Reversed activity of mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocator in ischemia-reperfusion

Mitochondrial F0F1-ATP synthase governs the induction of mitochondrial fission

Mitochondrial dynamics is a process that balances fusion and fission events, the latter providing a mechanism for segregating dysfunctional mitochondria. Fission is controlled by the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) cleavage, and DRP1 recruitment. It is thought that this process is closely linked to the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC). However, we report here that MRC inhibition does not decrease ΔΨm nor increase fission, as evidenced by hyperconnected mitochondria. Conversely, blocking F0F1-ATP synthase activity induces fragmentation. We show that the F0F1-ATP synthase is sensing the inhibition of MRC activity by immediately promoting its reverse mode of action to hydrolyze matrix ATP and restoring ΔΨm, thus preventing fission. While this reverse mode is expected to be inhibited by the ATPase inhibitor ATPIF1, we show that this sensing is independent of this factor. We have unraveled an unexpected role of F0F1-ATP synthase in controlling the induction of fission by sensing and maintaining ΔΨm.

Intracellular and microenvironmental regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential in cancer cells

Cancer cells have an abnormally high mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm ), which is associated with enhanced invasive properties in vitro and increased metastases in vivo. The mechanisms underlying the abnormal ΔΨm in cancer cells remain unclear. Research on different cell types has shown that ΔΨm is regulated by various intracellular mechanisms such as by mitochondrial inner and outer membrane ion transporters, cytoskeletal elements, and biochemical signaling pathways. On the other hand, the role of extrinsic, tumor microenvironment (TME) derived cues in regulating ΔΨm is not well defined. In this review, we first summarize the existing literature on intercellular mechanisms of ΔΨm regulation, with a focus on cancer cells. We then offer our perspective on the different ways through which the microenvironmental cues such as hypoxia and mechanical stresses may regulate cancer cell ΔΨm . This article is categorized under: Cancer > Environmental Factors Cancer > Biomedical Engineering Cancer > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.

The mitochondrial adenine nucleotide transporters in myogenesis

Adenine Nucleotide Translocator isoforms (ANTs) exchange ADP/ATP across the inner mitochondrial membrane, are also voltage-activated proton channels and regulate mitophagy and apoptosis. The ANT1 isoform predominates in heart and muscle while ANT2 is systemic. Here, we report the creation of Ant mutant mouse myoblast cell lines with normal Ant1 and Ant2 genes, deficient in either Ant1 or Ant2, and deficient in both the Ant1 and Ant2 genes. These cell lines are immortal under permissive conditions (IFN-γ + serum at 32 °C) permitting expansion but return to normal myoblasts that can be differentiated into myotubes at 37 °C. With this system we were able to complement our Ant1 mutant studies by demonstrating that ANT2 is important for myoblast to myotube differentiation and myotube mitochondrial respiration. ANT2 is also important in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant defenses. ANT2 is also associated with increased oxidative stress response and modulation for Ca⁺⁺ sequestration and activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition (mtPTP) pore during cell differentiation.

Conflict and cooperation in eukaryogenesis: implications for the timing of endosymbiosis and the evolution of sex

Roughly 1.5-2.0 Gya, the eukaryotic cell evolved from an endosymbiosis of an archaeal host and proteobacterial symbionts. The timing of this endosymbiosis relative to the evolution of eukaryotic features remains subject to considerable debate, yet the evolutionary process itself constrains the timing of these events. Endosymbiosis entailed levels-of-selection conflicts, and mechanisms of conflict mediation had to evolve for eukaryogenesis to proceed. The initial mechanisms of conflict mediation (e.g. signalling with calcium and soluble adenylyl cyclase, substrate carriers, adenine nucleotide translocase, uncouplers) led to metabolic homeostasis in the eukaryotic cell. Later mechanisms (e.g. mitochondrial gene loss) contributed to the chimeric eukaryotic genome. These integral features of eukaryotes were derived because of, and therefore subsequent to, endosymbiosis. Perhaps the greatest opportunity for conflict arose with the emergence of eukaryotic sex, involving whole-cell fusion. A simple model demonstrates that competition on the lower level severely hinders the evolution of sex. Cytoplasmic mixing, however, is beneficial for non-cooperative endosymbionts, which could have used their aerobic metabolism to manipulate the life history of the host. While early evolution of sex may have facilitated symbiont acquisition, sex would have also destabilized the subsequent endosymbiosis. More plausibly, the evolution of sex and the true nucleus concluded the transition.

