cells exposed to EGCG when compared to control cells. In permeabilized hepatocytes, EGCG caused damage of the outer mitochondrial membrane and an uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. EGCG in concentrations lower than 10 µmol/L was recognized as safe for hepatocytes in vitro.

The effect of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress on lean and steatotic rat hepatocytes in vitro.

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play an important role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and toxic liver injury. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of exogenous inducer of oxidative stress (tert-butyl hydroperoxide, tBHP) on nonfatty and steatotic hepatocytes isolated from the liver of rats fed by standard and high-fat diet, respectively. In control steatotic hepatocytes, we found higher generation of ROS, increased lipoperoxidation, an altered redox state of glutathione, and decreased ADP-stimulated respiration using NADH-linked substrates, as compared to intact lean hepatocytes. Fatty hepatocytes exposed to tBHP exert more severe damage, lower reduced glutathione to total glutathione ratio, and higher formation of ROS and production of malondialdehyde and are more susceptible to tBHP-induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Respiratory control ratio of complex I was significantly reduced by tBHP in both lean and steatotic hepatocytes, but reduction in NADH-dependent state 3 respiration was more severe in fatty cells. In summary, our results collectively indicate that steatotic rat hepatocytes occur under conditions of enhanced oxidative stress and are more sensitive to the exogenous source of oxidative injury. This confirms the hypothesis of steatosis being the first hit sensitizing hepatocytes to further damage.

Characterization of calcium, phosphate and peroxide interactions in activation of mitochondrial swelling using derivative of the swelling curves.

We describe a new method for the analysis of mitochondrial swelling curves. Using classical swelling curves, only the maximum extent of the swelling can be calculated in a numerical form. However, taking the derivative of the classical swelling curves enables the evaluation of two additional parameters of the swelling process in a numerical form, namely, the maximum swelling rate after the addition of the swelling inducer (as dA520/10 s) and the time (in sec) at which the maximum swelling rate after the addition of the swelling inducer is obtained. The use of these three parameters enables the better characterization of the swelling process as demonstrated by the evaluation of calcium and phosphate interactions in the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and by the characterization of the peroxide potentiating action.

The toxic effect of thioacetamide on rat liver in vitro.

Thioacetamide (TAA) is a hepatotoxin frequently used for experimental purposes which produces centrilobular necrosis after a single dose administration. In spite of the fact that oxidative stress seems to play a very important role in the mechanism of TAA-induced injury, the effect of TAA on hepatocytes in primary culture with respect to the influence on mitochondria has yet to be verified. Hepatocytes were incubated for 24h in a medium containing TAA (0-70 mmol/l). Glutathione content (GSH/GSSG), reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde formation were assessed as markers of cell redox state. Toxicity was determined by lactate dehydrogenase leakage and WST-1 assay. The functional capacity of hepatocytes was evaluated from albumin and urea production. Mitochondrial metabolism was assessed by measuring mitochondrial membrane potential and oxygen consumption. Our results show that a profound decrease in the GSH level in hepatocytes precedes a sharp rise in endogenous ROS production. ROS production correlates with an increase in lipoperoxidation. Mitochondria are affected by TAA secondarily as a consequence of oxidative stress. Oxidation of the NADH-dependent substrates of respiratory Complex I is significantly more sensitive to the toxic action of TAA than oxidation of the flavoprotein-dependent substrate of Complex II. Mitochondria can also maintain their membrane potential better when they utilize succinate as a respiratory substrate. It appears that GSH should be depleted below a certain critical level in order to cause a marked increase in lipid peroxidation. Mitochondrial injury can then occur and cell death develops.

Tissue specific sensitivity of mitochondrial permeability transition pore to Ca2+ ions.

Ca(2+)-induced opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is involved in induction of apoptotic and necrotic processes. We studied sensitivity of MPTP to calcium using the model of Ca(2+)-induced, cyclosporine A-sensitive mitochondrial swelling. Presented data indicate that the extent of mitochondrial swelling (dA520/4 min) induced by addition of 25 microM Ca2+ is seven-fold higher in liver than in heart mitochondria (0.564 +/- 0.08/0.077 +/- 0.01). The extent of swelling induced by 100 microM Ca2+ was in liver tree times higher than in heart mitochondria (0.508 +/- 0.05/ 0.173 +/- 0.02). Cyclosporine A sensitivity showed that opening of the MPTP is involved. We may thus conclude that especially at low Ca2+ concentration heart mitochondria are more resistant to damaging effect of Ca2+ than liver mitochondria. These finding thus support hypothesis that there exist tissue specific strategies of cell protection against induction of the apoptotic and necrotic processes.

Mechanisms participating in oxidative damage of isolated rat hepatocytes.

The aim of the study was to evaluate time course and dose dependence of peroxidative damage induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) in rat hepatocytes cultured in suspension and in monolayer. At the lowest (0.1 mM) concentration, decrease of cytosolic glutathione and discharge of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) could be detected. Significant increases in leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and in malondialdehyde concentrations together with decrease of pyruvate-dependent respiration were detected at higher tBHP concentrations (above 0.5 mM) and after longer periods of incubation. Changes in plasma membrane integrity were observed at 1 mM concentration of tBHP. Succinate-dependent oxidation was most resistant to peroxidative damages. Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore was responsible for the discharge of mitochondria membrane potential. In the presence of cyclosporine A and succinate, the membrane potential could be restored. Our data showed that the most sensitive indicators of the peroxidative damage are changes of cytosolic glutathione concentration and MMP.