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Taha M, Assali EA, Ben-Kasus Nissim T, Stutzmann GE, Shirihai OS, Hershfinkel M, Sekler I. NCLX controls hepatic mitochondrial Ca 2+ extrusion and couples hormone-mediated mitochondrial Ca 2+ oscillations with gluconeogenesis. Mol Metab 2024; 87:101982. [PMID: 38960129 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hepatic Ca2+ signaling has been identified as a crucial key factor in driving gluconeogenesis. The involvement of mitochondria in hormone-induced Ca2+ signaling and their contribution to metabolic activity remain, however, poorly understood. Moreover, the molecular mechanism governing the mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux signaling remains unresolved. This study investigates the role of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, NCLX, in modulating hepatic mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux, and examines its physiological significance in hormonal hepatic Ca2+ signaling, gluconeogenesis, and mitochondrial bioenergetics. METHODS Primary mouse hepatocytes from both an AAV-mediated conditional hepatic-specific and a total mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, NCLX, knockout (KO) mouse models were employed for fluorescent monitoring of purinergic and glucagon/vasopressin-dependent mitochondrial and cytosolic hepatic Ca2+ responses in cultured hepatocytes. Isolated liver mitochondria and permeabilized primary hepatocytes were used to analyze the ion-dependence of Ca2+ efflux. Utilizing the conditional hepatic-specific NCLX KO model, the rate of gluconeogenesis was assessed by first monitoring glucose levels in fasted mice, and subsequently subjecting the mice to a pyruvate tolerance test while monitoring their blood glucose. Additionally, cultured primary hepatocytes from both genotypes were assessed in vitro for glucagon-dependent glucose production and cellular bioenergetics through glucose oxidase assay and Seahorse respirometry, respectively. RESULTS Analysis of Ca2+ responses in isolated liver mitochondria and cultured primary hepatocytes from NCLX KO versus WT mice showed that NCLX serves as the principal mechanism for mitochondrial calcium extrusion in hepatocytes. We then determined the role of NCLX in glucagon and vasopressin-induced Ca2+ oscillations. Consistent with previous studies, glucagon and vasopressin triggered Ca2+ oscillations in WT hepatocytes, however, the deletion of NCLX resulted in selective elimination of mitochondrial, but not cytosolic, Ca2+ oscillations, underscoring NCLX's pivotal role in mitochondrial Ca2+ regulation. Subsequent in vivo investigation for hepatic NCLX role in gluconeogenesis revealed that, as opposed to WT mice which maintained normoglycemic blood glucose levels when fasted, conditional hepatic-specific NCLX KO mice exhibited a faster drop in glucose levels, becoming hypoglycemic. Furthermore, KO mice showed deficient conversion of pyruvate to glucose when challenged under fasting conditions. Concurrent in vitro assessments showed impaired glucagon-dependent glucose production and compromised bioenergetics in KO hepatocytes, thereby underscoring NCLX's significant contribution to hepatic glucose metabolism. CONCLUSIONS The study findings demonstrate that NCLX acts as the primary Ca2+ efflux mechanism in hepatocytes. NCLX is indispensable for regulating hormone-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ oscillations, mitochondrial metabolism, and sustenance of hepatic gluconeogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Taha
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Essam A Assali
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Metabolism Theme, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Tsipi Ben-Kasus Nissim
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Grace E Stutzmann
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Therapeutics, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Orian S Shirihai
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Metabolism Theme, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Michal Hershfinkel
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Israel Sekler
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.
