Diphenyleneiodonium inhibits reduction of iron-sulfur clusters in the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I)

The NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium suppresses Ca2+ signaling and contraction in rat cardiac myocytes

Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) has been widely used as an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase (Nox) to discover its function in cardiac myocytes under various stimuli. However, the effects of DPI itself on Ca2+ signaling and contraction in cardiac myocytes under control conditions have not been understood. We investigated the effects of DPI on contraction and Ca2+ signaling and their underlying mechanisms using video edge detection, confocal imaging, and whole-cell patch clamp technique in isolated rat cardiac myocytes. Application of DPI suppressed cell shortenings in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 of ≅0.17 µM) with a maximal inhibition of ~70% at ~100 µM. DPI decreased the magnitude of Ca2+ transient and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content by 20%-30% at 3 µM that is usually used to remove the Nox activity, with no effect on fractional release. There was no significant change in the half-decay time of Ca2+ transients by DPI. The L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) was decreased concentration-dependently by DPI (IC50 of ≅40.3 µM) with ≅13.1%-inhibition at 3 µM. The frequency of Ca2+ sparks was reduced by 3 µM DPI (by ~25%), which was resistant to a brief removal of external Ca2+ and Na+. Mitochondrial superoxide level was reduced by DPI at 3-100 µM. Our data suggest that DPI may suppress L-type Ca2+ channel and RyR, thereby attenuating Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release and contractility in cardiac myocytes, and that such DPI effects may be related to mitochondrial metabolic suppression.

Regulation of respiratory complex I assembly by FMN cofactor targeting

Respiratory complex I plays a crucial role in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and shows promise as a therapeutic target for various human diseases. While most studies focus on inhibiting complex I at the Q-site, little is known about inhibitors targeting other sites within the complex. In this study, we demonstrate that diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), a N-site inhibitor, uniquely affects the stability of complex I by reacting with its flavin cofactor FMN. Treatment with DPI blocks the final stage of complex I assembly, leading to the complete and reversible degradation of complex I in different cellular models. Growing cells in medium lacking the FMN precursor riboflavin or knocking out the mitochondrial flavin carrier gene SLC25A32 results in a similar complex I degradation. Overall, our findings establish a direct connection between mitochondrial flavin homeostasis and complex I stability and assembly, paving the way for novel pharmacological strategies to regulate respiratory complex I.

Panton-Valentine leukocidin-induced neutrophil extracellular traps lack antimicrobial activity and are readily induced in patients with recurrent PVL + -Staphylococcus aureus infections

Staphylococcus aureus strains that produce the toxin Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL-SA) frequently cause recurrent skin and soft tissue infections. PVL binds to and kills human neutrophils, resulting in the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), but the pathomechanism has not been extensively studied. Furthermore, it is unclear why some individuals colonized with PVL-SA experience recurring infections whereas others are asymptomatic. We thus aimed to (1) investigate how PVL exerts its pathogenicity on neutrophils and (2) identify factors that could help to explain the predisposition of patients with recurring infections. We provide genetic and pharmacological evidence that PVL-induced NET formation is independent of NADPH oxidase and reactive oxygen species production. Moreover, through NET proteome analysis we identified that the protein content of PVL-induced NETs is different from NETs induced by mitogen or the microbial toxin nigericin. The abundance of the proteins cathelicidin (CAMP), elastase (NE), and proteinase 3 (PRTN3) was lower on PVL-induced NETs, and as such they were unable to kill S. aureus. Furthermore, we found that neutrophils from affected patients express higher levels of CD45, one of the PVL receptors, and are more susceptible to be killed at a low PVL concentration than control neutrophils. Neutrophils from patients that experience recurring PVL-positive infections may thus be more sensitive to PVL-induced NET formation, which might impair their ability to combat the infection.

Heterocyclic Diaryliodonium-Based Inhibitors of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Finding new therapeutic strategies against Gram-negative pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii is challenging. Starting from diphenyleneiodonium (dPI) salts, which are moderate Gram-positive antibacterials, we synthesized a focused heterocyclic library and found a potent inhibitor of patient-derived multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains that significantly reduced bacterial burden in an animal model of infection caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), listed as a priority 1 critical pathogen by the World Health Organization. Next, using advanced chemoproteomics platforms and activity-based protein profiling (ABPP), we identified and biochemically validated betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BetB), an enzyme that is involved in the metabolism and maintenance of osmolarity, as a potential target for this compound. Together, using a new class of heterocyclic iodonium salts, a potent CRAB inhibitor was identified, and our study lays the foundation for the identification of new druggable targets against this critical pathogen. IMPORTANCE Discovery of novel antibiotics targeting multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens such as A. baumannii is an urgent, unmet medical need. Our work has highlighted the potential of this unique scaffold to annihilate MDR A. baumannii alone and in combination with amikacin both in vitro and in animals, that too without inducing resistance. Further in depth analysis identified central metabolism to be a putative target. Taken together, these experiments lay down the foundation for effective management of infections caused due to highly MDR pathogens.

NADPH oxidase 4 is dispensable for skin myofibroblast differentiation and wound healing

Differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is governed by the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) through a mechanism involving redox signaling and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Myofibroblasts synthesize proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and display a contractile phenotype. Myofibroblasts are predominant contributors of wound healing and several pathological states, including fibrotic diseases and cancer. Inhibition of the ROS-generating enzyme NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) has been proposed to mitigate fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation and to offer a therapeutic option for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. In this study, we addressed the role of NOX4 in physiological wound healing and in TGF-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation. We explored the phenotypic changes induced by TGF-β in primary skin fibroblasts isolated from Nox4-deficient mice by immunofluorescence, Western blotting and RNA sequencing. Mice deficient for Cyba, the gene coding for p22^phox, a key subunit of NOX4 were used for confirmatory experiments as well as human primary skin fibroblasts. In vivo, the wound healing was similar in wild-type and Nox4-deficient mice. In vitro, despite a strong upregulation following TGF-β treatment, Nox4 did not influence skin myofibroblast differentiation although a putative NOX4 inhibitor GKT137831 and a flavoprotein inhibitor diphenylene iodonium mitigated this mechanism. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of the mitochondrial protein Ucp2 and the stress-response protein Hddc3 in Nox4-deficient fibroblasts, which had however no impact on fibroblast bioenergetics. Altogether, we provide extensive evidence that NOX4 is dispensable for wound healing and skin fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation, and suggest that another H₂O₂-generating flavoprotein drives this mechanism.

