Comparison of methods for measuring oxygen consumption in tumor cells in vitro

Effects of Neospora caninum infection on brain microvascular endothelial cells bioenergetics

BACKGROUND

The brain is the most commonly affected organ during Neospora caninum infection but the mechanisms utilized by this protozoan parasite for traversal of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are not yet understood. Herein, we investigate the cellular pathogenicity of N. caninum infection on bioenergetics of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), a fundamental component of the BBB.

METHODS

We tracked the growth kinetics of N. caninum in HBMECs. Focusing on cell bioenergetics, oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was determined using Clark electrode system and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was evaluated using DePsipher staining by fluorescence microscopy in the presence and absence of infection.

RESULTS

HBMECs provided a receptive environment for parasite proliferation. N. caninum tachyzoites were able to invade and replicate within HBMECs without significantly altering cell proliferation rate, as measured with the MTT assay, up to 24 hr post infection (pi). The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was significantly inhibited (p < 0.001) by 10 mM glucose [from -2.26±0.23 to -0.6±0.21 nmol 106 cell min-1 and from -0.29±0.09 to -0.16±0.1 nmol 106 cell min-1 for uninfected HBMECs and free N. Caninum tachyzoites, respectively]. After normalization for DNA content the basal OCR did not differ between two host cell types: HBMECs and K562. The OCR of HBMECs was significantly elevated 24 hr pi in the absence of substrate, in 10 mM glucose and in the presence of a tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD)/ascorbate redox shuttle. Although quantitatively similar results were observed for uninfected K562 cells, there was no effect on their OCR 24 hr pi with N. caninum under any of the above substrate conditions. 6mM azide abolished OCR in all situations. Mitochondrial staining with DePsipher indicated no change in their membrane potential (Δψm) up to 24 hr pi.

CONCLUSIONS

N. caninum is able to grow in HBMECs without markedly disrupting their normal proliferation or mitochondrial integrity. However, it is associated with an increase in infected cell respiration. Whether this increase reflects numeric addition of the parasites own respiration or results from an additional energy demand upon the host cell remains to be elucidated.

Dual-modality, dual-functional nanoprobes for cellular and molecular imaging

An emerging need for evaluation of promising cellular therapies is a non-invasive method to image the movement and health of cells following transplantation. However, the use of a single modality to serve this purpose may not be advantageous as it may convey inaccurate or insufficient information. Multi-modal imaging strategies are becoming more popular for in vivo cellular and molecular imaging because of their improved sensitivity, higher resolution and structural/functional visualization. This study aims at formulating Nile Red doped hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) nanoemulsions as dual modality (Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Fluorescence), dual-functional (oximetry/detection) nanoprobes for cellular and molecular imaging. HMDSO nanoprobes were prepared using a HS15-lecithin combination as surfactant and showed an average radius of 71±39 nm by dynamic light scattering and in vitro particle stability in human plasma over 24 hrs. They were found to readily localize in the cytosol of MCF7-GFP cells within 18 minutes of incubation. As proof of principle, these nanoprobes were successfully used for fluorescence imaging and for measuring pO₂ changes in cells by magnetic resonance imaging, in vitro, thus showing potential for in vivo applications.

Mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits in the hippocampi of rats with chronic ischemia-induced vascular dementia

Vascular dementia (VD), defined as a loss of memory and cognitive function resulting from vascular lesions in the brain, is the second-most-common cause of dementia in the elderly, after Alzheimer's disease. In recent years, research has focused on the pathogenesis of VD, and mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits have been suggested to contribute to VD onset. To further investigate the role of mitochondria in VD, we used a rat model of VD, which involved permanent bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (with a 1-week interval between artery occlusion to avoid an abrupt reduction in cerebral blood flow) leading to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Prior to occlusion, male Wistar rats underwent 7 days of Morris water maze training. Only animals that could swim and passed the Morris water maze test were chosen for the study. After 5 days of Morris water maze training, mitochondria from the hippocampi of rats, which were randomly selected from animals that could complete the Morris water maze test, were isolated for functional assessment. Mitochondria isolated from the hippocampi of rats from the ischemia group had decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase protein levels, and increased oxidative stress, as manifested by increased hydrogen peroxide production. The ischemia group mitochondria also exhibited decreased respiration coupled to decreased expression and activity of the electron transport chain complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase). These results indicate that the mitochondrial oxidative metabolism is inhibited in the hippocampi of rats following chronic ischemia-induced VD. As the mitochondrial oxidative metabolism deficits, namely mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits directly affect the functions of neurons, it may contribute to VD onset.

