Mitochondrial Function Is Required for Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Growth Factor Receptor Transactivation and Downstream Signaling

Mitochondrial respiratory complex I regulates neutrophil activation and severity of lung injury

RATIONALE

Mitochondria have important roles in intracellular energy generation, modulation of apoptosis, and redox-dependent intracellular signaling. Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in the regulation of intracellular signaling pathways, including activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, there is only limited information concerning the role of mitochondrially derived ROS in modulating cellular activation and tissue injury associated with acute inflammatory processes.

OBJECTIVES

To examine involvement of the mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I on LPS-mediated NF-kappaB activation in neutrophils and neutrophil-dependent acute lung injury.

METHODS

Neutrophils incubated with rotenone or metformin were treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to determine the effects of mitochondrial complex I inhibition on intracellular concentrations of reactive oxygen species, NF-kappaB activation, and proinflammatory cytokine expression. Acute lung injury was produced by intratracheal injection of LPS into control, metformin, or rotenone-treated mice.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Inhibition of complex I with either rotenone or the antihyperglycemic agent metformin was associated with increased intracellular levels of both superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, as well as inhibition of LPS-induced I kappaB-alpha degradation, NF-kappaB nuclear accumulation, and proinflammatory cytokine production. Treatment of LPS-exposed mice with rotenone or metformin resulted in inhibition of complex I in the lungs, as well as diminished severity of lung injury.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that mitochondrial complex I plays an important role in modulating Toll-like receptor 4-mediated neutrophil activation and suggest that metformin, as well as other agents that inhibit mitochondrial complex I, may be useful in the prevention or treatment of acute inflammatory processes in which activated neutrophils play a major role, such as acute lung injury.

Apoptosis in pulmonary fibrosis: too much or not enough?

Apoptosis plays an important role in both normal lung homeostasis and lung remodeling associated with fibrotic lung disease. Whether apoptosis promotes or inhibits the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis depends upon the cell type involved and the microenvironment of the affected lung. Undue cell loss in the alveolar epithelium may be important early in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) progression, while reduced fibroblast and myofibroblast apoptosis has been associated with the formation of fibrotic lesions. As such, novel therapies based on the stimulation or inhibition of apoptosis may prove beneficial to the treatment of patients with IPF.

Redox signals in wound healing

Physical trauma represents one of the most primitive challenges that threatened survival. Healing a problem wound requires a multi-faceted comprehensive approach. First and foremost, the wound environment will have to be made receptive to therapies. Second, the appropriate therapeutic regimen needs to be identified and provided while managing systemic limitations that could secondarily limit the healing response. Unfortunately, most current solutions seem to aim at designing therapeutic regimen with little or no consideration of the specific details of the wound environment and systemic limitations. One factor that is centrally important in making the wound environment receptive is correction of wound hypoxia. Recent work have identified that oxygen is not only required to disinfect wounds and fuel healing but that oxygen-dependent redox-sensitive signaling processes represent an integral component of the healing cascade. Over a decade ago, it was proposed that in biological systems oxidants are not necessarily always the triggers for oxidative damage and that oxidants such as H2O2 could actually serve as signaling messengers and drive several aspects of cellular signaling. Today, that concept is much more developed and mature. Evidence supporting the role of oxidants such as H2O2 as signaling messenger is compelling. A complete understanding of the continuum between the classical and emergent roles of oxygen requires a thorough consideration of current concepts in redox biology. The objective of this review is to describe our current understanding of how redox-sensitive processes may drive dermal tissue repair.

Redox regulation of the VEGF signaling path and tissue vascularization: Hydrogen peroxide, the common link between physical exercise and cutaneous wound healing

Vascularization, under physiological or pathophysiological conditions, typically takes place by one or more of the following processes: angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, arteriogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. Although all of these mechanisms of vascularization have sufficient contrasting features to warrant consideration under separate cover, one common feature shared by all is their sensitivity to the VEGF signaling pathway. Conditions such as wound healing and physical exercise result in increased production of reactive oxygen species such as H(2)O(2), and both are associated with increased tissue vascularization. Understanding these two scenarios of adult tissue vascularization in tandem offers the potential to unlock the significance of redox regulation of the VEGF signaling pathway. Does H(2)O(2) support tissue vascularization? H(2)O(2) induces the expression of the most angiogenic form of VEGF, VEGF-A, by a HIF-independent and Sp1-dependent mechanism. Ligation of VEGF-A to VEGFR2 results in signal transduction leading to tissue vascularization. Such ligation generates H(2)O(2) via an NADPH oxidase-dependent mechanism. Disruption of VEGF-VEGFR2 ligation-dependent H(2)O(2) production or decomposition of such H(2)O(2) stalls VEGFR2 signaling. Numerous antioxidants exhibit antiangiogenic properties. Current evidence lends firm credence to the hypothesis that low-level endogenous H(2)O(2) supports vascular growth.