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Raghav D, Shukla S, Jadiya P. Mitochondrial calcium signaling in non-neuronal cells: Implications for Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167169. [PMID: 38631408 PMCID: PMC11111334 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysregulation is pivotal in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Calcium governs vital mitochondrial processes impacting energy conversion, oxidative stress, and cell death signaling. Disruptions in mitochondrial calcium (mCa2+) handling induce calcium overload and trigger the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore, ensuing energy deprivation and resulting in AD-related neuronal cell death. However, the role of mCa2+ in non-neuronal cells (microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, endothelial cells, and pericytes) remains elusive. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of mitochondrial heterogeneity and calcium signaling, offering insights into specific differences among various brain cell types in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darpan Raghav
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Shatakshi Shukla
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Pooja Jadiya
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
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Zhong R, Rua MT, Wei-LaPierre L. Targeting mitochondrial Ca 2+ uptake for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Physiol 2024; 602:1519-1549. [PMID: 38010626 PMCID: PMC11032238 DOI: 10.1113/jp284143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron (MN) loss, muscle denervation and paralysis. Over the past several decades, researchers have made tremendous efforts to understand the pathogenic mechanisms underpinning ALS, with much yet to be resolved. ALS is described as a non-cell autonomous condition with pathology detected in both MNs and non-neuronal cells, such as glial cells and skeletal muscle. Studies in ALS patient and animal models reveal ubiquitous abnormalities in mitochondrial structure and function, and disturbance of intracellular calcium homeostasis in various tissue types, suggesting a pivotal role of aberrant mitochondrial calcium uptake and dysfunctional calcium signalling cascades in ALS pathogenesis. Calcium signalling and mitochondrial dysfunction are intricately related to the manifestation of cell death contributing to MN loss and skeletal muscle dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the potential contribution of intracellular calcium signalling, particularly mitochondrial calcium uptake, in ALS pathogenesis. Functional consequences of excessive mitochondrial calcium uptake and possible therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial calcium uptake or the mitochondrial calcium uniporter, the main channel mediating mitochondrial calcium influx, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjia Zhong
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611
- Department of Emergency Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China, 110001
| | - Michael T. Rua
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611
| | - Lan Wei-LaPierre
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611
- Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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Aaes TL, Burgoa Cardás J, Ravichandran KS. Defining solute carrier transporter signatures of murine immune cell subsets. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1276196. [PMID: 38077407 PMCID: PMC10704505 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1276196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Solute carrier (SLC) transporters are membrane-bound proteins that facilitate nutrient transport, and the movement across cellular membranes of various substrates ranging from ions to amino acids, metabolites and drugs. Recently, SLCs have gained increased attention due to their functional linkage to innate immunological processes such as the clearance of dead cells and anti-microbial defense. Further, the druggable nature of these transporters provides unique opportunities for improving outcomes in different immunological diseases. Although the SLCs represent the largest group of transporters and are often identified as significant hits in omics data sets, their role in immunology has been insufficiently explored. This is partly due to the absence of tools that allow identification of SLC expression in particular immune cell types and enable their comparison before embarking on functional studies. In this study, we used publicly available RNA-Seq data sets to analyze the transcriptome in adaptive and innate immune cells, focusing on differentially and highly expressed SLCs. This revealed several new insights: first, we identify differentially expressed SLC transcripts in phagocytes (macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils) compared to adaptive immune cells; second, we identify new potential immune cell markers based on SLC expression; and third, we provide user-friendly online tools for researchers to explore SLC genes of interest (and the rest of the genes as well), in three-way comparative dot plots among immune cells. We expect this work to facilitate SLC research and comparative transcriptomic studies across different immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Løve Aaes
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Unit for Cell Clearance in Health and Disease, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Javier Burgoa Cardás
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Unit for Cell Clearance in Health and Disease, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kodi S. Ravichandran
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Unit for Cell Clearance in Health and Disease, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Division of Immunobiology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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Ankul SS, Chandran L, Anuragh S, Kaliappan I, Rushendran R, Vellapandian C. A systematic review of the neuropathology and memory decline induced by monosodium glutamate in the Alzheimer's disease-like animal model. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1283440. [PMID: 37942488 PMCID: PMC10627830 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1283440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This systematic review analyzes monosodium glutamate (MSG) in the Alzheimer's disease-like condition to enhance translational research. Our review seeks to understand how MSG affects the brain and causes degenerative disorders. Due to significant preclinical data linking glutamate toxicity to Alzheimer's disease and the lack of a comprehensive review or meta-analysis, we initiated a study on MSG's potential link. We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, DOAJ, and Scopus for animal research and English language papers without time constraints. This study used the PRISMA-P framework and PICO technique to collect population, intervention or exposure, comparison, and result data. It was registered in PROSPERO as CRD42022371502. MSG affected mice's exploratory behaviors and short-term working memory. The brain, hippocampus, and cerebellar tissue demonstrated neuronal injury-related histological and histomorphometric changes. A total of 70% of MSG-treated mice had poor nesting behavior. The treated mice also had more hyperphosphorylated tau protein in their cortical and hippocampus neurons. Glutamate and glutamine levels in the brain increased with MSG, and dose-dependent mixed horizontal locomotor, grooming, and anxiety responses reduced. MSG treatment significantly decreased phospho-CREB protein levels, supporting the idea that neurons were harmed, despite the increased CREB mRNA expression. High MSG doses drastically lower brain tissue and serum serotonin levels. In conclusion, MSG showed AD-like pathology, neuronal atrophy, and short-term memory impairment. Further research with a longer time span and deeper behavioral characterization is needed. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier [CRD42022371502].