Ischemia/Reperfusion injury in liver surgery and transplantation: pathophysiology

Liver ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is caused by a heavily toothed network of interactions of cells of the immune system, cytokine production, and reduced microcirculatory blood flow in the liver. These complex networks are further elaborated by multiple intracellular pathways activated by cytokines, chemokines, and danger-associated molecular patterns. Furthermore, intracellular ionic disturbances and especially mitochondrial disorders play an important role leading to apoptosis and necrosis of hepatocytes in IR injury. Overall, enhanced production of reactive oxygen species, found very early in IR injury, plays an important role in liver tissue damage at several points within these complex networks. Many contributors to IR injury are only incompletely understood so far. This paper tempts to give an overview of the different mechanisms involved in the formation of IR injury. Only by further elucidation of these complex mechanisms IR injury can be understood and possible therapeutic strategies can be improved or be developed.

Liver ischemia/reperfusion injury: processes in inflammatory networks--a review

Liver ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is typified by an inflammatory response. Understanding the cellular and molecular events underpinning this inflammation is fundamental to developing therapeutic strategies. Great strides have been made in this respect recently. Liver IR involves a complex web of interactions between the various cellular and humoral contributors to the inflammatory response. Kupffer cells, CD4+ lymphocytes, neutrophils, and hepatocytes are central cellular players. Various cytokines, chemokines, and complement proteins form the communication system between the cellular components. The contribution of the danger-associated molecular patterns and pattern recognition receptors to the pathophysiology of liver IR injury are slowly being elucidated. Our knowledge on the role of mitochondria in generating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, in contributing to ionic disturbances, and in initiating the mitochondrial permeability transition with subsequent cellular death in liver IR injury is continuously being expanded. Here, we discuss recent findings pertaining to the aforementioned factors of liver IR, and we highlight areas with gaps in our knowledge, necessitating further research.

The Pringle manoeuvre should be avoided in hepatectomy for cancer patients due to its side effects on tumor recurrence and worse prognosis

Curative hepatectomy is still the best therapeutic strategy for liver cancer treatment up to now. The Pringle manoeuvre has been commonly used to avoid massive blood loss during operation since its advent, which greatly accelerates the advance of liver surgery and oncological surgery. In the past century, more attentions have been paid to different effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury elicited by Pringle manoeuvre. Theses include its impacts on complex metabolic, immunological, and microvascular changes, which altogether might contribute to hepatocellular damage and dysfunction, and contribute to haemodynamic instability. Despite these adverse impacts, the short-term outcome of affected patients under hepatectomy was greatly improved with the advances of surgical techniques and perioperative management in recent years. While the long-term prognosis remains unsatisfactory due to a high incidence of intra/extrahepatic recurrence. The reason for it was not totally elucidated. Furthermore, the effect of the Pringle manoeuvre on the prognosis of oncologic patients and behavior of the tumor cell was not deliberately mentioned. This point was put forward to the front-desk by the specific phenomenon from recent animal studies. It is showed that ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver remnant may be a significant factor to promote the tumor recurrence and metastasis. If it is a truth in human, there must be a big challenge to the Pringle manoeuvre. So we hypothesized that the long-term prognosis of cancer patients could be worsened by the ischemia-reperfusion injury elicited by Pringle manoeuvre during the hepatectomy and it should be revised, or even, avoided in future hepatectomy for oncologic patients. The less surgical stress including ischemia-reperfusion injury in the hepatic resection without Pringle manoeuvre might contribute to a better prognosis. To get a deeper understanding, prospective randomized clinical trials need to be done. It is surely supposed to provide more important information about the long-term effects of the Pringle manoeuvre, and to our hypothesis.