Cytoplasmic irradiation induces mitochondrial-dependent 53BP1 protein relocalization in irradiated and bystander cells

The accepted paradigm for radiation effects is that direct DNA damage via energy deposition is required to trigger the downstream biological consequences. The radiation-induced bystander effect is the ability of directly irradiated cells to interact with their nonirradiated neighbors, which can then show responses similar to those of the targeted cells. p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) forms foci at DNA double-strand break sites and is an important sensor of DNA damage. This study used an ionizing radiation microbeam approach that allowed us to irradiate specifically the nucleus or cytoplasm of a cell and quantify response in irradiated and bystander cells by studying ionizing radiation-induced foci (IRIF) formation of 53BP1 protein. Our results show that targeting only the cytoplasm of a cell is capable of eliciting 53BP1 foci in both hit and bystander cells, independently of the dose or the number of cells targeted. Therefore, direct DNA damage is not required to trigger 53BP1 IRIF. The use of common reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) inhibitors prevent the formation of 53BP1 foci in hit and bystander cells. Treatment with filipin to disrupt membrane-dependent signaling does not prevent the cytoplasmic irradiation-induced 53BP1 foci in the irradiated cells, but it does prevent signaling to bystander cells. Active mitochondrial function is required for these responses because pseudo-rho(0) cells, which lack mitochondrial DNA, could not produce a bystander signal, although they could respond to a signal from normal rho+ cells.

Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species-sensitive Thiol Proteins by Redox Difference Gel Electrophoresis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the mitochondrial respiratory chain can be a redox signal, but whether they affect mitochondrial function is unclear. Here we show that low levels of ROS from the respiratory chain under physiological conditions reversibly modify the thiol redox state of mitochondrial proteins involved in fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism. As these thiol modifications were specific and occurred without bulk thiol changes, we first had to develop a sensitive technique to identify the small number of proteins modified by endogenous ROS. In this technique, redox difference gel electrophoresis, control, and redox-challenged samples are labeled with different thiol-reactive fluorescent tags and then separated on the same two-dimensional gel, enabling the sensitive detection of thiol redox modifications by changes in the relative fluorescence of the two tags within a single protein spot, followed by protein identification by mass spectrometry. Thiol redox modification affected enzyme activity, suggesting that the reversible modification of enzyme activity by ROS from the respiratory chain may be an important and unexplored mode of mitochondrial redox signaling.

Targeting antioxidants to mitochondria by conjugation to lipophilic cations

Mitochondrial oxidative damage contributes to a range of degenerative diseases. Consequently, the selective inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative damage is a promising therapeutic strategy. One way to do this is to invent antioxidants that are selectively accumulated into mitochondria within patients. Such mitochondria-targeted antioxidants have been developed by conjugating the lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cation to an antioxidant moiety, such as ubiquinol or alpha-tocopherol. These compounds pass easily through all biological membranes, including the blood-brain barrier, and into muscle cells and thus reach those tissues most affected by mitochondrial oxidative damage. Furthermore, because of their positive charge they are accumulated several-hundredfold within mitochondria driven by the membrane potential, enhancing the protection of mitochondria from oxidative damage. These compounds protect mitochondria from damage following oral delivery and may therefore form the basis for mitochondria-protective therapies. Here we review the background and work to date on this class of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants.

Novel role for mitochondria: protein kinase Ctheta-dependent oxidative signaling organelles in activation-induced T-cell death

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in regulation of activation-induced T-cell death (AICD) by induction of CD95L expression. However, the molecular source and the signaling steps necessary for ROS production are largely unknown. Here, we show that the proximal T-cell receptor-signaling machinery, including ZAP70 (zeta chain-associated protein kinase 70), LAT (linker of activated T cells), SLP76 (SH2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa), PLCgamma1 (phospholipase Cgamma1), and PKCtheta (protein kinase Ctheta), are crucial for ROS production. PKCtheta is translocated to the mitochondria. By using cells depleted of mitochondrial DNA, we identified the mitochondria as the source of activation-induced ROS. Inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport complex I assembly by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of the chaperone NDUFAF1 resulted in a block of ROS production. Complex I-derived ROS are converted into a hydrogen peroxide signal by the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase. This signal is essential for CD95L expression, as inhibition of complex I assembly by NDUFAF1-specific siRNA prevents AICD. Similar results were obtained when metformin, an antidiabetic drug and mild complex I inhibitor, was used. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that PKCtheta-dependent ROS generation by mitochondrial complex I is essential for AICD.

The role of tobacco smoke induced mitochondrial damage in vascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis

The majority of individuals chronically exposed to tobacco smoke will eventually succumb to cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, despite the major cardiovascular health implications of tobacco smoke exposure, concepts of how such exposure specifically results in cardiovascular cell dysfunction that leads to CVD development are still being explored. Moreover, surprisingly little is known about the effects of prenatal and childhood tobacco smoke exposure on adult CVD development. Herein, it is proposed that the mitochondrion is a central target for environmental oxidants, including tobacco smoke. By virtue of its multiple, essential roles in cell function including energy production, oxidant signaling, apoptosis, immune response, and thermogenesis, damage to the mitochondrion will likely play an important role in the development of multiple common forms of human disease, including CVD. Specifically, this review will discuss the potential role of tobacco smoke and environmental oxidant exposure in the induction of mitochondrial damage which is related to CVD development. Furthermore, mechanisms of how mitochondrial damage can initiate and/or contribute to CVD are discussed, as are experimental results that are consistent with the hypothesis that mitochondrial damage and dysfunction will increase CVD susceptibility. Aspects of both adult and developmental (fetal and childhood) exposure to tobacco smoke on mitochondrial damage, function and disease development are also discussed, including the future implications and direction of studies involving the role of the mitochondrion in influencing disease susceptibility mediated by environmental factors.