Ionizing radiation induces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production accompanied by upregulation of mitochondrial electron transport chain function and mitochondrial content under control of the cell cycle checkpoint

Whereas ionizing radiation (Ir) instantaneously causes the formation of water radiolysis products that contain some reactive oxygen species (ROS), ROS are also suggested to be released from biological sources in irradiated cells. It is now becoming clear that these ROS generated secondarily after Ir have a variety of biological roles. Although mitochondria are assumed to be responsible for this Ir-induced ROS production, it remains to be elucidated how Ir triggers it. Therefore, we conducted this study to decipher the mechanism of Ir-induced mitochondrial ROS production. In human lung carcinoma A549 cells, Ir (10 Gy of X-rays) induced a time-dependent increase in the mitochondrial ROS level. Ir also increased mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial respiration, and mitochondrial ATP production, suggesting upregulation of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) function after Ir. Although we found that Ir slightly enhanced mitochondrial ETC complex II activity, the complex II inhibitor 3-nitropropionic acid failed to reduce Ir-induced mitochondrial ROS production. Meanwhile, we observed that the mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial DNA level were upregulated after Ir, indicating that Ir increased the mitochondrial content of the cell. Because irradiated cells are known to undergo cell cycle arrest under control of the checkpoint mechanisms, we examined the relationships between cell cycle and mitochondrial content and cellular oxidative stress level. We found that the cells in the G2/M phase had a higher mitochondrial content and cellular oxidative stress level than cells in the G1 or S phase, regardless of whether the cells were irradiated. We also found that Ir-induced accumulation of the cells in the G2/M phase led to an increase in cells with a high mitochondrial content and cellular oxidative stress level. This suggested that Ir upregulated mitochondrial ETC function and mitochondrial content, resulting in mitochondrial ROS production, and that Ir-induced G2/M arrest contributed to the increase in the mitochondrial ROS level by accumulating cells in the G2/M phase.

Targeting the lactate transporter MCT1 in endothelial cells inhibits lactate-induced HIF-1 activation and tumor angiogenesis

Switching to a glycolytic metabolism is a rapid adaptation of tumor cells to hypoxia. Although this metabolic conversion may primarily represent a rescue pathway to meet the bioenergetic and biosynthetic demands of proliferating tumor cells, it also creates a gradient of lactate that mirrors the gradient of oxygen in tumors. More than a metabolic waste, the lactate anion is known to participate to cancer aggressiveness, in part through activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) pathway in tumor cells. Whether lactate may also directly favor HIF-1 activation in endothelial cells (ECs) thereby offering a new druggable option to block angiogenesis is however an unanswered question. In this study, we therefore focused on the role in ECs of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) that we previously identified to be the main facilitator of lactate uptake in cancer cells. We found that blockade of lactate influx into ECs led to inhibition of HIF-1-dependent angiogenesis. Our demonstration is based on the unprecedented characterization of lactate-induced HIF-1 activation in normoxic ECs and the consecutive increase in vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression. Furthermore, using a variety of functional assays including endothelial cell migration and tubulogenesis together with in vivo imaging of tumor angiogenesis through intravital microscopy and immunohistochemistry, we documented that MCT1 blockers could act as bona fide HIF-1 inhibitors leading to anti-angiogenic effects. Together with the previous demonstration of MCT1 being a key regulator of lactate exchange between tumor cells, the current study identifies MCT1 inhibition as a therapeutic modality combining antimetabolic and anti-angiogenic activities.

Optical probes and techniques for O2 measurement in live cells and tissue

In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in the sensing and imaging of molecular oxygen (O₂) in biological samples containing live cells and tissue. We review recent developments in the measurement of O₂ in such samples by optical means, particularly using the phosphorescence quenching technique. The main types of soluble O₂ sensors are assessed, including small molecule, supramolecular and particle-based structures used as extracellular or intracellular probes in conjunction with different detection modalities and measurement formats. For the different O₂ sensing systems, particular attention is paid to their merits and limitations, analytical performance, general convenience and applicability in specific biological applications. The latter include measurement of O₂ consumption rate, sample oxygenation, sensing of intracellular O₂, metabolic assessment of cells, and O₂ imaging of tissue, vasculature and individual cells. Altogether, this gives the potential user a comprehensive guide for the proper selection of the appropriate optical probe(s) and detection platform to suit their particular biological applications and measurement requirements.

Cytotoxic effects of 109 reference compounds on rat H4IIE and human HepG2 hepatocytes. III: Mechanistic assays on oxygen consumption with MitoXpress and NAD(P)H production with Alamar Blue™