2-APB protects against liver ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing cellular and mitochondrial calcium uptake

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a commonly encountered clinical problem in liver surgery and transplantation. The pathogenesis of I/R injury is multifactorial, but mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload plays a central role. We have previously defined a novel pathway for mitochondrial Ca(2+) handling and now further characterize this pathway and investigate a novel Ca(2+)-channel inhibitor, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), for preventing hepatic I/R injury. The effect of 2-APB on cellular and mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake was evaluated in vitro by using (45)Ca(2+). Subsequently, 2-APB (2 mg/kg) or vehicle was injected into the portal vein of anesthetized rats either before or following 1 h of inflow occlusion to 70% of the liver. After 3 h of reperfusion, liver injury was assessed enzymatically and histologically. Hep G2 cells transfected with green fluorescent protein-tagged cytochrome c were used to evaluate mitochondrial permeability. 2-APB dose-dependently blocked Ca(2+) uptake in isolated liver mitochondria and reduced cellular Ca(2+) accumulation in Hep G2 cells. In vivo I/R increased liver enzymes 10-fold, and 2-APB prevented this when administered pre- or postischemia. 2-APB significantly reduced cellular damage determined by hematoxylin and eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP-mediated nick-end labeling staining of liver tissue. In vitro I/R caused a dissociation between cytochrome c and mitochondria in Hep G2 cells that was prevented by administration of 2-APB. These data further establish the role of cellular Ca(2+) uptake and subsequent mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload in I/R injury and identify 2-APB as a novel pharmacological inhibitor of liver I/R injury even when administered following a prolonged ischemic insult.

Purinergic receptor antagonism prevents cold preservation-induced cell death independent of cellular ATP levels

BACKGROUND

Purinergic (P2Y) receptors play an important role in intracellular Ca(2+) regulation in hepatocytes. Prevention of mitochondrial Ca(2+) (mCa(2+)) overload during ischemic conditions prevents cellular cell death during the early reperfusion period. P2Y antagonists are cytoprotective in other settings. We studied the effect of P2Y receptor antagonism on mitochondrial associated cell death during the period of cold storage.

METHODS

HepG2 cells were stored in UW with or without 300 muM reactive blue 2 (RB2) or 10 muM ruthenium red (RR) under either normoxic-hypothermic or hypoxic-hypothermic conditions. Cytoplasmic cytochrome c levels were studied by transfection of cytochrome c-GFP. Immunofluorescence determined the intracellular, spatio-temporal distribution of Bax, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining was used to evaluate cell death. Intracellular compartmental ATP levels were assayed by transfecting with luciferase vectors specific for cytoplasm (PcDNA3-luciferase-LL/V) and mitochondria (PcDNA3-COX8-luciferase).

RESULTS

Bax translocation to the mitochondria occurred immediately following cold storage and was followed by cytochrome c-GFP redistribution to the cytosol during rewarming. RB2 treatment significantly attenuated Bax translocation, cytochrome c-GFP redistribution, and cell death following both storage conditions. Both RR and RB2 provided cytoprotection despite ongoing cytoplasmic ATP consumption during cold ischemia.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that the cytoprotective effects of mCa(2+) uptake inhibition and P2Y receptor antagonism are independent of cytoplasmic ATP levels during cold ischemia.