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Affiliation(s)
- Singh S. Ankul
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Lakshmi Chandran
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRMIST, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Singh Anuragh
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ilango Kaliappan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rapuru Rushendran
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Chitra Vellapandian
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, India
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Garbincius JF, Salik O, Cohen HM, Choya-Foces C, Mangold AS, Makhoul AD, Schmidt AE, Khalil DY, Doolittle JJ, Wilkinson AS, Murray EK, Lazaropoulos MP, Hildebrand AN, Tomar D, Elrod JW. TMEM65 regulates NCLX-dependent mitochondrial calcium efflux. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.06.561062. [PMID: 37873405 PMCID: PMC10592617 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.06.561062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The balance between mitochondrial calcium (mCa2+) uptake and efflux regulates ATP production, but if perturbed causes energy starvation or mCa2+ overload and cell death. The mitochondrial sodium-calcium exchanger, NCLX, is a critical route of mCa2+ efflux in excitable tissues, such as the heart and brain, and animal models support NCLX as a promising therapeutic target to limit pathogenic mCa2+ overload. However, the mechanisms that regulate NCLX activity remain largely unknown. We used proximity biotinylation proteomic screening to identify the NCLX interactome and define novel regulators of NCLX function. Here, we discover the mitochondrial inner membrane protein, TMEM65, as an NCLX-proximal protein that potently enhances sodium (Na+)-dependent mCa2+ efflux. Mechanistically, acute pharmacologic NCLX inhibition or genetic deletion of NCLX ablates the TMEM65-dependent increase in mCa2+ efflux. Further, loss-of-function studies show that TMEM65 is required for Na+-dependent mCa2+ efflux. Co-fractionation and in silico structural modeling of TMEM65 and NCLX suggest these two proteins exist in a common macromolecular complex in which TMEM65 directly stimulates NCLX function. In line with these findings, knockdown of Tmem65 in mice promotes mCa2+ overload in the heart and skeletal muscle and impairs both cardiac and neuromuscular function. We further demonstrate that TMEM65 deletion causes excessive mitochondrial permeability transition, whereas TMEM65 overexpression protects against necrotic cell death during cellular Ca2+ stress. Collectively, our results show that loss of TMEM65 function in excitable tissue disrupts NCLX-dependent mCa2+ efflux, causing pathogenic mCa2+ overload, cell death and organ-level dysfunction, and that gain of TMEM65 function mitigates these effects. These findings demonstrate the essential role of TMEM65 in regulating NCLX-dependent mCa2+ efflux and suggest modulation of TMEM65 as a novel strategy for the therapeutic control of mCa2+ homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne F. Garbincius
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Oniel Salik
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Henry M. Cohen
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Carmen Choya-Foces
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Santa Cristina, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Adam S. Mangold
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Angelina D. Makhoul
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anna E. Schmidt
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dima Y. Khalil
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joshua J. Doolittle
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anya S. Wilkinson
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emma K. Murray
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael P. Lazaropoulos
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alycia N. Hildebrand
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dhanendra Tomar
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - John W. Elrod
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Kadam A, Jadiya P, Tomar D. Post-translational modifications and protein quality control of mitochondrial channels and transporters. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1196466. [PMID: 37601094 PMCID: PMC10434574 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1196466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria play a critical role in energy metabolism and signal transduction, which is tightly regulated by proteins, metabolites, and ion fluxes. Metabolites and ion homeostasis are mainly mediated by channels and transporters present on mitochondrial membranes. Mitochondria comprise two distinct compartments, the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) and the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), which have differing permeabilities to ions and metabolites. The OMM is semipermeable due to the presence of non-selective molecular pores, while the IMM is highly selective and impermeable due to the presence of specialized channels and transporters which regulate ion and metabolite fluxes. These channels and transporters are modulated by various post-translational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, oxidative modifications, ions, and metabolites binding, glycosylation, acetylation, and others. Additionally, the mitochondrial protein quality control (MPQC) system plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient molecular flux through the mitochondrial membranes by selectively removing mistargeted or defective proteins. Inefficient functioning of the transporters and channels in mitochondria can disrupt cellular homeostasis, leading to the onset of various pathological conditions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of mitochondrial channels and transporters in terms of their functions, PTMs, and quality control mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlesha Kadam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Pooja Jadiya
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Dhanendra Tomar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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Garcia-Casas P, Rossini M, Filadi R, Pizzo P. Mitochondrial Ca 2+ signaling and Alzheimer's disease: Too much or too little? Cell Calcium 2023; 113:102757. [PMID: 37192560 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2023.102757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease, caused by poorly known pathogenic mechanisms and aggravated by delayed therapeutic intervention, that still lacks an effective cure. However, it is clear that some important neurophysiological processes are altered years before the onset of clinical symptoms, offering the possibility of identifying biological targets useful for implementation of new therapies. Of note, evidence has been provided suggesting that mitochondria, pivotal organelles in sustaining neuronal energy demand and modulating synaptic activity, are dysfunctional in AD samples. In particular, alterations in mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling have been proposed as causal events for neurodegeneration, although the exact outcomes and molecular mechanisms of these defects, as well as their longitudinal progression, are not always clear. Here, we discuss the importance of a correct mitochondrial Ca2+ handling for neuronal physiology and summarize the latest findings on dysfunctional mitochondrial Ca2+ pathways in AD, analysing possible consequences contributing to the neurodegeneration that characterizes the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paloma Garcia-Casas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Michela Rossini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Riccardo Filadi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy; Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 35131 Padua, Italy.
| | - Paola Pizzo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy; Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 35131 Padua, Italy; Study Centre for Neurodegeneration (CESNE), University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy.
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