Chlamydia trachomatis Requires Functional Host-Cell Mitochondria and NADPH Oxidase 4/p38MAPK Signaling for Growth in Normoxia

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is an intracellular energy-parasitic bacterium that requires ATP derived from infected cells for its growth. Meanwhile, depending on the O₂ concentration, the host cells change their mode of ATP production between oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria (Mt) and glycolysis; this change depends on signaling via reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by NADPH oxidases (NOXs) as well as Mt. It has been proposed that Ct correspondingly switches its source of acquisition of ATP between host-cell Mt and glycolysis, but this has not been verified experimentally. In the present study, we assessed the roles of host-cell NOXs and Mt in the intracellular growth of CtL2 (L2 434/Bu) under normoxia (21% O₂) and hypoxia (2% O₂) by using several inhibitors of NOXs (or the downstream molecule) and Mt-dysfunctional (Mt^d) HEp-2 cells. Under normoxia, diphenyleneiodonium, an inhibitor of ROS diffusion, abolished the growth of CtL2 and other Chlamydiae (CtD and C. pneumoniae). Both ML171 (a pan-NOX inhibitor) and GLX351322 (a NOX4-specific inhibitor) impaired the growth of CtL2 under normoxia, but not hypoxia. NOX4-knockdown cells diminished the bacterial growth. SB203580, an inhibitor of the NOX4-downstream molecule p38MAPK, also inhibited the growth of CtL2 under normoxia but not hypoxia. Furthermore, CtL2 failed to grow in Mt^d cells under normoxia, but no effect was observed under hypoxia. We conclude that under normoxia, Ct requires functional Mt in its host cells as an ATP source, and that this process requires NOX4/p38MAPK signaling in the host cells. In contrast to hypoxia, crosstalk between NOX4 and Mt via p38MAPK may be crucial for the growth of Ct under normoxia.

A reversible mitochondrial complex I thiol switch mediates hypoxic avoidance behavior in C. elegans

C. elegans react to metabolic distress caused by mismatches in oxygen and energy status via distinct behavioral responses. At the molecular level, these responses are coordinated by under-characterized, redox-sensitive processes, thought to initiate in mitochondria. Complex I of the electron transport chain is a major site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and is canonically associated with oxidative damage following hypoxic exposure. Here, we use a combination of optogenetics and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing to exert spatiotemporal control over ROS production. We demonstrate a photo-locomotory remodeling of avoidance behavior by local ROS production due to the reversible oxidation of a single thiol on the complex I subunit NDUF-2.1. Reversible thiol oxidation at this site is necessary and sufficient for the behavioral response to hypoxia, does not respond to ROS produced at more distal sites, and protects against lethal hypoxic exposure. Molecular modeling suggests that oxidation at this thiol residue alters the ability for NDUF-2.1 to coordinate electron transfer to coenzyme Q by destabilizing the Q-binding pocket, causing decreased complex I activity. Overall, site-specific ROS production regulates behavioral responses and these findings provide a mechanistic target to suppress the detrimental effects of hypoxia.

IFNγ Regulates NAD+ Metabolism to Promote the Respiratory Burst in Human Monocytes

IFNγ is an essential and pleiotropic activator of human monocytes, but little is known about the changes in cellular metabolism required for IFNγ-induced activation. We sought to elucidate the mechanisms by which IFNγ reprograms monocyte metabolism to support its immunologic activities. We found that IFNγ increased oxygen consumption rates (OCR) in monocytes, indicative of reactive oxygen species generation by both mitochondria and NADPH oxidase. Transcriptional profiling revealed that this oxidative phenotype was driven by IFNγ-induced reprogramming of NAD+ metabolism, which is dependent on nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT)-mediated NAD+ salvage to generate NADH and NADPH for oxidation by mitochondrial complex I and NADPH oxidase, respectively. Consistent with this pathway, monocytes from patients with gain-of-function mutations in STAT1 demonstrated higher than normal OCR. Whereas chemical or genetic disruption of mitochondrial complex I (rotenone treatment or Leigh Syndrome patient monocytes) or NADPH oxidase (DPI treatment or chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patient monocytes) reduced OCR. Interestingly, inhibition of NAMPT in healthy monocytes completely abrogated the IFNγ-induced oxygen consumption, comparable to levels observed in CGD monocytes. These data identify an IFNγ-induced, NAMPT-dependent, NAD+ salvage pathway that is critical for IFNγ activation of human monocytes.

The ins and outs of the flavin mononucleotide cofactor of respiratory complex I

The flavin mononucleotide (FMN) cofactor of respiratory complex I occupies a key position in the electron transport chain. Here, the electrons coming from NADH start the sequence of oxidoreduction reactions, which drives the generation of the proton-motive force necessary for ATP synthesis. The overall architecture and the general catalytic proprieties of the FMN site are mostly well established. However, several aspects regarding the complex I flavin cofactor are still unknown. For example, the flavin binding to the N-module, the NADH-oxidizing portion of complex I, lacks a molecular description. The dissociation of FMN from the enzyme is beginning to emerge as an important regulatory mechanism of complex I activity and ROS production. Finally, how mitochondria import and metabolize FMN is still uncertain. This review summarizes the current knowledge on complex I flavin cofactor and discusses the open questions for future research.

Comprehensive understanding of multiple actions of anticancer drug tamoxifen in isolated mitochondria

Tamoxifen has been widely used in the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, whereas it also exhibits ER-independent anticancer effects in various cancer cell types. As one of the convincing mechanisms underlying the ER-independent effects, induction of apoptosis through mitochondrial dysfunction has been advocated. However, the mechanism of action of tamoxifen even at the isolated mitochondrial level is not fully understood and remains controversial. Here, we attempted to comprehensively understand tamoxifen's multiple actions in isolated rat liver mitochondria through not only revisiting the actions hitherto reported but also conducting originally designed experiments. Using submitochondrial particles, we found that tamoxifen has potential as an inhibitor of both respiratory complex I and ATP synthase. However, these inhibitory effects were not elicited in intact mitochondria, likely because penetration of tamoxifen across the inner mitochondrial membrane is highly restricted owing to its localized positive charge (-N+H(CH3)2). This restricted penetration may also explain why tamoxifen is unable to function as a protonophore-type uncoupler in mitochondria. Moreover, tamoxifen suppressed opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore induced by Ca2+ overload through enhancing phosphate uptake into the matrix. The photoaffinity labeling experiments using a photolabile tamoxifen derivative (pTAM1) indicated that pTAM1 specifically binds to voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) 1 and 3, which regulate transport of various substances into mitochondria. The binding of tamoxifen to VDAC1 and/or VDAC3 could be responsible for the enhancement of phosphate uptake. Taking all the results together, we consider the principal impairment of mitochondrial functions caused by tamoxifen.

Inhibition of phase-1 biotransformation and cytostatic effects of diphenyleneiodonium on hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 and a CYP3A4-overexpressing HepG2 cell clone

Cell-based in vitro liver models are an important tool in the development and evaluation of new drugs in pharmacological and toxicological drug assessment. Hepatic microsomal enzyme complexes, consisting of cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs), play a decisive role in catalysing phase-1 biotransformation of pharmaceuticals and xenobiotics. For a comprehensive understanding of the phase-1 biotransformation of drugs, the availability of well-characterized substances for the targeted modulation of in vitro liver models is essential. In this study, we investigated diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) for its ability to inhibit phase-1 enzyme activity and further its toxicological profile in an in vitro HepG2 cell model with and without recombinant expression of the most important drug metabolization enzyme CYP3A4.