Warm hepatic ischemia-reperfusion promotes growth of colorectal carcinoma micrometastases in mouse liver via matrix metalloproteinase-9 induction

Surgical resection remains the best treatment for colorectal metastases isolated to the liver; however, 5-year survival rates following liver resection are only 40% to 50%, with liver recurrence being a significant reason for treatment failure. The ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury incurred during liver surgery can lead to cellular dysfunction and elevations in proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). In rodents, I/R injury to the liver has been shown to accelerate the outgrowth of implanted tumors. The mechanism for increased tumor growth in the setting of liver I/R injury is unknown. To investigate the effect of I/R on tumor growth, an experimental model was used whereby small hepatic metastases form after 28 days. Mice subjected to 30 min of 70% liver ischemia at the time of tumor inoculation had significantly larger tumor number and volume, and had elevated MMP9 serum and liver tissue MMP9 as evidenced by zymography and quantitative real-time PCR. Mice treated with doxycycline, a broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor, had reduced MMP9 levels and significantly smaller tumor number and volume in the liver. MMP9-null mice were used to determine if the effects of doxycycline were due to the absence of stromal-derived MMP9. The MMP9-null mice, with or without doxycycline treatment, had reduced tumor number and volume that was equivalent to wild-type mice treated with doxycycline. These findings indicate that hepatic I/R-induced elevations in MMP9 contribute to the growth of metastatic colorectal carcinoma in the liver and that postresection MMP9 inhibition may be clinically beneficial in preventing recurrence following hepatic surgery.

Mitochondrial calcium transport is regulated by P2Y1- and P2Y2-like mitochondrial receptors

Ischemia-reperfusion injury remains a major clinical problem in liver transplantation. One contributing factor is mitochondrial calcium (mCa(2+)) overload, which triggers apoptosis; calcium also regulates mitochondrial respiration and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) production. Recently, we reported the presence of purinergic P2Y(1)- and P2Y(2)-like receptor proteins in mitochondrial membranes. Herein, we present an evaluation of the functional characteristics of these receptors. In experiments with isolated mitochondria, specific P2Y(1) and P2Y(2) receptors ligands: 2-methylthio-adenosine 5'-diphosphate (2meSADP) and uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP), respectively, were used, and mitochondrial calcium uptake was measured. 2meSADP and UTP had a maximum effect at concentrations in the range of the known P2Y(1) and P2Y(2) receptors. The P2Y inhibitor phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate (PPADS) blocked the effects of both ligands. The phospholipase C (PLC) antagonist U73122 inhibited the effect of both ligands while its inactive analog U73343 had no effect. These data strongly support the hypothesis that mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake is regulated in part by adenine nucleotides via a P2Y-like receptor mechanism that involves mitochondrial PLC activation.

Inhibition of phospholipase C attenuates liver mitochondrial calcium overload following cold ischemia

BACKGROUND

Graft failure due to cold ischemia (CI) injury remains a significant problem during liver transplantation. During CI, the consumption of ATP and the increase in cellular Ca concentration may result in mitochondrial Ca (mCa) overload through the mCa uniporter, which can ultimately lead to apoptosis and graft nonfunction. We recently identified phospholipase C-dl (PLC-dl) as a novel regulator of mCa uptake in the liver, and now extend those studies to examine the role of mitochondrial PLC in liver CI injury.

METHODS

Rat livers were perfused with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. Half was homogenized immediately; the other half was cold-stored for 24 hr in UW. Mitochondria were extracted by differential centrifugation and incubated in buffer containing ATP and 0.1 or 0.2 microM Ca. The selective PLC inhibitor, U-73122, was added to determine the effects of PLC inhibition on mCa uptake following CI. Western blots and densitometry quantified mitochondrial PLC expression. Mito Tracker Red fluorescence microscopy was used to verify mitochondrial transmembrane potential.

RESULTS

Twenty-four hour CI caused a significant increase in mCa uptake (P<0.001), and increasing extramitochondrial Ca potentiated this effect. The PLC inhibitor, U-73122, decreased mCa uptake in nonischemic mitochondria (P<0.001), and had a greater effect on CI mitochondria (P<0.001). Mitochondrial PLC-dl expression increased 175+/-75% following CI (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that PLC-dl is essential for mCa uptake following CI, and that the PLC pathway may be sensitized by CI. The CI-induced increase in mitochondrial PLC-delta1 expression represents a novel mechanism whereby mCa uptake can increase independently of cytosolic conditions.

