Metabolic capacity regulates iron homeostasis in endothelial cells

Mitophagy-promoting agents and their ability to promote healthy-aging

The removal of damaged mitochondrial components through a process called mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) is essential for the proper function of the mitochondrial network. Hence, mitophagy is vital for the health of all aerobic animals, including humans. Unfortunately, mitophagy declines with age. Many age-associated diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are characterized by the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and oxidative damage. Therefore, activating the mitophagy process with small molecules is an emerging strategy for treating multiple aging diseases. Recent studies have identified natural and synthetic compounds that promote mitophagy and lifespan. This article aims to summarize the existing knowledge about these substances. For readers' convenience, the knowledge is presented in a table that indicates the chemical data of each substance and its effect on lifespan. The impact on healthspan and the molecular mechanism is reported if known. The article explores the potential of utilizing a combination of mitophagy-inducing drugs within a therapeutic framework and addresses the associated challenges of this strategy. Finally, we discuss the process that balances mitophagy, i.e. mitochondrial biogenesis. In this process, new mitochondrial components are generated to replace the ones cleared by mitophagy. Furthermore, some mitophagy-inducing substances activate biogenesis (e.g. resveratrol and metformin). Finally, we discuss the possibility of combining mitophagy and biogenesis enhancers for future treatment. In conclusion, this article provides an up-to-date source of information about natural and synthetic substances that activate mitophagy and, hopefully, stimulates new hypotheses and studies that promote healthy human aging worldwide.

Oleic acid and derivatives affect human endothelial cell mitochondrial function and vasoactive mediator production

BACKGROUND

Inhalation of common air pollutants such as diesel and biodiesel combustion products can induce vascular changes in humans which may contribute to increased mortality and morbidity associated with fine particulate matter exposures. Diesel, biodiesel, and other combustion byproducts contain fatty acid components capable of entering the body through particulate matter inhalation. Fatty acids can also be endogenously released into circulation following a systemic stress response to some inhaled pollutants such as ozone. When in the circulation, bioactive fatty acids may interact with cells lining the blood vessels, potentially inducing endothelial dysfunction. To examine whether fatty acids could potentially be involved in human vascular responses to air pollutants, we determined the effects of fatty acids and derivatives on important vascular cell functions.

METHODS

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed in vitro to oleic acid (OA) or OA metabolites for 4-48 h. Cytotoxicity, vasodilator production (by ELISA measurement), mitochondrial function (using Sea Horse assays), and iron metabolism (inferred by ICP-OES measurements) were examined, with standard statistical testing (ANOVA, t-tests) employed.

RESULTS

Dose-dependent cytotoxicity was noted at 24 h, with 12-hydroxy OA more potent than OA. Mitochondrial stress testing showed that 12-hydroxy OA and OA induce mitochondrial dysfunction. Analysis of soluble mediator release from HUVEC showed a dose-dependent increase in prostaglandin F2α, a lipid involved in control of vascular tone, at 24 h (85% above controls) after OA-BSA exposure. RT-PCR analysis revealed OA did not induce changes in gene expression at noncytotoxic concentrations in exposed HUVEC, but 12-OH OA did alter ICAM and COX2 gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data demonstrate that FA may be capable of inducing cytotoxic effects and altering expression of mediators of vascular function following inhalation exposure, and may be implicated in air pollutant-induced deaths and hospitalizations. (267 of max 350 words).

Impaired myocardial perfusion reserve and fibrosis in Friedreich ataxia: a mitochondrial cardiomyopathy with metabolic syndrome

AIMS

Cardiomyopathy produces significant mortality in patients with Friedreich ataxia (FA), a genetic disorder that produces intra-mitochondrial iron accumulation. We sought to test the hypothesis that abnormal myocardial perfusion reserve and fibrosis represent early manifestations of cardiomyopathy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-six patients with genetically proven FA ages 36 ± 12 years without cardiomyopathy and eight controls underwent cardiac magnetic resonance with adenosine. Precontrast imaging for myocardial iron estimation was performed. Myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI) was quantified using the normalized upslope of myocardial enhancement during vasodilator stress vs. rest. Left ventricular (LV) mass and volumes were computed from short-axis cine images. Serologies included lipids, and platelets were isolated for iron quantification using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Left ventricular ejection fraction and mass averaged 64.1 ± 8.3% and 62.7 ± 16.7 g/m², respectively, indicating preserved systolic function and absence of significant hypertrophy. Myocardial perfusion reserve index quantification revealed significantly lower endocardial-to-epicardial perfusion reserve in patients vs. controls (0.80 ± 0.18 vs. 1.22 ± 0.36, P = 0.01). Lower MPRI was predicted by increased number of metabolic syndrome (met-S) features (P < 0.01). Worse concentric remodelling occurred with increased GAA repeat length (r = 0.64, P < 0.001). Peripheral platelet iron measurement showed no distinction between patients and controls (5.4 ± 8.5 × 10⁻⁷ vs. 5.5 ± 2.9 × 10⁻⁷ ng/platelet, P = 0.88), nor did myocardial T2* measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with FA have abnormal myocardial perfusion reserve that parallels met-S severity. Impaired perfusion reserve and fibrosis occur in the absence of significant hypertrophy and prior to clinical heart failure, providing potential therapeutic targets for stage B cardiomyopathy in FA and related myocardial diseases.