Aim of the study was to identify effective DPI concentrations for CPR/CYP activity modulation and potentially associated dose and time dependent hepatotoxic effects. The cells were treated with DPI doses up to 5,000nM (versus vehicle control) for a maximum of 48 h and subsequently examined for CYP3A4 activity as well as various toxicological relevant parameters such as cell morphology, integrity and viability, intracellular ATP level, and proliferation. Concluding, the experiments revealed a time- and concentration-dependent DPI mediated partial and complete inhibition of CYP3A4 activity in CYP3A4 overexpressing HepG2-cells (HepG2-CYP3A4). Other cell functions, including ATP synthesis and consequently the proliferation were negatively affected in both in vitro cell models. Since neither cell integrity nor cell viability were reduced, the effect of DPI in HepG2 can be assessed as cytostatic rather than cytotoxic.

Process of energy conservation in the extremely haloalkaliphilic methyl-reducing methanogen Methanonatronarchaeum thermophilum

The recently isolated methanogen Methanonatronarchaeum thermophilum is an extremely haloalkaliphilic and moderately thermophilic archaeon and belongs to the novel class Methanonatronarchaeia in the phylum Halobacteriota. The knowledge about the physiology and biochemistry of members of the class Methanonatronarchaeia is still limited. It is known that M. thermophilum performs hydrogen or formate-dependent methyl-reducing methanogenesis. Here, we show that the organism was able to grow on all tested C₁ -methylated substrates (methanol, trimethylamine, dimethylamine, monomethylamine) in combination with formate or molecular hydrogen. A temporary accumulation of intermediates (dimethylamine or/and monomethylamine) in the medium occurred during the consumption of trimethylamine or dimethylamine. The energy conservation of M. thermophilum was dependent on a respiratory chain consisting of a hydrogenase (VhoGAC), a formate dehydrogenase (FdhGHI), and a heterodisulfide reductase (HdrDE) that were well adapted to the harsh physicochemical conditions in the natural habitat. The experiments revealed the presence of two variants of energy-conserving oxidoreductase systems in the membrane. These included the H₂ : heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system, which has already been described in Methanosarcina species, as well as the novel formate: heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system. The latter electron transport chain, which was experimentally proven for the first time, distinguishes the organism from all other known methanogenic archaea and represents a unique feature of the class Methanonatronarchaeia. Experiments with 2-hydroxyphenazine and the inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium chloride indicated that a methanophenazine-like cofactor might function as an electron carrier between the hydrogenase/ formate dehydrogenase and the heterodisulfide reductase.

Neutrophil HIF-1α stabilisation is augmented by mitochondrial ROS produced via the glycerol 3-phosphate shuttle

Neutrophils stabilize HIF-1α through the release of mitochondrial ROS.

The glycerol 3-phosphate shuttle links glycolysis to HIF-1 stabilization, maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential and cell survival.

Neutrophils are predominantly glycolytic cells that derive little ATP from oxidative phosphorylation; however, they possess an extensive mitochondrial network and maintain a mitochondrial membrane potential. Although studies have shown neutrophils need their mitochondria to undergo apoptosis and regulate NETosis, the metabolic role of the respiratory chain in these highly glycolytic cells is still unclear. Recent studies have expanded on the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) released from the mitochondria as intracellular signaling molecules. Our study shows that neutrophils can use their mitochondria to generate ROS and that mitochondrial ROS release is increased in hypoxic conditions. This is needed for the stabilization of a high level of the critical hypoxic response factor and pro-survival protein HIF-1α in hypoxia. Further, we demonstrate that neutrophils use the glycerol 3-phosphate pathway as a way of directly regulating mitochondrial function through glycolysis, specifically to maintain polarized mitochondria and produce ROS. This illustrates an additional pathway by which neutrophils can regulate HIF-1α stability and will therefore be an important consideration when looking for treatments of inflammatory conditions in which HIF-1α activation and neutrophil persistence at the site of inflammation are linked to disease severity.

Adherence of Trichomonas vaginalis to SiHa Cells is Inhibited by Diphenyleneiodonium

Microbial adhesion is critical for parasitic infection and colonization of host cells. To study the host–parasite interaction in vitro, we established a flow cytometry-based assay to measure the adherence of Trichomonas vaginalis to epithelial cell line SiHa. SiHa cells and T. vaginalis were detected as clearly separated, quantifiable populations by flow cytometry. We found that T. vaginalis attached to SiHa cells as early as 30 min after infection and the binding remained stable up to several hours, allowing for analysis of drug treatment efficacy. Importantly, NADPH oxidase inhibitor DPI treatment induced the detachment of T. vaginalis from SiHa cells in a dose-dependent manner without affecting host cell viability. Thus, this study may provide an understanding for the potential development of therapies against T. vaginalis and other parasite infections.

Diphenylene Iodonium Is a Noncovalent MAO Inhibitor: A Biochemical and Structural Analysis

Diphenylene iodonium (DPI) is known for its inhibitory activities against many flavin- and heme-dependent enzymes, and is often used as an NADPH oxidase inhibitor. We probed the efficacy of DPI on two well-known drug targets, the human monoamine oxidases MAO A and B. UV-visible spectrophotometry and steady-state kinetics experiments demonstrate that DPI acts as a competitive and reversible MAO inhibitor with K_i values of 1.7 and 0.3 μM for MAO A and MAO B, respectively. Elucidation of the crystal structure of human MAO B bound to the inhibitor revealed that DPI binds deeply in the active-site cavity to establish multiple hydrophobic interactions with the surrounding side chains and the flavin. These data prove that DPI is a genuine MAO inhibitor and that the inhibition mechanism does not involve a reaction with the reduced flavin. This binding and inhibitory activity against the MAOs, two major reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing enzymes, will have to be carefully considered when interpreting experiments that rely on DPI for target validation and chemical biology studies on ROS functions.

Ca2+-Induced Mitochondrial ROS Regulate the Early Embryonic Cell Cycle

While it is appreciated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can act as second messengers in both homeostastic and stress response signaling pathways, potential roles for ROS during early vertebrate development have remained largely unexplored. Here, we show that fertilization in Xenopus embryos triggers a rapid increase in ROS levels, which oscillate with each cell division. Furthermore, we show that the fertilization-induced Ca²⁺ wave is necessary and sufficient to induce ROS production in activated or fertilized eggs. Using chemical inhibitors, we identified mitochondria as the major source of fertilization-induced ROS production. Inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production in early embryos results in cell-cycle arrest, in part, via ROS-dependent regulation of Cdc25C activity. This study reveals a role for oscillating ROS levels in early cell cycle regulation in Xenopus embryos.

Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate Therapeutic Ultrasound-Induced, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation in C28/I2 Chondrocytes

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been used for the treatment of non-healing fractures because of its therapeutic properties of stimulating enhancing endochondral bone formation. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that LIPUS activates mitogen-activated protein kinases through generation of reactive oxygen species. C28/I2 cells were stimulated with LIPUS for 10 and 20 min, while the control group was treated using a sham LIPUS transducer. Through quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot analyses, we determined that LIPUS application increased reactive oxygen species generation and cell viability in C28/I2 cells. There were increases in the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 and in expression of SOX9, COL2 A1 and ACAN genes. These effects were reversed when cells were treated with diphenylene iodonium, which is known to inhibit NADPH oxidase. It was concluded that exposure of chondrocytes to LIPUS led to reactive oxygen species generation, which activated MAPK signaling and further increased chondrocyte-specific gene markers involved in chondrocyte differentiation and extracellular matrix formation.