Modulation of mitochondrial calcium management attenuates hepatic warm ischemia-reperfusion injury

Hepatic warm ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury occurs in many clinical situations and has an important link to subsequent hepatic failure. The pathogenesis of this injury involves numerous pathways, including mitochondrial-associated apoptosis. We studied the effect of mitochondrial calcium uptake inhibition on hepatic IR injury using the specific mitochondrial calcium uptake inhibitor, ruthenium red (RR). Rats were subjected to 1 hour of 70% warm hepatic ischemia following RR pretreatment or vehicle injection. Sham-operated animals served as controls. Analysis was performed at 15 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, or 6 hours after reperfusion. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations were determined. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed to assess apoptosis, and hepatocellular necrosis was semiquantitated from hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections. RR pretreatment significantly decreased both AST and ALT serum levels after 6 hours of reperfusion (AST: 1,556 +/- 181 U/L vs. 597 +/- 121 U/L, P = 0.005; ALT: 1,118 +/- 187 U/L vs. 294 +/- 39 U/L, P = 0.005). Apoptosis was observed within 15 minutes of reperfusion in vehicle-pretreated animals and peaked after 3 hours of reperfusion (98 +/- 21 cells/high-power field [hpf]). Apoptosis was inhibited at all time points by RR pretreatment. Histologic evidence of necrosis was not observed prior to 3 hours of reperfusion (23% +/- 4%), and maximal necrosis was observed after 6 hours of reperfusion (26% +/- 1% percent area). RR pretreatment significantly decreased the necrotic percent area at both the 3-hour and the 6-hour time points (4.2% +/- 2%; 3.7% +/- 1%, respectively). Hepatic IR injury resulted in both apoptotic and necrotic cell death, which were attenuated by RR pretreatment. In conclusion, these observations implicate mitochondrial calcium uptake in the pathogenesis of hepatic IR injury.

Dynamical changing patterns of glycogen and enzyme histochemical activities in rat liver graft undergoing warm ischemia injury

AIM: To investigate the changing patterns of glycogen and enzyme histochemical activities in rat liver graft under a different warm ischemia time (WIT) and to predict the tolerant time limitation of the liver graft to warm ischemia injury.

METHODS: The rats were randomized into five groups, WIT was 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 min, respectively, and histochemical staining of liver graft specimens was observed. The recovery changes of glycogen and enzyme histochemistry activities were measured respectively 6 and 24 h following liver graft implantation.

RESULTS: The activities of succinic dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase, apyrase (Mg++-ATPase) and content of glycogen were decreased gradually after different WIT in a time-dependent manner. The changes were significant when WIT was over 30 min.

CONCLUSION: Hepatic injury is reversible within 30 min of warm ischemia injury. Glycogen and enzyme histochemistry activities of liver grafts and their recovery potency after reperfusion may serve as criteria to evaluate the quality of liver grafts.

Mitochondrial P2Y-Like receptors link cytosolic adenosine nucleotides to mitochondrial calcium uptake

ATP is a known extracellular ligand for cell membrane purinergic receptors. Intracellular ATP can work also as a regulatory ligand via binding sites on functional proteins. We report herein the existence of P2Y(1)-like and P2Y(2)-like receptors in hepatocyte mitochondria (mP2Y(1) and mP2Y(2)), which regulate mCa(2+) uptake though the uniporter. Mitochondrial P2Y(1) activation stimulates mCa(2+) uptake; whereas, mP2Y(2) activation inhibits mCa(2+) uptake. ATP acts preferentially on mP2Y(2) receptors, while ADP and AMP-PNP stimulate both the mP2Y(1) and mP2Y(2). PPADS inhibits ADP stimulated mP2Y(1)-mediated mCa(2+) uptake. In addition, UTP, a selective P2Y(2) agonist, strongly inhibits mCa(2+) uptake. The newly discovered presence and function of these receptors is significant because it explains increased mCa(2+) uptake in the setting of low cytosolic [ATP] and, therefore, establishes a mechanism for direct feedback in which cytosolic [ATP] governs mitochondrial ATP production through regulation of mCa(2+) uptake.