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-mediated signaling in endothelial cells

Once thought of as toxic by-products of cellular metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in a large variety of cell-signaling processes. Several enzymatic systems contribute to ROS production in vascular endothelial cells, including NA(D)PH oxidase, xanthine oxidase, uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The respiratory chain is the major source of ROS in most mammalian cells, but the role of mitochondria-derived ROS in vascular cell signaling has received little attention. A new paradigm has evolved in recent years postulating that, in addition to producing ATP, mitochondria also play a key role in cell signaling and regulate a variety of cellular functions. This review focuses on the emerging role of mitochondrial ROS as signaling molecules in vascular endothelial cells. Specifically, we discuss some recent findings that indicate that mitochondrial ROS regulate vascular endothelial function, focusing on major sites of ROS production in endothelial mitochondria, factors modulating mitochondrial ROS production, the physiological and clinical implications of endothelial mitochondrial ROS, and methodological considerations in the study of mitochondrial contribution to vascular ROS generation.

Mechanisms of cell death in oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen or nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) generated endogenously or in response to environmental stress have long been implicated in tissue injury in the context of a variety of disease states. ROS/RNS can cause cell death by nonphysiological (necrotic) or regulated pathways (apoptotic). The mechanisms by which ROS/RNS cause or regulate apoptosis typically include receptor activation, caspase activation, Bcl-2 family proteins, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Various protein kinase activities, including mitogen-activated protein kinases, protein kinases-B/C, inhibitor-of-I-kappaB kinases, and their corresponding phosphatases modulate the apoptotic program depending on cellular context. Recently, lipid-derived mediators have emerged as potential intermediates in the apoptosis pathway triggered by oxidants. Cell death mechanisms have been studied across a broad spectrum of models of oxidative stress, including H2O2, nitric oxide and derivatives, endotoxin-induced inflammation, photodynamic therapy, ultraviolet-A and ionizing radiations, and cigarette smoke. Additionally ROS generated in the lung and other organs as the result of high oxygen therapy or ischemia/reperfusion can stimulate cell death pathways associated with tissue damage. Cells have evolved numerous survival pathways to counter proapoptotic stimuli, which include activation of stress-related protein responses. Among these, the heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide system has emerged as a major intracellular antiapoptotic mechanism.

A two-phase strategy for treatment of oxidant-dependent cancers

In many cancers, a chronic increase in oxidant stress - associated with elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide - contributes to the increased proliferative rate, diminished apoptosis, increased angiogenic and metastatic capacity, and chemoresistance that often characterize advanced malignancies. This oxidant stress often reflects up-regulation of expression and activity of NADPH oxidase, and/or decreased activity of catalase, which functions as suppressor gene in oxidant-dependent cancers. These characteristics of oxidant-dependent cancers suggest a dual strategy for treatment of these cancers. Since ascorbate can react spontaneously with molecular oxygen to generate hydrogen peroxide, high-dose intravenous ascorbate should be selectively toxic to tumors that are low in catalase activity - as suggested by numerous cell culture studies. Measures which concurrently improve the oxygenation of hypoxic tumor regions would be expected to boost the efficacy of such therapy; calcitriol and high-dose selenium might also be useful in this regard. Secondly, during the intervals between sessions of ascorbate therapy, administration of agents which can safely inhibit NADPH oxidase would be expected to slow the proliferation and spread of surviving tumor cells - while providing selection pressure for a further decline in catalase activity. In effect, cancers treated in this way would be whipsawed between lethally excessive and inadequately low oxidant stress. An additional possibility is that ascorbate-induced oxidant stress in tumors might potentiate the cell kill achieved with concurrently administered cytotoxic drugs, inasmuch as oxidant mechanisms appear to play a mediating role in the apoptosis induced by many such drugs, largely via activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase; cell culture studies would be useful for evaluating this possibility.

Redox control of neural function: background, mechanisms, and significance

The redox environment within neural cells is dependent on a series of redox couples. The glutathione disulfide/ glutathione (GSSG/GSH) redox pair forms the major redox couple in cells and as such plays a critical role in regulating redox-dependent cellular functions. Not only does GSH act as an antioxidant but it also can modulate the activity of a variety of different proteins via S-glutathionylation of cysteine sulfhydryl groups. The thioredoxin system also makes a significant contribution to the redox environment by reducing inter- and intrachain protein disulfide bonds as well as maintaining the activity of important antioxidant enzymes such as peroxiredoxins and methionine sulfoxide reductases. The redox environment affects the activity and function of a number of different protein phosphatases, protein kinases, and transcription factors. The sum of these effects will determine how changes in the redox environment alter overall cellular function, thereby playing a fundamental role in regulating neural cell fate and physiology.