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species regulate the induction of CD8+ T cells by plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Cross-presentation allows exogenous antigen presentation in association with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, a process crucial for the priming of CD8⁺ T-cell responses against viruses and tumors. By contrast to conventional dendritic cells (cDC), which cross-present antigens in the steady state, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) acquire this ability only after stimulation by Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. The intracellular pathways accounting for this functional difference are still unknown. Here we show that the induction of cross-presentation by pDCs is regulated by mitochondria through a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mechanism, involving pH alkalization and antigen protection. The reduction of mitochondrial ROS production dramatically decreases the cross-presentation capacity of pDCs, leading to a strong reduction of their capacity to trigger CD8⁺ T-cell responses. Our results demonstrate the importance of mitochondrial metabolism in pDC biology, particularly for the induction of adaptive immune responses.

Novel NADPH oxidase inhibitor VAS2870 suppresses TGF‑β‑dependent epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition in retinal pigment epithelial cells

NADPH oxidases (NOXs) are important in the pathophysiology of fibrotic diseases. The expression and activity of NOXs are regulated by growth factors, including transforming growth factor (TGF-β). The proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells following epithelial- to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a major pathological change involved in proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the novel NOX inhibitor VAS2870 on the TGF-β-dependent expression of NOX4 and associated cellular events in RPE cells. Cell viability was examined using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and cell cycle progression was detected by flow cytometric analysis. Immunofluorescence analysis and western blot analysis were performed to assess EMT. It was found that TGF-β increased the expression of NOX4 and that pre-incubation with VAS2870 eliminated this effect. Additionally, TGF-β promoted RPE migration and increased EMT. Pre-incubation with VAS2870 significantly prevented TGF-β2-induced EMT by decreasing the levels of α-smooth muscle actin and E-cadherin, and also inhibited the migratory ability of the RPE cells, as demonstrated by scratch assays. Finally, VAS2870 suppressed the proliferation of RPE cells, and led to G₁-phase cell cycle arrest and a significant downregulation of the expression of cyclin D1. In conclusion, the pharmacological inhibition of NOX may be a promising tool for the treatment of PVR.

Na+-NQR (Na+-translocating NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) as a novel target for antibiotics

The recent breakthrough in structural studies on Na+-translocating NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Na+-NQR) from the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae creates a perspective for the systematic design of inhibitors for this unique enzyme, which is the major Na+ pump in aerobic pathogens. Widespread distribution of Na+-NQR among pathogenic species, its key role in energy metabolism, its relation to virulence in different species as well as its absence in eukaryotic cells makes this enzyme especially attractive as a target for prospective antibiotics. In this review, the major biochemical, physiological and, especially, the pharmacological aspects of Na+-NQR are discussed to assess its 'target potential' for drug development. A comparison to other primary bacterial Na+ pumps supports the contention that NQR is a first rate prospective target for a new generation of antimicrobials. A new, narrowly targeted furanone inhibitor of NQR designed in our group is presented as a molecular platform for the development of anti-NQR remedies.

The ModA2 Phasevarion of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Regulates Resistance to Oxidative Stress and Killing by Human Neutrophils

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is the causative agent of multiple respiratory tract infections. Several human pathogens, including NTHI, possess a novel genetic system, termed the phasevarion, which mediates a rapid and reversible change in the expression of many genes throughout the chromosome. This occurs by phase variation of a single gene (modA) that encodes a DNA methyltransferase and results in two phenotypically distinct subpopulations, ON and OFF. NTHI encounters many pressures within the various microenvironments of its human host as the disease course evolves from one of asymptomatic nasopharyngeal carriage to overt disease. These include oxidative stresses, which are present throughout the respiratory tract. To persist in the human nasopharynx and as a pathogen throughout the airways, NTHI must be able to mitigate toxic levels of oxidative stress. Here we show that expression of ModA2, modA2 ON status, resulted in increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. Furthermore, the modA2 ON status resulted in decreased resistance to neutrophil-mediated killing, which resulted in selection for the modA2 OFF subpopulation in an ex vivo survival assay. These findings highlight the importance of the ModA2 phasevarion in adaptation to innate host defences and reveal an additional microenvironmental pressure that selected for a specific ModA2 subpopulation.

Using Intrinsic Flavoprotein and NAD(P)H Imaging to Map Functional Circuitry in the Main Olfactory Bulb

Neurons exhibit strong coupling of electrochemical and metabolic activity. Increases in intrinsic fluorescence from either oxidized flavoproteins or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) [NAD(P)H] in the mitochondria have been used as an indicator of neuronal activity for the functional mapping of neural circuits. However, this technique has not been used to investigate the flow of olfactory information within the circuitry of the main olfactory bulb (MOB). We found that intrinsic flavoprotein fluorescence signals induced by electrical stimulation of single glomeruli displayed biphasic responses within both the glomerular (GL) and external plexiform layers (EPL) of the MOB. Pharmacological blockers of mitochondrial activity, voltage-gated Na⁺ channels, or ionotropic glutamate receptors abolished stimulus-dependent flavoprotein responses. Blockade of GABA_A receptors enhanced the amplitude and spatiotemporal spread of the flavoprotein signals, indicating an important role for inhibitory neurotransmission in shaping the spread of neural activity in the MOB. Stimulus-dependent spread of fluorescence across the GL and EPL displayed a spatial distribution consistent with that of individual glomerular microcircuits mapped by neuroanatomic tract tracing. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of intrinsic fluorescence imaging in the olfactory systems and provided a new tool to examine the functional circuitry of the MOB.

Selective Targeting of Heme Protein in Cytochrome P450 and Nitric Oxide Synthase by Diphenyleneiodonium

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes mediate mixed-function oxidation reactions important in drug metabolism. The aromatic heterocyclic cation, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), binds flavin in cytochrome P450 reductase and inhibits CYP-mediated activity. DPI also inhibits CYP by directly interacting with heme. Herein, we report that DPI effectively inhibits a number of CYP-related monooxygenase reactions including NADPH oxidase, a microsomal enzyme activity that generates hydrogen peroxide in the absence of metabolizing substrates. Inhibition of monooxygenase by DPI was time and concentration dependent with IC50's ranging from 0.06 to 1.9 μM. Higher (4.6-23.9 μM), but not lower (0.06-1.9 μM), concentrations of DPI inhibited electron flow via cytochrome P450 reductase, as measured by its ability to reduce cytochrome c and mediate quinone redox cycling. Similar results were observed with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), an enzyme containing a C-terminal reductase domain homologous to cytochrome P450 reductase that mediates reduction of cytochrome c, and an N-terminal heme-thiolate oxygenase domain mediating nitric oxide production. Significantly greater concentrations of DPI were required to inhibit cytochrome c reduction by iNOS (IC50 = 3.5 µM) than nitric oxide production (IC50 = 0.16 µM). Difference spectra of liver microsomes, recombinant CYPs, and iNOS demonstrated that DPI altered heme-carbon monoxide interactions. In the presence of NADPH, DPI treatment of microsomes and iNOS yielded a type II spectral shift. These data indicate that DPI interacts with both flavin and heme in CYPs and iNOS. Increased sensitivity for inhibition of CYP-mediated metabolism and nitric oxide production by iNOS indicates that DPI targets heme moieties within the enzymes.