Fas mRNA expression and calcium influx change in H2O2-induced apoptotic hepatocytes in vitro

AIM: To investigate the relationship between Fas gene expression and calcium influx change in peroxide-induced apoptotic hepatocytes and the possible molecular mechanism of Rxa in protecting hepatocytes.

METHODS: Single-cell Fas mRNA expression in H₂O₂-exposed L02 hepatocytes with or without treatment of Rxa, an extract from an anti-peroxidant, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, was determined by all-cell patch clamp and single-cell reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Transient calcium influx change ([Ca²⁺]_i) in the cells was evaluated with all-cell patch clamp micro-fluorescence single-cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentration technique. Fas protein expression, early apoptotic index (annexin-V⁺) and cell membrane change in the cells were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry (FCM) and scan electron microscopy respectively.

RESULTS: In cells exposed to H₂O₂ for 2 h, the specific lane for Fas mRNA was vivid on electrophoresis, with increased Fas protein expression, [Ca²⁺]_i (from 143.66±34.21 to 1115.28±227.16), annexin-V⁺ index (from 4.00±0.79 to 16.18±0.72) and membrane vesicle formation. However, in cells exposed to H₂O₂ but pre-treated with Rxa, there was no increase in Fas mRNA or protein expression and [Ca²⁺]_i (103.56±28.92). Annexin-V⁺ index (8.92±1.44) was lower than the controls (P<0.01), and the cell membrane was intact.

CONCLUSION: H₂O₂ induces apoptosis of L02 cells by increasing cytosolic [Ca²⁺]_i, and inducing Fas mRNA and protein expression. Rxa protects the L02 cells from apoptosis through anti-peroxidation, inhibition of calcium overloading and prevention of the activation of cytosolic Fas signal pathway.

Safe time to warm ischemia and posttransplant survival of liver graft from non-heart-beating donors

AIM: To explore the dynamical changes of histology, histochemistry, energy metabolism, liver microcirculation, liver function and posttransplant survival of liver graft in rats under different warm ischemia times (WIT) and predict the maximum limitation of liver graft to warm ischemia.

METHODS: According to WIT, the rats were randomized into 7 groups, with WIT of 0, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60 min, respectively. The recovery changes of above-mentioned indices were observed or measured after liver transplantation. The graft survival and postoperative complications in each subgroup were analyzed.

RESULTS: Liver graft injury was reversible and gradually resumed normal structure and function after reperfusion when WIT was less than 30 min. In terms of graft survival, there was no significant difference between subgroups within 30 min WIT. When WIT was prolonged to 45 min, the recipients’ long-term survival was severely insulted, and both function and histological structure of liver graft developed irreversible damage when WIT was prolonged to 60 min.

CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that rat liver graft can be safely subjected to warm ischemia within 30 min. The levels of ATP, energy charge, activities of glycogen, enzyme-histochemistry of liver graft and its recovery potency after reperfusion may serve as the important criteria to evaluate the quality of liver graft.

Novel role of phospholipase C-delta1: regulation of liver mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake

Mitochondrial Ca2+ (mCa2+) handling is an important regulator of liver cell function that controls events ranging from cellular respiration and signal transduction to apoptosis. Cytosolic Ca2+ enters mitochondria through the ruthenium red-sensitive mCa2+ uniporter, but the mechanisms governing uniporter activity are unknown. Activation of many Ca2+ channels in the cell membrane requires PLC. This activation commonly occurs through phosphitidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis and the production of the second messengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [I(1,4,5)P3] and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). PIP2 was recently identified in mitochondria. We hypothesized that PLC exists in liver mitochondria and regulates mCa2+ uptake through the uniporter. Western blot analysis with anti-PLC antibodies demonstrated the presence of PLC-delta1 in pure preparations of mitochondrial membranes isolated from rat liver. In addition, the selective PLC inhibitor U-73122 dose-dependently blocked mCa2+ uptake when whole mitochondria were incubated at 37 degrees C with 45Ca2+. Increasing extra mCa2+ concentration significantly stimulated mCa2+ uptake, and U-73122 inhibited this effect. Spermine, a uniporter agonist, significantly increased mCa2+ uptake, whereas U-73122 dose-dependently blocked this effect. The inactive analog of U-73122, U-73343, did not affect mCa2+ uptake in any experimental condition. Membrane-permeable I(1,4,5)P3 receptor antagonists 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate and xestospongin C also inhibited mCa2+ uptake. Although extra mitochondrial I(1,4,5)P3 had no effect on mCa2+ uptake, membrane-permeable DAG analogs 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol and DAG-lactone, which inhibit PLC activity, dose-dependently inhibited mCa2+ uptake. These data indicate that PLC-delta1 exists in liver mitochondria and is involved in regulating mCa2+ uptake through the uniporter.

Protective effect of melatonin on liver ischemia reperfusion injury in rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of melatonin (Mel) on liver ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.

METHODS: 150 male Wistar rats (190-210 g, 6-7weeks age) were divided into three groups at random: Mel exposure group, alcohol solvent control group and saline control group. The left branches of portal vein, hepatic artery, hepatic duct were blocked up for 60 min and then opened to establish liver I/R I models in rats. In each group, samples were collected in 0.5, 1, 6, 12, and 24 h after reperfusion respectively. 20 mg/kg of Mel was injected peritoneally in rats 30 min before experimentation in Mel exposure group. The duplicate concentration of alcohol and the same volume of saline were injected in control group as a substitution. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by auto biochemical analyzer, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and terminal productions of lipid peroxidationin (MDA) in liver tissue were measured. Pathological changes in liver and immunohistochemical straining of ICAM-1 were determined with optical microscope.

RESULTS: The level of ALT measured in various time after reperfusion in Mel group was totally significantly lower than that in alcohol and saline control groups (P < 0.05). The level of MDA measured in 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after reperfusion in Mel group was significantly lower than that in alcohol and saline control groups (P < 0.05). The level of SOD measured in 12, 24 h after reperfusion in Mel group was significantly higher than that in alcohol and saline control groups (P < 0.05). The expression level of ICAM-1 (%) measured in various time after reperfusion in Mel group was significantly lower than that in alcohol and saline control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Exotic Mel inhibits the activities of ALT, increases activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and decreases the cumulation of MDA in liver reperfusion tissue and expression of ICAM-1 in liver reperfusion tissue. Therefore, it can improve the hepatic function after reperfusion and plays a definitely protective role in liver I/R.

Protective effect of exogenous adenosine triphosphate on hypothermically preserved rat liver

AIM: To clarify the protective effect of exogenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on hypothermically preserved rat livers.

METHODS: Establishment of continuous hypothermic machine perfusion model, detection of nucleotides in hepatocytes with HPLC, measurement of activities of LDH and AST in the perfusate, observation of histopathological changes in different experiment groups, and autoradiography were carried out to reveal the underlying mechanism of the protective effect of ATP.

RESULTS: The intracellular levels of ATP and EC decreased rapidly after hypothermic preservation in control group, while a higher ATP and EC level, and a slower decreasing rate were observed when ATP-MgCl₂ was added to the perfusate (P < 0.01). As compared with the control group, the activities of LDH and AST in the ATP-MgCl₂ group were lower (P < 0.05). Furthermore, more severe hepatocyte damage and neutrophil infiltration were observed in the control group. Radioactive [α-³²P] ATP entered the hypothermically preserved rat hepatocytes.

CONCLUSION: Exogenous ATP has a protective effect on rat livers during hypothermical preservation. However, Mg²⁺ is indispensable, addition of ATP alone produces no protective effect. The underlying mechanism may be that exogenous ATP enters the hypothermically preserved rat liver cells.