Free Radicals, Mitochondria, and Oxidized Lipids

Mitochondria have long been known to play a critical role in maintaining the bioenergetic status of cells under physiological conditions. It was also recognized early in mitochondrial research that the reduction of oxygen to generate the free radical superoxide occurs at various sites in the respiratory chain and was postulated that this could lead to mitochondrial dysfunction in a variety of disease states. Over recent years, this view has broadened substantially with the discovery that reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and lipid species can also modulate physiological cell function through a process known as redox cell signaling. These redox active second messengers are formed through regulated enzymatic pathways, including those in the mitochondrion, and result in the posttranslational modification of mitochondrial proteins and DNA. In some cases, the signaling pathways lead to cytotoxicity. Under physiological conditions, the same mediators at low concentrations activate the cytoprotective signaling pathways that increase cellular antioxidants. Thus, it is critical to understand the mechanisms by which these pathways are distinguished to develop strategies that will lead to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. In this review, we describe recent evidence that supports the hypothesis that mitochondria have an important role in cell signaling, and so contribute to both the adaptation to oxidative stress and the development of vascular diseases.

Mild hypoxia promotes survival and proliferation of SOD2-deficient astrocytes via c-Myc activation

Mouse astrocytes deficient in the mitochondrial form of manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) do not survive in culture under atmospheric air with 20% oxygen (O2), which is a common condition for cell cultures. Seeding the cells and maintaining them under mild hypoxic conditions (5% O2) circumvents this problem and allows the cells to grow and become confluent. Previous studies from our laboratory showed that this adaptation of the cells was not attributable to compensation by other enzymes of the antioxidant defense system. We hypothesized that transcriptional activity and upregulation of genes other than those with an antioxidant function are involved. Our present study shows that c-Myc was significantly induced and that it inhibited p21 and induced proteins such as cyclin-dependent kinases, cyclin D, and cyclin E, which are involved in the cell cycle process, along with phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein and Cdc2 (cell division cycle 2). These mechanisms contribute to cell proliferation. Small interfering RNA of c-Myc, however, blocked proliferation of SOD2 homozygous (SOD2-/-) astrocytes under mild hypoxia consisting of 5% O2, whereas it did not affect the growth of wild-type astrocytes. Our results indicate that c-Myc plays a critical role in hypoxia-induced proliferation and survival of SOD2-/- astrocytes by overcoming injury caused by oxidative stress.

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases by lysophosphatidylcholine-induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation in endothelial cells

Lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) evokes diverse biological responses in vascular cells including Ca(2+) mobilization, production of reactive oxygen species, and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases, but the mechanisms linking these events remain unclear. Here, we provide evidence that the response of mitochondria to the lysoPC-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) leads to activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase through a redox signaling mechanism in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. ERK activation was attenuated by inhibitors of the electron transport chain proton pumps (rotenone and antimycin A) and an uncoupler (carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone), suggesting that mitochondrial inner membrane potential plays a key role in the signaling pathway. ERK activation was also selectively attenuated by chain-breaking antioxidants and by vitamin E targeted to mitochondria, suggesting that transduction of the mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide signal is mediated by a lipid peroxidation product. Inhibition of ERK activation with MEK inhibitors (PD98059 or U0126) diminished induction of the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1. Taken together, these data suggest a role for mitochondrially generated reactive oxygen species and Ca(2+) in the redox cell signaling path-ways, leading to ERK activation and adaptation of the pathological stress mediated by oxidized lipids such as lysoPC.

HCMV infection attenuates hydrogen peroxide induced endothelial apoptosis-- involvement of ERK pathway

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) exerts anti-apoptotic effect during early stage of infection, which provides HCMV time for propagation. We investigated pathways mediating the resistance to H(2)O(2)-induced cell death - a self-defense mechanism to remove infected cells. We found that human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) infected with VHL/E strain of HCMV during first 3 days were resistant to H(2)O(2) (0-2 mM) induced apoptosis. This anti-apoptotic effect may be mediated by the upregulation of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein through the activation pro-survival pathway extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK). Through this mechanism, HCMV is able to propagate and causes endothelial dysfunction, hence vascular disease.

Stability of membrane potential in heart mitochondria: single mitochondrion imaging

Mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi(m)) plays an important role in cellular activity. Although delta psi(m) of intracellular mitochondria are relatively stable, the recent experiments with isolated mitochondria demonstrate that individual mitochondria show frequent fluctuations of delta psi(m). The current study is performed to investigate the factors that stabilize delta psi(m) in cells by observing delta psi(m) of individual isolated mitochondria with fluorescence microscopy. Here, we report that (1) the transient depolarizations are also induced for mitochondria in plasma membrane permeabilized cells, (2) almost all mitochondria isolated from porcine hearts show the transient depolarizations that is enhanced with the net efflux of protons from the matrix to the intermembrane space, and (3) ATP and ADP significantly inhibit the transient depolarizations by plural mechanisms. These results suggest that the suppression of acute alkalinization of the matrix together with the presence of ATP and ADP contributes to the stabilization of delta psi(m) in cells.

