In vitro analysis of Bcl-2 proteins in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum: similarities in anti-apoptotic functions and differences in regulation

Physcion prevents high-fat diet-induced endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity leads endothelial dysfunction and contributes to cardiovascular diseases. Palmitic acid (PA), a free fatty acid, is the main component of dietary saturated fat. Physcion, a chemical ingredient from Rhubarb, has been shown anti-hypertensive, anti-bacteria, and anti-tumor properties. However, the effects of physcion on endothelial dysfunction under HFD-induced obesity have not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to define the protective effect of physcion on HFD-induced endothelial dysfunction and its mechanisms involved. Obesity rat model was induced by HFD for 12 weeks. A rat thoracic aortic ring model was used to investigate the effects of physcion on HFD-induced impairment of vasorelaxation. Endothelial cell injury model was constructed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by treating with PA (0.25 mM) for 24 h. The results revealed that physcion reduced body weight and the levels of plasma TG, prevented impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation in HFD-fed rats. In PA-injured HUVECs, physcion inhibited impaired viability, apoptosis and inflammation. Physcion also suppressed PA-induced both oxidative stress and ER stress in HUVECs. Furthermore, physcion increased PA-induced decrease in the activation of eNOS/Nrf2 signaling in HUVECs. These findings suggest that physcion has a significant beneficial effect on regulating HFD-induced endothelial dysfunction, which may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and ER stress through activation of eNOS/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Molecular mechanisms of reduced nerve toxicity by titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the phoxim-exposed brain of Bombyx mori

Bombyx mori (B. mori), silkworm, is one of the most important economic insects in the world, while phoxim, an organophosphorus (OP) pesticide, impact its economic benefits seriously. Phoxim exposure can damage the brain, fatbody, midgut and haemolymph of B. mori. However the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates in phoxim-exposed B. mori can be improved by Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs). In this study, we explored whether TiO2 NPs treatment can reduce the phoxim-induced brain damage of the 5th larval instar of B. mori. We observed that TiO2 NPs pretreatments significantly reduced the mortality of phoxim-exposed larva and relieved severe brain damage and oxidative stress under phoxim exposure in the brain. The treatments also relieved the phoxim-induced increases in the contents of acetylcholine (Ach), glutamate (Glu) and nitric oxide (NO) and the phoxim-induced decreases in the contents of norepinephrine (NE), Dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and reduced the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Na+/K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase activities and the activation of total nitric oxide synthase (TNOS) in the brain. Furthermore, digital gene expression profile (DGE) analysis and real time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assay revealed that TiO2 NPs pretreatment inhibited the up-regulated expression of ace1, cytochrome c, caspase-9, caspase-3, Bm109 and down-regulated expression of BmIap caused by phoxim; these genes are involved in nerve conduction, oxidative stress and apoptosis. TiO2 NPs pretreatment also inhibited the down-regulated expression of H+ transporting ATP synthase and vacuolar ATP synthase under phoxim exposure, which are involved in ion transport and energy metabolism. These results indicate that TiO2 NPs pretreatment reduced the phoxim-induced nerve toxicity in the brain of B. mori.

Increased oxidative stress impairs adipose tissue function in sphingomyelin synthase 1 null mice

Sphingomyelin synthase 1 (SMS1) catalyzes the conversion of ceramide to sphingomyelin. Here, we found that SMS1 null mice showed lipodystrophic phenotype. Mutant mice showed up-regulation of plasma triglyceride concentrations accompanied by reduction of white adipose tissue (WAT) as they aged. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was severely reduced in mutant mice. In vivo analysis indicated that fatty acid uptake in WAT but not in liver decreased in SMS1 null compared to wild-type mice. In vitro analysis using cultured cell revealed that SMS1 depletion reduced fatty acid uptake. Proteins extracted from WAT of mutant mice were severely modified by oxidative stress, and up-regulation of mRNAs related to apoptosis, redox adjustment, mitochondrial stress response and mitochondrial biogenesis was observed. ATP content of WAT was reduced in SMS1 null mice. Blue native gel analysis indicated that accumulation of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes was reduced. These results suggest that WAT of SMS1 null mice is severely damaged by oxidative stress and barely functional. Indeed, mutant mice treated with the anti-oxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) showed partial recovery of lipodystrophic phenotypes together with normalized plasma triglyceride concentrations. Altogether, our data suggest that SMS1 is crucial to control oxidative stress in order to maintain WAT function.