NADPH oxidases as electrochemical generators to produce ion fluxes and turgor in fungi, plants and humans

The NOXs are a family of flavocytochromes whose basic structure has been largely conserved from algae to man. This is a very simple system. NADPH is generally available, in plants it is a direct product of photosynthesis, and oxygen is a largely ubiquitous electron acceptor, and the electron-transporting core of an FAD and two haems is the minimal required to pass electrons across the plasma membrane. These NOXs have been shown to be essential for diverse functions throughout the biological world and, lacking a clear mechanism of action, their effects have generally been attributed to free radical reactions. Investigation into the function of neutrophil leucocytes has demonstrated that electron transport through the prototype NOX2 is accompanied by the generation of a charge across the membrane that provides the driving force propelling protons and other ions across the plasma membrane. The contention is that the primary function of the NOXs is to supply the driving force to transport ions, the nature of which will depend upon the composition and characteristics of the local ion channels, to undertake a host of diverse functions. These include the generation of turgor in fungi and plants for the growth of filaments and invasion by appressoria in the former, and extension of pollen tubes and root hairs, and stomatal closure, in the latter. In neutrophils, they elevate the pH in the phagocytic vacuole coupled to other ion fluxes. In endothelial cells of blood vessels, they could alter luminal volume to regulate blood pressure and tissue perfusion.

Ischemic A/D transition of mitochondrial complex I and its role in ROS generation

Mitochondrial complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is a key enzyme in cellular energy metabolism and provides approximately 40% of the proton-motive force that is utilized during mitochondrial ATP production. The dysregulation of complex I function – either genetically, pharmacologically, or metabolically induced – has severe pathophysiological consequences that often involve an imbalance in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Slow transition of the active (A) enzyme to the deactive, dormant (D) form takes place during ischemia in metabolically active organs such as the heart and brain. The reactivation of complex I occurs upon reoxygenation of ischemic tissue, a process that is usually accompanied by an increase in cellular ROS production. Complex I in the D-form serves as a protective mechanism preventing the oxidative burst upon reperfusion. Conversely, however, the D-form is more vulnerable to oxidative/nitrosative damage. Understanding the so-called active/deactive (A/D) transition may contribute to the development of new therapeutic interventions for conditions like stroke, cardiac infarction, and other ischemia-associated pathologies. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the mechanism of A/D transition of mitochondrial complex I considering recently available structural data and site-specific labeling experiments. In addition, this review discusses in detail the impact of the A/D transition on ROS production by complex I and the S-nitrosation of a critical cysteine residue of subunit ND3 as a strategy to prevent oxidative damage and tissue damage during ischemia–reperfusion injury. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Respiratory complex I, edited by Volker Zickermann and Ulrich Brandt.

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The current knowledge on active/deactive (A/D) transition of complex I is reviewed.

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The mechanism and driving force of the A/D conformational change are discussed.

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The A/D transition can affect ROS production and ischemia/reperfusion injury.

The immediate wound-induced oxidative burst of Saccharina latissima depends on light via photosynthetic electron transport

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by an oxidative burst are an important component of the wound response in algae, vascular plants, and animals. In all taxa, ROS production is usually attributed solely to a defense-related enzyme like NADPH-oxidase (Nox). However, here we show that the initial, wound-induced oxidative burst of the kelp Saccharina latissima depends on light and photosynthetic electron transport. We measured oxygen evolution and ROS production at different light levels and in the presence of a photosynthetic inhibitor, and we used spin trapping and electron paramagnetic resonance as an orthogonal method. Using an in vivo chemical probe, we provide data suggesting that wound-induced ROS production in two distantly related and geographically isolated species of Antarctic macroalgae may be light dependent as well. We propose that electron transport chains are an important and as yet unaddressed component of the wound response, not just for photosynthetic organisms, but for animals via mitochondria as well. This component may have been obscured by the historic use of diphenylene iodonium, which inhibits not only Noxes but also photosynthetic and respiratory electron transport as well. Finally, we anticipate physiological and/or ecological consequences of the light dependence of macroalgal wound-induced ROS since pathogens and grazers do not disappear in the dark.

Assembly defects induce oxidative stress in inherited mitochondrial complex I deficiency

Complex I (CI) deficiency is the most common respiratory chain defect representing more than 30% of mitochondrial diseases. CI is an L-shaped multi-subunit complex with a peripheral arm protruding into the mitochondrial matrix and a membrane arm. CI sequentially assembled into main assembly intermediates: the P (pumping), Q (Quinone) and N (NADH dehydrogenase) modules. In this study, we analyzed 11 fibroblast cell lines derived from patients with inherited CI deficiency resulting from mutations in the nuclear or mitochondrial DNA and impacting these different modules. In patient cells carrying a mutation located in the matrix arm of CI, blue native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) revealed a significant reduction of fully assembled CI enzyme and an accumulation of intermediates of the N module. In these cell lines with an assembly defect, NADH dehydrogenase activity was partly functional, even though CI was not fully assembled. We further demonstrated that this functional N module was responsible for ROS production through the reduced flavin mononucleotide. Due to the assembly defect, the FMN site was not re-oxidized leading to a significant oxidative stress in cell lines with an assembly defect. These findings not only highlight the relationship between CI assembly and oxidative stress, but also show the suitability of BN-PAGE analysis in evaluating the consequences of CI dysfunction. Moreover, these data suggest that the use of antioxidants may be particularly relevant for patients displaying a CI assembly defect.

Enhanced hydrogen peroxide generation accompanies the beneficial bioenergetic effects of methylene blue in isolated brain mitochondria

The redox dye methylene blue (MB) is proven to have beneficial effects in various models of neurodegenerative diseases. Here we investigated the effects of MB (100 nM, 300 nM, and 1 μM) on key bioenergetic parameters and on H2O2 production/elimination in isolated guinea pig brain mitochondria under normal as well as respiration-impaired conditions. As measured by high-resolution Oxygraph the rate of resting oxygen consumption was increased, but the ADP-stimulated respiration was unaffected by MB with any of the substrates (glutamate malate, succinate, or α-glycerophosphate) used for supporting mitochondrial respiration. In mitochondria treated with inhibitors of complex I or complex III MB moderately but significantly increased the rate of ATP production, restored ΔΨm, and increased the rate of Ca(2+) uptake. The effects of MB are consistent with transferring electrons from upstream components of the electron transport chain to cytochrome c, which is energetically favorable when the flow of electrons in the respiratory chain is compromised. On the other hand, MB significantly increased the production of H2O2 measured by Amplex UltraRed fluorimetry under all conditions, in resting, ATP-synthesizing, and respiration-impaired mitochondria, with each substrate combination supporting respiration. Furthermore, it also decreased the elimination of H2O2. Generation of H2O2 without superoxide formation, observed in the presence of MB, is interpreted as a result of reduction of molecular oxygen to H2O2 by the reduced MB. The elevated generation and impaired elimination of H2O2 should be considered for the overall oxidative state of mitochondria treated with MB.