Angiotensin II stimulation of VEGF mRNA translation requires production of reactive oxygen species

ANG II, a mediator of renal injury in diabetic renal disease, promotes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA translation in proximal tubular epithelial (MCT) cells (Feliers D, Duraisamy S, Barnes JL, Ghosh-Choudhury G, and Kasimath BS. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 288: F521–F529, 2005). The mechanism by which ANG II elicits this effect is not known. ANG II is known to induce oxidative stress and the rapidity of the effect suggested a role for reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that ANG II regulates VEGF mRNA translation in MCT cells through ROS production. In MCT cells exposed to 1 nM ANG II, ROS production was increased in a time-dependent manner. Inhibition of ROS production by N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of glutathione, and diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of flavoproteins that include NAD(P)H oxidase, prevented ANG II-stimulated VEGF protein expression. NAC and DPI also inhibited phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 on Thr46 and association of eIF4E with eIF4G, steps that are important in the initiation phase of mRNA translation. NAC and DPI also blocked Akt activation which is required for 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. LY-294002, a selective phosphatidylinositol (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor, did not prevent ROS accumulation in response to ANG II, whereas DPI blocked ANG II activation of PI 3-kinase, demonstrating that ROS production is upstream of the PI 3-kinase signaling pathway. Preincubation with catalase abolished ANG II stimulation of VEGF expression and mRNA translation, suggesting involvement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). H2O2reproduced the effects of ANG II on VEGF expression and aforementioned parameters of mRNA translation. Finally, neither preincubation of MCT cells with specific inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory chain nor inactivation of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in MCT cells prevented ANG II stimulation of VEGF expression. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by l-NAME had no effect on ANG II stimulation of VEGF expression. These data show that ROS, generated probably through activation of an NAD(P)H oxidase, mediate ANG II stimulation of VEGF mRNA translation.

Cell signalling by oxidized lipids and the role of reactive oxygen species in the endothelium

The controlled formation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) and RNS (reactive nitrogen species) is now known to be critical in cellular redox signalling. As with the more familiar phosphorylation-dependent signal transduction pathways, control of protein function is mediated by the post-translational modification at specific amino acid residues, notably thiols. Two important classes of oxidant-derived signalling molecules are the lipid oxidation products, including those with electrophilic reactive centres, and decomposition products such as lysoPC (lysophosphatidylcholine). The mechanisms can be direct in the case of electrophiles, as they can modify signalling proteins by post-translational modification of thiols. In the case of lysoPC, it appears that secondary generation of ROS/RNS, dependent on intracellular calcium fluxes, can cause the secondary induction of H2O2 in the cell. In either case, the intracellular source of ROS/RNS has not been defined. In this respect, the mitochondrion is particularly interesting since it is now becoming apparent that the formation of superoxide from the respiratory chain can play an important role in cell signalling, and oxidized lipids can stimulate ROS formation from an undefined source. In this short overview, we describe recent experiments that suggest that the cell signalling mediated by lipid oxidation products involves their interaction with mitochondria. The implications of these results for our understanding of adaptation and the response to stress in cardiovascular disease are discussed.

Interaction of electrophilic lipid oxidation products with mitochondria in endothelial cells and formation of reactive oxygen species

Electrophilic lipids, such as 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), and the cyclopentenones 15-deoxy-Delta12,14 -prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and 15-J2-isoprostane induce both reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and cellular antioxidant defenses, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione (GSH). When we compared the ability of these distinct electrophiles to stimulate GSH and HO-1 production, the cyclopentenone electrophiles were somewhat more potent than HNE. Over the concentration range required to observe equivalent induction of GSH, dichlorofluorescein fluorescence was used to determine both the location and amounts of electrophilic lipid-dependent ROS formation in endothelial cells. The origin of the ROS on exposure to these compounds was largely mitochondrial. To investigate the possibility that the increased ROS formation was due to mitochondrial localization of the lipids, we prepared a novel fluorescently labeled form of the electrophilic lipid 15d-PGJ2. The lipid demonstrated strong colocalization with the mitochondria, an effect which was not observed by using a fluorescently labeled nonelectrophilic lipid. The role of mitochondria was confirmed by using cells deficient in functional mitochondria. On the basis of these data, we propose that ROS formation in endothelial cells is due to the direct interaction of these lipids with the organelle.

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species regulate the temporal activation of nuclear factor kappaB to modulate tumour necrosis factor-induced apoptosis: evidence from mitochondria-targeted antioxidants