In vitro toxicity screening can reduce the attrition rate of drug candidates in the pharmaceutical industry in the early development process. The focus in this study is to compare the sensitivity for cytotoxicity of a time-resolved fluoro metric oxygen probe with that of a fluoro metric Alamar Blue™ (AB) assay. Both assays measure mitochondrial activity by either oxygen consumption (LUX-A65N-1 (MitoXpress, Luxcel) probe) or NADH/FADH conversion (AB). Both assays were carried out with increasing concentrations of 109 reference compounds using rat H4IIE and human HepG2 hepatocytes at incubation periods of 24, 48 and 72 h. Prior to this study, the influence on medium with either glucose or galactose was studied to analyze the rate of glycolysis and oxygen consumption, which latter process may be impaired in hepatoma cells. Inhibitors of oxygen consumption in combination with a glucose up-take inhibitor showed the largest consumption rate differences in the presence of 5mM of glucose. The choice for the 109 reference compounds was based on the so-called Multicentre Evaluation for In vitro Cytotoxicity (MEIC) and on diverse drug categories. For 59 toxic reference compounds, an evaluation for both assays was carried up to 10(-3)M. Toxicity was demonstrated with MitoXpress for 23 (39%) and 36 (61%) compounds in H4IIE and HepG2 cells, respectively, and with AB for 44 (75%) and 40 (68%) compounds. For 50 more pharmaceutical drugs more physiological concentrations were used up to 3.16×10(-5)M, and only 19 (38%) of these compounds appeared to be toxic in both assays. In conclusion, overall 63 (58%) and 60 (55%) compounds showed toxic effects with the MitoXpress and AB assays on rat H4IIE and human HepG2 hepatocytes, respectively. AB assays were more sensitive with respect to H4IIE cells and MitoXpress assays with respect to HepG2 cells. At all tested time intervals, MitoXpress showed its sensitivity, while AB is more sensitive at 48 and 72 h. With AB more toxic compounds were identified, whereas MitoXpress was more sensitive for a few compounds. A species specific difference was clearly found with digoxin, a human specific potassium channel inhibitor. Thus both assays are valuable identifiers of early toxicity with discrimination in time, compounds and species.

Evaluation of respiration with clark type electrode in isolated mitochondria and permeabilized animal cells

In many studies, the evaluation of mitochondrial function is critical to understand how disease conditions or xenobiotics alter mitochondrial function. One of the classic end-points that can be assessed is oxygen consumption, which can be performed under controlled, yet artificial conditions. Oxygen is the terminal acceptor in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, namely at an enzyme called cytochrome oxidase, which produces water in the process and pumps protons from the matrix to the intermembrane space. Several techniques are available to measure oxygen consumption, including polarography with oxygen electrodes or fluorescent/luminescent probes. The present chapter will deal with the determination of mitochondrial oxygen consumption by means of the Clark-type electrode, which has been widely used in the literature and that still remains to be the most reliable technique. We focus our technical description in the measurement of oxygen consumption by isolated mitochondrial fractions and by permeabilized cells.

The role of mitochondria in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been related to alterations of oxidative metabolism in insulin-responsive tissues. Overt T2DM can present with acquired or inherited reductions of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity, submaximal ADP-stimulated oxidative phosphorylation and plasticity of mitochondria and/or lower mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle cells and potentially also in hepatocytes. Acquired insulin resistance is associated with reduced insulin-stimulated mitochondrial activity as the result of blunted mitochondrial plasticity. Hereditary insulin resistance is frequently associated with reduced mitochondrial activity at rest, probably due to diminished mitochondrial content. Lifestyle and pharmacological interventions can enhance the capacity for oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial content and improve insulin resistance in some (pre)diabetic cases. Various mitochondrial features can be abnormal but are not necessarily responsible for all forms of insulin resistance. Nevertheless, mitochondrial abnormalities might accelerate progression of insulin resistance and subsequent organ dysfunction via increased production of reactive oxygen species. This Review discusses the association between mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity in various tissues, such as skeletal muscle, liver and heart, with a main focus on studies in humans, and addresses the effects of therapeutic strategies that affect mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity.

19F MRI oximetry: simulation of perfluorocarbon distribution impact

In (19)F MRI oximetry, a method used to image tumour hypoxia, perfluorocarbons serve as oxygenation markers. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of perfluorocarbon distribution and concentration in (19)F MRI oximetry through a computer simulation. The simulation studies the correspondence between (19)F measured (pO(FNMR)(2)) and actual tissue oxygen tension (pO(2)) for several tissue perfluorocarbon distributions. For this, a Krogh tissue model is implemented which incorporates the presence of perfluorocarbons in blood and tissue. That is, in tissue the perfluorocarbons are distributed homogeneously according to Gaussian diffusion profiles, or the perfluorocarbons are concentrated in the capillary wall. Using these distributions, the oxygen tension in the simulation volume is calculated. The simulated mean oxygen tension is then compared with pO(FNMR)(2), the (19)F MRI-based measure of pO(2) and with pO(0)(2), pO(2) in the absence of perfluorocarbons. The agreement between pO(FNMR)(2) and actual pO(2) is influenced by vascular density and perfluorocarbon distribution. The presence of perfluorocarbons generally gives rise to a pO(2) increase in tissue. This effect is enhanced when perfluorocarbons are also present in blood. Only the homogeneous perfluorocarbon distribution in tissue with no perfluorocarbons in blood guarantees small deviations of pO(FNMR)(2) from pO(2). Hence, perfluorocarbon distribution in tissue and blood has a serious impact on the reliability of (19)F MRI-based measures of oxygen tension. In addition, the presence of perfluorocarbons influences the actual oxygen tension. This finding may be of great importance for further development of (19)F MRI oximetry.