NADPH oxidase- and mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species in proinflammatory microglial activation: a bipartisan affair?

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and play major roles in central nervous system development, maintenance, and disease. Brain insults cause microglia to proliferate, migrate, and transform into one or more activated states. Classical M1 activation triggers the production of proinflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which, in excess, can exacerbate brain injury. The mechanisms underlying microglial activation are not fully understood, yet reactive oxygen species are increasingly implicated as mediators of microglial activation. In this review, we highlight studies linking reactive oxygen species, in particular hydrogen peroxide derived from NADPH oxidase-generated superoxide, to the classical activation of microglia. In addition, we critically evaluate controversial evidence suggesting a specific role for mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a multiprotein complex that mediates the production of IL-1β and IL-18. Finally, the limitations of common techniques used to implicate mitochondrial ROS in microglial and inflammasome activation, such as the use of the mitochondrially targeted ROS indicator MitoSOX and the mitochondrially targeted antioxidant MitoTEMPO, are also discussed.

Kinetic evidence against partitioning of the ubiquinone pool and the catalytic relevance of respiratory-chain supercomplexes

In mitochondria, four respiratory-chain complexes drive oxidative phosphorylation by sustaining a proton-motive force across the inner membrane that is used to synthesize ATP. The question of how the densely packed proteins of the inner membrane are organized to optimize structure and function has returned to prominence with the characterization of respiratory-chain supercomplexes. Supercomplexes are increasingly accepted structural entities, but their functional and catalytic advantages are disputed. Notably, substrate "channeling" between the enzymes in supercomplexes has been proposed to confer a kinetic advantage, relative to the rate provided by a freely accessible, common substrate pool. Here, we focus on the mitochondrial ubiquinone/ubiquinol pool. We formulate and test three conceptually simple predictions of the behavior of the mammalian respiratory chain that depend on whether channeling in supercomplexes is kinetically important, and on whether the ubiquinone pool is partitioned between pathways. Our spectroscopic and kinetic experiments demonstrate how the metabolic pathways for NADH and succinate oxidation communicate and catalyze via a single, universally accessible ubiquinone/ubiquinol pool that is not partitioned or channeled. We reevaluate the major piece of contrary evidence from flux control analysis and find that the conclusion of substrate channeling arises from the particular behavior of a single inhibitor; we explain why different inhibitors behave differently and show that a robust flux control analysis provides no evidence for channeling. Finally, we discuss how the formation of respiratory-chain supercomplexes may confer alternative advantages on energy-converting membranes.

Mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species

Numerous biochemical studies are aimed at elucidating the sources and mechanisms of formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) because they are involved in cellular, organ-, and tissue-specific physiology. Mitochondria along with other cellular organelles of eukaryotes contribute significantly to ROS formation and utilization. This review is a critical account of the mitochondrial ROS production and methods for their registration. The physiological and pathophysiological significance of the mitochondrially produced ROS are discussed.

The NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium activates the human TRPA1 nociceptor

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a Ca(2+)-permeable nonselective cation channel expressed in neuronal and nonneuronal cells and plays an important role in acute and inflammatory pain. Here, we show that an NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), functions as a TRPA1 activator in human embryonic kidney cells expressing human TRPA1 (HEK-TRPA1) and in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Application of DPI at 0.03-10 μM induced a Ca(2+) response in HEK-TRPA1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The Ca(2+) response was effectively blocked by a selective TRPA1 antagonist, HC-030031 (HC). In contrast, DPI had no effect on HEK cells expressing TRPV1-V4 or TRPM8. Four other NOX inhibitors, apocynin (APO), VAS2870 (VAS), plumbagin, and 2-acetylphenothiazine, also induced a Ca(2+) response in HEK-TRPA1 cells, which was inhibited by pretreatment with HC. In the presence of 5 mM glutathione, the Ca(2+) response to DPI was effectively reduced. Moreover, mutation of cysteine 621 in TRPA1 substantially inhibited the DPI-induced Ca(2+) response, while it did not inhibit the APO- and VAS-induced responses. The channel activity was induced by DPI in excised membrane patches with both outside-out and inside-out configurations. Internal application of neomycin significantly inhibited the DPI-induced inward currents. In inflammatory synoviocytes with TRPA1, DPI evoked a Ca(2+) response that was sensitive to HC. In mice, intraplantar injection of DPI caused a pain-related response which was inhibited by preadministration with HC. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that DPI and other NOX inhibitors activate human TRPA1 without mediating NOX.

Involvement of reactive oxygen species in PTTH-stimulated ecdysteroidogenesis in prothoracic glands of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

In the present study, the possible involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH)-stimulated ecdysteroidogenesis of Bombyx mori prothoracic glands (PGs) was investigated. Results showed that PTTH treatment resulted in a rapidly transient increase in the intracellular ROS concentration, as measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFDA), an oxidation-sensitive fluorescent probe. The antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), abolished PTTH-induced increase in fluorescence. Furthermore, PTTH-induced ROS production was partially inhibited by the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, apocynin, indicating that NAD(P)H oxidase is one of the sources for PTTH-stimulated ROS production. Four mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors (rotenone, antimycin A, the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP), and diphenylene iodonium (DPI)) significantly attenuated ROS production induced by PTTH. These data suggest that the activity of complexes I and III in the electron transport chain and the mitochondrial inner membrane potential (ΔΨ) contribute to PTTH-stimulated ROS production. In addition, PTTH-stimulated ecdysteroidogenesis was greatly inhibited by treatment with either NAC or mitochondrial inhibitors (rotenone, antimycin A, FCCP, and DPI), but not with apocynin. These results indicate that mitochondria-derived, but not membrane NAD(P)H oxidase-mediated ROS signaling, is involved in PTTH-stimulated ecdysteroidogenesis of PGs in B. mori.

Physiological roles of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species

Historically, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) were thought to exclusively cause cellular damage and lack a physiological function. Accumulation of ROS and oxidative damage have been linked to multiple pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cancer, and premature aging. Thus, mROS were originally envisioned as a necessary evil of oxidative metabolism, a product of an imperfect system. Yet few biological systems possess such flagrant imperfections, thanks to the persistent optimization of evolution, and it appears that oxidative metabolism is no different. More and more evidence suggests that mROS are critical for healthy cell function. In this Review, we discuss this evidence following some background on the generation and regulation of mROS.