ROS (reactive oxygen species) from mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial sources have been implicated in TNFalpha (tumour necrosis factor alpha)-mediated signalling. In the present study, a new class of specific mitochondria-targeted antioxidants were used to explore directly the role of mitochondrial ROS in TNF-induced apoptosis. MitoVit E {[2-(3,4-dihydro-6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-yl)ethyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide} (vitamin E attached to a lipophilic cation that facilitates accumulation of the antioxidant in the mitochondrial matrix) enhanced TNF-induced apoptosis of U937 cells. In time course analyses, cleavage and activation of caspase 8 in response to TNF were not affected by MitoVit E, whereas the activation of caspase 3 was significantly increased. Furthermore, there was an increased cleavage of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bid and an increased release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, in cells treated with TNF in the presence of MitoVit E. We considered several mechanisms by which MitoVit E might accelerate TNF-induced apoptosis including mitochondrial integrity (ATP/ADP levels and permeability transition), alterations in calcium homoeostasis and transcription factor activation. Of these, only the transcription factor NF-kappaB (nuclear factor kappaB) was implicated. TNF caused maximal nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB within 15 min, compared with 1 h in cells pretreated with MitoVit E. Thus the accumulation of an antioxidant within the mitochondrial matrix enhances TNF-induced apoptosis by decreasing or delaying the expression of the protective antiapoptotic proteins. These results demonstrate that mitochondrial ROS production is a physiologically relevant component of the TNF signal-transduction pathway during apoptosis, and reveal a novel functional role for mitochondrial ROS as a temporal regulator of NF-kappaB activation and NF-kappaB-dependent antiapoptotic signalling.

Cell signalling by oxidized lipids and the role of reactive oxygen species in the endothelium

The controlled formation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) and RNS (reactive nitrogen species) is now known to be critical in cellular redox signalling. As with the more familiar phosphorylation-dependent signal transduction pathways, control of protein function is mediated by the post-translational modification at specific amino acid residues, notably thiols. Two important classes of oxidant-derived signalling molecules are the lipid oxidation products, including those with electrophilic reactive centres, and decomposition products such as lysoPC (lysophosphatidylcholine). The mechanisms can be direct in the case of electrophiles, as they can modify signalling proteins by post-translational modification of thiols. In the case of lysoPC, it appears that secondary generation of ROS/RNS, dependent on intracellular calcium fluxes, can cause the secondary induction of H2O2 in the cell. In either case, the intracellular source of ROS/RNS has not been defined. In this respect, the mitochondrion is particularly interesting since it is now becoming apparent that the formation of superoxide from the respiratory chain can play an important role in cell signalling, and oxidized lipids can stimulate ROS formation from an undefined source. In this short overview, we describe recent experiments that suggest that the cell signalling mediated by lipid oxidation products involves their interaction with mitochondria. The implications of these results for our understanding of adaptation and the response to stress in cardiovascular disease are discussed.

Mitochondria-targeted redox probes as tools in the study of oxidative damage and ageing

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative damage are associated with a range of age-related human pathologies. It is also likely that mitochondrial ROS generation is a factor in stress response and signal transduction pathways. However, current methods for measuring and influencing mitochondrial ROS production in vivo often lack the desired specificity. To help elucidate the potential role of mitochondrial ROS production in ageing, we have developed a range of mitochondria-targeted ROS probes that may be useful in vivo. This was achieved by covalently attaching a lipophilic cation to a ROS-reactive moiety causing its membrane potential-dependent accumulation within mitochondria. Mitochondria-targeted molecules developed so far include antioxidants that detoxify mitochondrial ROS, probes that react with mitochondrial ROS, and reagents that specifically label mitochondrial protein thiols. Here, we outline how the formation and consequences of mitochondrial ROS production can be investigated using these probes.

Redox dependence of glomerular epithelial cell hypertrophy in response to glucose

Podocytes or glomerular epithelial cells (GECs) are important targets of the diabetic microenvironment. Podocyte foot process effacement and widening, loss of GECs and hypertrophy are pathological features of this disease. ANG II and oxidative stress are key mediators of renal hypertrophy in diabetes. The cellular mechanisms responsible for GEC hypertrophy in diabetes are incompletely characterized. We investigated the effect of high glucose on protein synthesis and GEC hypertrophy. Exposure of GECs to high glucose dose dependently stimulated [(3)H]leucine incorporation, but not [(3)H]thymidine incorporation. High glucose resulted in the activation of ERK1/2 and Akt/PKB. ERK1/2 pathway inhibitor or the dominant negative mutant of Akt/PKB inhibited high glucose-induced protein synthesis. High glucose elicited a rapid generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The stimulatory effect of high glucose on ROS production, ERK1/2, and Akt/PKB activation was prevented by the antioxidants catalase, diphenylene iodonium, and N-acetylcysteine. Exposure of the cells to hydrogen peroxide mimicked the effects of high glucose. In addition, ANG II resulted in the activation of ERK1/2 and Akt/PKB and GEC hypertrophy. Moreover, high glucose and ANG II exhibited additive effects on ERK1/2 and Akt/PKB activation as well as protein synthesis. These additive responses were abolished by treatment of the cells with the antioxidants. These data demonstrate that high glucose stimulates GEC hypertrophy through a ROS-dependent activation of ERK1/2 and Akt/PKB. Enhanced ROS generation accounts for the additive effects of high glucose and ANG II, suggesting that this signaling cascade contributes to GEC injury in diabetes.