WJ9708012 exerts anticancer activity through PKC-α related crosstalk of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stresses in human hormone-refractory prostate cancer cells

AIM

To investigate the anticancer mechanism of a methoxyflavanone derivative, WJ9708012, highlighting its role on a crosstalk between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial stress.

METHODS

Cell proliferation was examined using sulforhodamine B assay. Cell-cycle progression, Ca(2+) mobilization and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)) were detected using flow cytometric analysis. Protein expression was detected using Western blot.

RESULTS

WJ9708012 displayed an antiproliferative and apoptotic activity in human hormone-refractory prostate cancer cells with IC(50) values of 6.4 and 5.3 μmol/L in PC-3 and DU-145 cells. WJ9708012 induced a prompt increase of cytosolic Ca(2+) level and activation of protein kinase C (PKC)-α. The cleavage of μ-calpain was also induced by WJ9708012. Furthermore, WJ9708012 induced cell-cycle arrest at G(1)-phase associated with down-regulation of cyclin D1, cyclin E and cyclin-dependent kinase-4 expressions. It also caused a rapid and time-dependent decrease of phosphorylation level of mTOR (Ser(2448)), 4E-BP1 (Thr(37)/Thr(46)/Thr(70)) and p70S6K (Thr(389)), indicating the inhibition of mTOR-mediated translational pathways. The ER stress was activated by the identification of up-regulated GADD153 and glucose-regulated protein-78 protein levels. The subsequent mitochondrial stress was also identified by the observation of a decreased Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expressions, an increased truncated Bid and Bad and a loss of ΔΨ(m).

CONCLUSION

WJ9708012 induces an increase of cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration and activation of PKC-α. Subsequently, a crosstalk between ER stress and mitochondrial insult is induced, leading to the inhibition of mTOR pathways and arrest of the cell-cycle at G(1) phase. The apoptosis is ultimately induced by a severe damage of mitochondrial function.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and increased reactive oxygen species impair insulin secretion in sphingomyelin synthase 1-null mice

Sphingomyelin synthase 1 (SMS1) catalyzes the conversion of ceramide to sphingomyelin. Here, we generated and analyzed SMS1-null mice. SMS1-null mice exhibited moderate neonatal lethality, reduced body weight, and loss of fat tissues mass, suggesting that they might have metabolic abnormality. Indeed, analysis on glucose metabolism revealed that they showed severe deficiencies in insulin secretion. Isolated mutant islets exhibited severely impaired ability to release insulin, dependent on glucose stimuli. Further analysis indicated that mitochondria in mutant islet cells cannot up-regulate ATP production in response to glucose. We also observed additional mitochondrial abnormalities, such as hyperpolarized membrane potential and increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mutant islets. Finally, when SMS1-null mice were treated with the anti-oxidant N-acetyl cysteine, we observed partial recovery of insulin secretion, indicating that ROS overproduction underlies pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in SMS1-null mice. Altogether, our data suggest that SMS1 is important for controlling ROS generation, and that SMS1 is required for normal mitochondrial function and insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells.

Membrane promotes tBID interaction with BCL(XL)

Two important questions on the molecular mechanism of the B cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) proteins involve the interaction network between pro- and antiapoptotic members and the role of their translocation to the mitochondrial membrane during apoptosis. We used fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to quantify the molecular interactions of BH3-interacting domain death agonist (BID) and its truncated form tBID with the B cell lymphoma extra-large protein truncated at the C terminus (BCL(XL)DeltaCt) in solution and in membranes, and we found that (i) only the active form tBID binds to BCL(XL)DeltaCt and (ii) that the membrane strongly promotes binding between them. Particularly, a BH3 peptide from BID disrupts the tBID-BCL(XL) complex in solution, but only partially in lipid bilayers. These data indicate that tBID-BCL(XL) interactions in solution and lipid membranes are distinct, and they support a model in which BCL(XL) inhibition of tBID takes place predominantly at the membrane. Our findings imply an active role of the membrane in modulating the interactions between BCL2 proteins that has so far been underestimated.