A defect in iron uptake enhances the susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans to azole antifungal drugs

The high-affinity reductive iron uptake system that includes a ferroxidase (Cfo1) and an iron permease (Cft1) is critical for the pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans. In addition, a mutant lacking CFO1 or CFT1 not only has reduced iron uptake but also displays a markedly increased susceptibility to azole antifungal drugs. Altered antifungal susceptibility of the mutants was of particular interest because the iron uptake system has been proposed as an alternative target for antifungal treatment. In this study, we used transcriptome analysis to begin exploring the molecular mechanisms of altered antifungal susceptibility in a cfo1 mutant. The wild-type strain and the cfo1 mutant were cultured with or without the azole antifungal drug fluconazole and their transcriptomes were compared following sequencing with Illumina Genome Analyzer IIx (GAIIx) technology. As expected, treatment of both strains with fluconazole caused elevated expression of genes in the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway that includes the target enzyme Erg11. Additionally, genes differentially expressed in the cfo1 mutant were involved in iron uptake and homeostasis, mitochondrial functions and respiration. The cfo1 mutant also displayed phenotypes consistent with these changes including a reduced ratio of NAD(+)/NADH and down-regulation of Fe-S cluster synthesis. Moreover, combination treatment of the wild-type strain with fluconazole and the respiration inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium dramatically increased susceptibility to fluconazole. This result supports the hypothesis that down-regulation of genes required for respiration contributed to the altered fluconazole susceptibility of the cfo1 mutant. Overall, our data suggest that iron uptake and homeostasis play a key role in antifungal susceptibility and could be used as novel targets for combination treatment of cryptococcosis. Indeed, we found that iron chelation in combination with fluconazole treatment synergistically inhibited the growth of C. neoformans.

Real-time monitoring of superoxide generation and cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma mitochondria induced by 1-trichloromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline

The potential neurotoxin 1-trichloromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (TaClo) has recently been suggested to be a causative factor in the clinical development of parkinsonian symptoms after long-term exposure to precursor compounds such as the hypnotic chloral hydrate. TaClo is known to cause cell death in dopaminergic neuronal cells, however, the pathway and mechanisms remain undefined. This study reports for the first time that TaClo promotes cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells within 2 hours of initial exposure. TaClo also caused superoxide production from isolated mitochondria, which was comparable in response time and magnitude to production elicited by more established respiratory inhibitors such as rotenone and antimycin A. These findings present new evidence in support of TaClo-induced neuronal death via superoxide signalling and oxidative stress.

Complex I generated, mitochondrial matrix-directed superoxide is released from the mitochondria through voltage dependent anion channels

Mitochondrial complex I has previously been shown to release superoxide exclusively towards the mitochondrial matrix, whereas complex III releases superoxide to both the matrix and the cytosol. Superoxide produced at complex III has been shown to exit the mitochondria through voltage dependent anion channels (VDAC). To test whether complex I-derived, mitochondrial matrix-directed superoxide can be released to the cytosol, we measured superoxide generation in mitochondria isolated from wild type and from mice genetically altered to be deficient in MnSOD activity (TnIFastCreSod2(fl/fl)). Under experimental conditions that produce superoxide primarily by complex I (glutamate/malate plus rotenone, GM+R), MnSOD-deficient mitochondria release ∼4-fold more superoxide than mitochondria isolated from wild type mice. Exogenous CuZnSOD completely abolished the EPR-derived GM+R signal in mitochondria isolated from both genotypes, evidence that confirms mitochondrial superoxide release. Addition of the VDAC inhibitor DIDS significantly reduced mitochondrial superoxide release (∼75%) in mitochondria from either genotype respiring on GM+R. Conversely, inhibition of potential inner membrane sites of superoxide exit, including the matrix face of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and the inner membrane anion channel did not reduce mitochondrial superoxide release in the presence of GM+R in mitochondria isolated from either genotype. These data support the concept that complex I-derived mitochondrial superoxide release does indeed occur and that the majority of this release occurs through VDACs.

Effects of moderate electrical stimulation on reactive species production by primary rat skeletal muscle cells: cross talk between superoxide and nitric oxide production

The effects of a moderate electrical stimulation on superoxide and nitric oxide production by primary cultured skeletal muscle cells were evaluated. The involvement of the main sites of these reactive species production and the relationship between superoxide and nitric oxide production were also examined. Production of superoxide was evaluated by cytochrome c reduction and dihydroethidium oxidation assays. Electrical stimulation increased superoxide production after 1 h incubation. A xanthine oxidase inhibitor caused a partial decrease of superoxide generation and a significant amount of mitochondria-derived superoxide was also observed. Nitric oxide production was assessed by nitrite measurement and by using 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2-DA) assay. Using both methods an increased production of nitric oxide was obtained after electrical stimulation, which was also able to induce an increase of iNOS content and NF-κB activation. The participation of superoxide in nitric oxide production was investigated by incubating cells with DAF-2-DA in the presence or absence of electrical stimulation, a superoxide generator system (xanthine-xanthine oxidase), a mixture of NOS inhibitors and SOD-PEG. Our data show that the induction of muscle contraction by a moderate electrical stimulation protocol led to an increased nitric oxide production that can be controlled by superoxide generation. The cross talk between these reactive species likely plays a role in exercise-induced maintenance and adaptation by regulating muscular glucose metabolism, force of contraction, fatigue, and antioxidant systems activities.

NOX1, 2, 4, 5: counting out oxidative stress

For decades, oxidative stress has been discussed as a key mechanism of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. However, attempts to validate and exploit this hypothesis clinically by supplementing antioxidants have failed. Nevertheless, this does not disprove the oxidative stress hypothesis. As a certain degree of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation appears to be physiological and beneficial. To reduce oxidative stress therapeutically, two alternative approaches are being developed. One is the repair of key signalling components that are compromised by oxidative stress. These include uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase and oxidized/heme-free NO receptor soluble guanylate cyclase. A second approach is to identify and effectively inhibit the relevant source(s) of ROS in a given disease condition. A highly likely target in this context is the family of NADPH oxidases. Animal models, including NOX knockout mice and new pharmacological inhibitors of NADPH oxidases have opened up a new era of oxidative stress research and have paved the way for new cardiovascular therapies.

Bezielle selectively targets mitochondria of cancer cells to inhibit glycolysis and OXPHOS

Bezielle (BZL101) is a candidate oral drug that has shown promising efficacy and excellent safety in the early phase clinical trials for advanced breast cancer. Bezielle is an aqueous extract from the herb Scutellaria barbata. We have reported previously that Bezielle was selectively cytotoxic to cancer cells while sparing non-transformed cells. In tumor, but not in non-transformed cells, Bezielle induced generation of ROS and severe DNA damage followed by hyperactivation of PARP, depletion of the cellular ATP and NAD, and inhibition of glycolysis. We show here that tumor cells' mitochondria are the primary source of reactive oxygen species induced by Bezielle. Treatment with Bezielle induces progressively higher levels of mitochondrial superoxide as well as peroxide-type ROS. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration prevents generation of both types of ROS and protects cells from Bezielle-induced death. In addition to glycolysis, Bezielle inhibits oxidative phosphorylation in tumor cells and depletes mitochondrial reserve capacity depriving cells of the ability to produce ATP. Tumor cells lacking functional mitochondria maintain glycolytic activity in presence of Bezielle thus supporting the hypothesis that mitochondria are the primary target of Bezielle. The metabolic effects of Bezielle towards normal cells are not significant, in agreement with the low levels of oxidative damage that Bezielle inflicts on them. Bezielle is therefore a drug that selectively targets cancer cell mitochondria, and is distinguished from other such drugs by its ability to induce not only inhibition of OXPHOS but also of glycolysis. This study provides a better understanding of the mechanism of Bezielle's cytotoxicity, and the basis of its selectivity towards cancer cells.