NAD(P)H oxidase-dependent self-propagation of hydrogen peroxide and vascular disease

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species in the vasculature contributes to cardiovascular pathogenesis. Among biologically relevant and abundant reactive oxygen species, superoxide (O2*-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) appear most important in redox signaling. Whereas O2*- predominantly induces endothelial dysfunction by rapidly inactivating nitric oxide (NO*), H2O2 influences different aspects of endothelial cell function via complex mechanisms. This review discusses recent advances establishing a critical role of H2O2 in the development of vascular disease, in particular, atherosclerosis, and mechanisms whereby vascular NAD(P)H oxidase-derived H2O2 amplifies its own production. Recent studies have shown that H2O2 stimulates reactive oxygen species production via enhanced intracellular iron uptake, mitochondrial damage, and sources of vascular NAD(P)H oxidases, xanthine oxidase, and uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). This self-propagating phenomenon likely prolongs H2O2-dependent pathological signaling in vascular cells, thus contributing to vascular disease development. The latest progress on Nox functions in vascular cells is also discussed [Nox for NAD(P)H oxidases, representing a family of novel NAD(P)H oxidases].

Nox4 NAD(P)H oxidase mediates hypertrophy and fibronectin expression in the diabetic kidney

Renal hypertrophy and extracellular matrix accumulation are early features of diabetic nephropathy. We investigated the role of the NAD(P)H oxidase Nox4 in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypertrophy, and fibronectin expression in a rat model of type 1 diabetes induced by streptozotocin. Phosphorothioated antisense (AS) or sense oligonucleotides for Nox4 were administered for 2 weeks with an osmotic minipump 72 h after streptozotocin treatment. Nox4 protein expression was increased in diabetic kidney cortex compared with non-diabetic controls and was down-regulated in AS-treated animals. AS oligonucleotides inhibited NADPH-dependent ROS generation in renal cortical and glomerular homogenates. ROS generation by intact isolated glomeruli from diabetic animals was increased compared with glomeruli isolated from AS-treated animals. AS treatment reduced whole kidney and glomerular hypertrophy. Moreover, the increased expression of fibronectin protein was markedly reduced in renal cortex including glomeruli of AS-treated diabetic rats. Akt/protein kinase B and ERK1/2, two protein kinases critical for cell growth and hypertrophy, were activated in diabetes, and AS treatment almost abolished their activation. In cultured mesangial cells, high glucose increased NADPH oxidase activity and fibronectin expression, effects that were prevented in cells transfected with AS oligonucleotides. These data establish a role for Nox4 as the major source of ROS in the kidneys during early stages of diabetes and establish that Nox4-derived ROS mediate renal hypertrophy and increased fibronectin expression.

Oxidized LDL induces mitochondrially associated reactive oxygen/nitrogen species formation in endothelial cells

Exposure of cells to complex mixtures of oxidized lipids such as those found in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) induce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) formation. The source of the ROS/RNS within cells is unknown; it is thought they may be involved in redox cell signaling. Although this possibility was initially overlooked, it is becoming clear that mitochondria, which are a source of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, may play a critical role in the response of cells on exposure to oxidized lipids. In this study, we tested the possibility that mitochondria are a potential source of oxLDL-dependent formation of ROS/RNS in endothelial cells. Using confocal microscopy, we demonstrated that a significant proportion of oxLDL-dependent dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence is colocalized to mitochondria. In support of this concept, rho0 endothelial cells showed a substantial decrease in ROS/RNS formation stimulated by oxLDL. In contrast, mostly nonmitochondrial DCF fluorescence was detected in cells exposed to an extracellular source of hydrogen peroxide. The exposure of cells to a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and urate resulted in a decrease in oxLDL-induced DCF fluorescence that was restored by addition of nitric oxide donors to the medium. Taken together, these results suggest that oxLDL-dependent DCF fluorescence is mitochondrially associated and may be due to the formation of peroxynitrite.

Pharmacology of vascular endothelium

Sir John Vane named vascular endothelium 'the maestro of blood circulation'. Recently, 'the maestro' has become a target for pharmacotherapy of atherothrombotic and diabetic vasculopathies with well known cardio-vascular drugs belonging to the families of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors or beta1-Adrenoceptor antagonists. These drugs became upgraded to a position of the pleiotropic endothelial drugs. It is not a simple verbal change in the nomenclature. It means that these drugs apart from their well defined mechanisms of action, as indicated in their regular names, in addition they act in an unknown mechanism at the level of vascular endothelium preventing angina, myocardial infarction and stroke. Many biochemical events take place in endothelial cells. I chose for a closer inspection the nitric oxide/prostacyclin defensive system to explain the endothelial pleiotropism of the drugs in question. I tried to examine the validity of this conception according to the general rule: in vitro cognitio sed in vivo veritas.