Biophysical characterization of iron in mitochondria isolated from respiring and fermenting yeast

The distributions of Fe in mitochondria isolated from respiring, respiro-fermenting, and fermenting yeast cells were determined with an integrative biophysical approach involving Mossbauer and electronic absorption spectroscopies, electron paramagnetic resonance, and inductively coupled plasma emission mass spectrometry. Approximately 40% of the Fe in mitochondria from respiring cells was present in respiration-related proteins. The concentration and distribution of Fe in respiro-fermenting mitochondria, where both respiration and fermentation occur concurrently, were similar to those of respiring mitochondria. The concentration of Fe in fermenting mitochondria was also similar, but the distribution differed dramatically. Here, levels of respiration-related Fe-containing proteins were diminished approximately 3-fold, while non-heme HS Fe(II) species, non-heme mononuclear HS Fe(III), and Fe(III) nanoparticles dominated. These changes were rationalized by a model in which the pool of non-heme HS Fe(II) ions serves as feedstock for Fe-S cluster and heme biosynthesis. The integrative approach enabled us to estimate the concentration of respiration-related proteins.

Cadmium and cardiovascular diseases: cell biology, pathophysiology, and epidemiological relevance

Today cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the killer number one world wide. In 2004 an estimated 17.1 million people died due to CVDs and this number will further increase to an estimated 23.6 million by 2030. Importantly, currently known risk factors, like hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, can only be made responsible for about 50-75% of all CVDs, highlighting the urgent need to search for and define new CVD risk factors. Cadmium (Cd) was shown to have the potential to serve as one such novel risk factor, as it was demonstrated-in vitro, in animal studies, and in human studies-that Cd causes atherosclerosis (the basis of most CVDs). Herein, we discuss the molecular and cellular biological effects of Cd in the cardiovascular system; we present concepts on the pathophysiology of Cd-caused atherosclerosis, and provide data that indicate an epidemiological relevance of Cd as a risk factor for CVDs.

Endothelial cells promote the proliferation of lymphocytes partly through the Wnt pathway via LEF-1

The function of T cells and B cells is to recognize specific "non-self" antigens, during a process known as antigen presentation. Once they have identified an invader, the cells generate specific responses that are tailored to maximally eliminate specific pathogens or pathogen-infected cells. Endothelial cells (ECs) can trigger the activation of T cells through their class I and class II MHC molecules. In this study, we examined the effect of ECs on the proliferation of lymphocytes. We report that the proliferation of T and B cells can be improved by interaction with ECs. LEF-1 is one of the main molecular mediators in this process, and the inhibition of LEF-1 induces apoptosis. These results suggest that LEF-1 modulates positively the proliferation of lymphocytes induced by their interaction with ECs.

Studies on resistance characteristic and cDNA sequence conservation of transferrin from crucian carp, Carassius auratus

Transferrin (Tf) is a kind of non-heme beta-globulin with two iron ions (Fe(3+))-binding sites. To prove Tf's physiological functions, Fe(3+)-proteins, serum iron contents, and total iron-binding capabilities were tested for Tfs of crucian carps (Carassius auratus) and sliver carps (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The above results demonstrated that sliver carps shared 1/3 Tf alleles with crucian carps; Tf of crucian carps had stronger Fe(3+)-binding ability and transportation ability in plasma than that of sliver carps. In addition, the results of oxygen consumption experiments indicated that crucian carps had the higher oxygen utility rate than sliver carps. For acute hypoxia exposure assay, normoxic gas mixture, hypoxic gas mixture A, and hypoxic gas mixture B were used to induce oxygen-regulated gene expression of crucian carps in acute hypoxia. The results of quantitative real-time PCR revealed that mRNA levels of Tf gene, Tfr gene and ATPase gene were down-regulated in acute hypoxia but mRNA level of LDHa gene was up-regulated in acute hypoxia. The results of crucian carp Tf-cDNA sequence analysis showed that cDNA regions of two Fe(3+)-binding sites were T(747)-T(1026) and T(1737)-A(1884) based on the principle of bioinformatics. The sequence conservation of two Fe(3+)-binding sites was higher than that of the other five regions, which were confirmed according to the subregion model of Tf-cDNA sequence.