Identification and analysis of the active phytochemicals from the anti-cancer botanical extract Bezielle

Bezielle is a botanical extract that has selective anti-tumor activity, and has shown a promising efficacy in the early phases of clinical testing. Bezielle inhibits mitochondrial respiration and induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria of tumor cells but not in non-transformed cells. The generation of high ROS in tumor cells leads to heavy DNA damage and hyper-activation of PARP, followed by the inhibition of glycolysis. Bezielle therefore belongs to a group of drugs that target tumor cell mitochondria, but its cytotoxicity involves inhibition of both cellular energy producing pathways. We found that the cytotoxic activity of the Bezielle extract in vitro co-purified with a defined fraction containing multiple flavonoids. We have isolated several of these Bezielle flavonoids, and examined their possible roles in the selective anti-tumor cytotoxicity of Bezielle. Our results support the hypothesis that a major Scutellaria flavonoid, scutellarein, possesses many if not all of the biologically relevant properties of the total extract. Like Bezielle, scutellarein induced increasing levels of ROS of mitochondrial origin, progressive DNA damage, protein oxidation, depletion of reduced glutathione and ATP, and suppression of both OXPHOS and glycolysis. Like Bezielle, scutellarein was selectively cytotoxic towards cancer cells. Carthamidin, a flavonone found in Bezielle, also induced DNA damage and oxidative cell death. Two well known plant flavonoids, apigenin and luteolin, had limited and not selective cytotoxicity that did not depend on their pro-oxidant activities. We also provide evidence that the cytotoxicity of scutellarein was increased when other Bezielle flavonoids, not necessarily highly cytotoxic or selective on their own, were present. This indicates that the activity of total Bezielle extract might depend on a combination of several different compounds present within it.

NADPH oxidase-dependent oxidative stress in the failing heart: From pathogenic roles to therapeutic approach

Heart failure (HF) occurs when the adaptation mechanisms of the heart fail to compensate for stress factors, such as pressure overload, myocardial infarction, inflammation, diabetes, and cardiotoxic drugs, with subsequent ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, myocardial dysfunction, and chamber dilatation. Oxidative stress, defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the capacity of antioxidant defense systems, has been authenticated as a pivotal player in the cardiopathogenesis of the various HF subtypes. The family of NADPH oxidases has been investigated as a key enzymatic source of ROS in the pathogenesis of HF. In this review, we discuss the importance of NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS generation in the various subtypes of HF and its implications. A better understanding of the pathogenic roles of NADPH oxidases in the failing heart is likely to provide novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of HF.

Dysfunction of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I in neurological disorders: genetics and pathogenetic mechanisms

This chapter covers genetic and biochemical aspects of mitochondrial bioenergetics dysfunction in neurological disorders associated with complex I defects. Complex I formation and functionality in mammalian cells depends on coordinated expression of nuclear and mitochondrial genes, post-translational subunit modifications, mitochondrial import/maturation of nuclear encoded subunits, subunits interaction and stepwise assembly, and on proteolytic processing. Examples of complex I dysfunction are herein presented: homozygous mutations in the nuclear NDUFS1 and NDUFS4 genes for structural components of complex I; an autosomic recessive form of encephalopathy associated with enhanced proteolytic degradation of complex I; familial cases of Parkinson associated to mutations in the PINK1 and Parkin genes, in particular, homoplasmic mutations in the ND5 and ND6 mitochondrial genes of the complex I, coexistent with mutation in the PINK1 gene. This knowledge, besides clarifying molecular aspects of the pathogenesis of hereditary diseases, can also provide hints for understanding the involvement of complex I in neurological disorders, as well as for developing therapeutical strategies.

Superoxide is produced by the reduced flavin in mitochondrial complex I: a single, unified mechanism that applies during both forward and reverse electron transfer

NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is a major source of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria and a contributor to cellular oxidative stress. In isolated complex I the reduced flavin is known to react with molecular oxygen to form predominantly superoxide, but studies using intact mitochondria contend that superoxide may result from a semiquinone species that responds to the proton-motive force (Δp) also. Here, we use bovine heart submitochondrial particles to show that a single mechanism describes superoxide production by complex I under all conditions (during both NADH oxidation and reverse electron transfer). NADH-induced superoxide production is inhibited by complex I flavin-site inhibitors but not by inhibitors of ubiquinone reduction, and it is independent of Δp. Reverse electron transfer (RET) through complex I in submitochondrial particles, driven by succinate oxidation and the Δp created by ATP hydrolysis, reduces the flavin, leading to NAD⁺ and O₂ reduction. RET-induced superoxide production is inhibited by both flavin-site and ubiquinone-reduction inhibitors. The potential dependence of NADH-induced superoxide production (set by the NAD⁺ potential) matches that of RET-induced superoxide production (set by the succinate potential and Δp), and they both match the potential dependence of the flavin. Therefore, both NADH- and RET-induced superoxide are produced by the flavin, according to the same molecular mechanism. The unified mechanism describes how reactive oxygen species production by complex I responds to changes in cellular conditions. It establishes a route to understanding causative connections between the enzyme and its pathological effects and to developing rational strategies for addressing them.

S-RNase disrupts tip-localized reactive oxygen species and induces nuclear DNA degradation in incompatible pollen tubes of Pyrus pyrifolia

Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia L.) has an S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility (SI) mechanism, and S-RNase has also been implicated in the rejection of self-pollen and genetically identical pollen. However, RNA degradation might be only the beginning of the SI response, not the end. Recent in vitro studies suggest that S-RNase triggers mitochondrial alteration and DNA degradation in the incompatible pollen tube of Pyrus pyrifolia, and it seems that a relationship exists between self S-RNase, actin depolymerization and DNA degradation. To further uncover the SI response in pear, the relationship between self S-RNase and tip-localized reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated. Our results show that S-RNase specifically disrupted tip-localized ROS of incompatible pollen tubes via arrest of ROS formation in mitochondria and cell walls. The mitochondrial ROS disruption was related to mitochondrial alteration, whereas cell wall ROS disruption was related to a decrease in NADPH. Tip-localized ROS disruption not only decreased the Ca(2+) current and depolymerized the actin cytoskeleton, but it also induced nuclear DNA degradation. These results indicate that tip-localized ROS disruption occurs in Pyrus pyrifolia SI. Importantly, we demonstrated nuclear DNA degradation in the incompatible pollen tube after pollination in vivo. This result validates our in vitro system in vivo.