How to Clean the Dirtiest Place in the Cell: Cationic Antioxidants as Intramitochondrial ROS Scavengers

Membrane-penetrating triphenyl alkyl phosphonium cations have been suggested for many years in our group as having the ability to measure mitochondrial potential were recently used by Murphy as vehicles to specifically target CoQ to mitochondria. As was shown in our group, the phosphonium derivative of CoQ (MitoQ) easily penetrates a planar bilayer phospholipid membrane as a cation, generating 60 mV electric potential (Deltapsi) per a 10-fold MitoQ gradient. This means that MitoQ should be unequally distributed across the inner mitochondrial membrane, the intramitochondrial [MitoQ] = extramitochondrial [MitoQ] x 10(3) at 180 mV Deltapsi. In line with such a calculation, Murphy and his colleagues reported that antioxidant efficiency of MitoQ added to mitochondria or cells appears to be very much higher than of CoQ. It was found that H2O2-induced apoptosis (Murphy) and the H2O2-mediated bystander killing of the cultivated cells (our group) are completely arrested by pretreatement of the cells with 10(-10) - 10(-8) M MitoQ. These effects indicate that MitoQ and similar compounds may be promising in treatment of heart attack, stroke and other diseases accompanied by massive apoptosis in the injured tissue. The very fact that: (i) MitoQ is not only accumulated by mitochondria but also can be regenerated in its reduced form by mitochondrial respiratory chain, (ii) it is the mitochondrial interior that produces a large portion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in our body, and (iii) the most sensitive ROS targets are localized in the mitochondrial matrix suggest the MitoQ-like compounds are promising tools of molecular therapy of aerobic cells. In line with this suggestion, we found that addition of MitoQ strongly improves structural and biochemical parameters of cultivated cells. As to cationic tetrapeptides, recently advertised as mitochondrially-targeted Deltapsi-independent antioxidants, their effect is most probably mediated by an opioid activity inherent in some of these substances.

Hydrogen peroxide generated extracellularly by receptor-ligand interaction facilitates cell signaling

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key components of postreceptor intracellular signaling pathways; however, the role of ROS in signal initiation is uncertain. We discovered that receptor-ligand interaction caused the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Using members of the hematopoietin receptor superfamily, as well as EGF receptor, we show that H2O2 is generated by specific receptor-ligand interaction in cells and in cell-free systems. With cognate ligand, the extracellular domain of the receptor was sufficient for H2O2 generation. We also found that production of H2O2 was diminished in a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor mutant unable to bind ligand. Exogenously added H2O2 induced signaling in the absence of ligand, whereas catalase and a membrane-bound peroxiredoxin inhibited ligand-dependent signaling. Our results suggest that H2O2 produced by receptor-ligand interaction is involved as a chemical mediator that facilitates cell signaling.

Interactions of mitochondria-targeted and untargeted ubiquinones with the mitochondrial respiratory chain and reactive oxygen species. Implications for the use of exogenous ubiquinones as therapies and experimental tools

Antioxidants, such as ubiquinones, are widely used in mitochondrial studies as both potential therapies and useful research tools. However, the effects of exogenous ubiquinones can be difficult to interpret because they can also be pro-oxidants or electron carriers that facilitate respiration. Recently we developed a mitochondria-targeted ubiquinone (MitoQ10) that accumulates within mitochondria. MitoQ10 has been used to prevent mitochondrial oxidative damage and to infer the involvement of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in signaling pathways. However, uncertainties remain about the mitochondrial reduction of MitoQ10, its oxidation by the respiratory chain, and its pro-oxidant potential. Therefore, we compared MitoQ analogs of varying alkyl chain lengths (MitoQn, n = 3-15) with untargeted exogenous ubiquinones. We found that MitoQ10 could not restore respiration in ubiquinone-deficient mitochondria because oxidation of MitoQ analogs by complex III was minimal. Complex II and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase reduced MitoQ analogs, and the rate depended on chain length. Because of its rapid reduction and negligible oxidation, MitoQ10 is a more effective antioxidant against lipid peroxidation, peroxynitrite and superoxide. Paradoxically, exogenous ubiquinols also autoxidize to generate superoxide, but this requires their deprotonation in the aqueous phase. Consequently, in the presence of phospholipid bilayers, the rate of autoxidation is proportional to ubiquinol hydrophilicity. Superoxide production by MitoQ10 was insufficient to damage aconitase but did lead to hydrogen peroxide production and nitric oxide consumption, both of which may affect cell signaling pathways. Our results comprehensively describe the interaction of exogenous ubiquinones with mitochondria and have implications for their rational design and use as therapies and as research tools to probe mitochondrial function.

Nitroxia: the pathological consequence of dysfunction in the nitric oxide-cytochrome c oxidase signaling pathway

It is now recognized that mitochondria play an integral role in orchestrating the response of the cell to a wide variety of metabolic and environmental stressors. Of particular interest are the interactions of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species with the organelle and their potential regulatory function. The best understood example is the O(2) sensitive binding of NO (nitric oxide) to the heme group in cytochrome c oxidase. We have proposed that this reversible process serves the function of both regulating the formation of hydrogen peroxide from the respiratory chain for the purposes of signal transduction and controlling O(2) gradients in complex organs such as the liver or heart. It now appears that maladaptation in this pathway leads to a mitochondrial dysfunction which has some of the characteristics of hypoxia, such as a deficit in ATP, but occurs in the presence of normal or enhanced levels of O(2). These are the optimal conditions for the formation of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as peroxynitrite which lead to the irreversible modification of proteins. We term this unique pathological condition Nitroxia and describe how it may contribute to the pathology of chronic inflammatory diseases using ethanol-dependent hepatotoxicity as an example.