scholarly journals Bnip3 mediates mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death through Bax and Bak

2007 ◽  
Vol 405 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter A. Kubli ◽  
John E. Ycaza ◽  
Åsa B. Gustafsson

Bnip3 is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family that is down-regulated in pancreatic cancers, which correlates with resistance to chemotherapy and a worsened prognosis. In contrast, Bnip3 is up-regulated in heart failure and contributes to loss of myocardial cells during I/R (ischaemia/reperfusion). Bnip3 exerts its action at the mitochondria, but the mechanism by which Bnip3 mediates mitochondrial dysfunction is not clear. In the present study, we have identified Bax and Bak as downstream effectors of Bnip3-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. Bnip3 plays a role in hypoxia-mediated cell death, but MEFs (mouse embryonic fibroblasts) derived from mice deficient in Bax and Bak were completely resistant to hypoxia even with substantial up-regulation of Bnip3. These cells were also resistant to Bnip3 overexpression, but re-expression of Bax or Bak restored susceptibility to Bnip3, suggesting that Bnip3 can act via either Bax or Bak. In contrast, Bnip3 overexpression in wild-type MEFs induced mitochondrial dysfunction with loss of membrane potential and release of cytochrome c. Cell death by Bnip3 was reduced in the presence of mPTP (mitochondrial permeability transition pore) inhibitors, but did not prevent Bnip3-mediated activation of Bax or Bak. Moreover, overexpression of Bnip3ΔTM, a dominant-negative form of Bnip3, reduced translocation of GFP (green fluorescent protein)–Bax to mitochondria during sI/R (simulated I/R) in HL-1 myocytes. Similarly, down-regulation of Bnip3 using RNA interference decreased activation of Bax in response to sI/R in HL-1 myocytes. These results suggest that Bnip3 mediates mitochondrial dysfunction through activation of Bax or Bak which is independent of mPTP opening.

Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa N Quinsay ◽  
Shivaji Rikka ◽  
M Richard Sayen ◽  
Jeffery D Molkentin ◽  
Roberta A Gottlieb ◽  
...  

Bnip3 is a member of the BH3-only subfamily of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins and is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in the myocardium. The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins mediate mitochondrial dysfunction independent of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). However, Bnip3 has been reported to mediate cell death via the mPTP. In this study, we investigated the mechanism(s) by which Bnip3 causes mitochondrial dysfunction. Using a mitochondrial swelling assay to assess pore opening, we found that addition of 200 microM Ca2+ to mitochondria isolated from rat hearts induced rapid swelling of mitochondria and release of cytochrome c (cyto c). Bnip3 also induced mitochondrial swelling and cyto c release, but always at a slower rate and to a greater degree, suggesting that Bnip3 mediates swelling via a different mechanism. Cyclosporin A (CsA), an inhibitor of mPTP opening, prevented Ca2+-induced swelling and cyto c release, but had no effect on Bnip3. Another BH3-only protein, tBid, caused release of cyto c but failed to induce swelling of mitochondria. Interestingly, Bnip3, but not Ca2+ and tBid, induced release of the matrix protein MnSOD. Cyclophilin D (cycD) is an essential component of the mPTP and heart mitochondria isolated from cycD−/− mice were resistant to Ca2+-, but not to Bnip3-induced swelling and cyto c release. Also, tBid caused cyto c release without mitochondrial swelling in the absence of cycD. To further explore the mPTP as a downstream effector of Bnip3-mediated cell death, we assessed cell death in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from wild type (wt) and cycD−/− mice. Infection with an adenovirus expressing Bnip3 caused significant cell death in wt (52.8±1.8%) and cycD−/− (61.8±6.1%) MEFs as measured by LDH release. In addition, both Bnip3 and opening of the mPTP have been reported to initiate upregulation of autophagy. Monitoring of GFP-LC3 incorporation into autophagosomes by fluorescence microscopy revealed that Bnip3 infection induced autophagy in wt (86.5±6.6%) and cycD−/− (96.4±1.4%) MEFs (n=3, p<0.05). Thus, these studies suggest that Bnip3 mediates permeabilization of the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes via a novel mechanism that is different from other BH3-only proteins. This research has received full or partial funding support from the American Heart Association, AHA National Center.


2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (6) ◽  
pp. 1109-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Upasana Ganguly ◽  
Anindita Banerjee ◽  
Sankha Shubhra Chakrabarti ◽  
Upinder Kaur ◽  
Oishimaya Sen ◽  
...  

The toxicity of accumulated α-synuclein plays a key role in the neurodegeneration of Parkinson's disease (PD). This study has demonstrated that iron in varying concentrations (up to 400 µM) causes an increase in α-synuclein content in SH-SY5Y cells associated with mitochondrial depolarization, decreased cellular ATP content and loss of cell viability during incubation up to 96 h. Knocking-down α-synuclein expression prevents cytotoxic actions of iron, which can also be prevented by cyclosporine A (a blocker of mitochondrial permeability transition pore). These results indicate that iron cytotoxicity is mediated by α-synuclein acting on mitochondria. Likewise siRNA mediated knock-down of Parkin causes an accumulation of α-synuclein accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death during 48 h incubation under basal conditions, but these changes are not further aggravated by co-incubation with iron (400 µM). We have also analyzed mitochondrial dysfunction and cell viability in SH-SY5Y cells under double knock-down (α-synuclein and Parkin concurrently) conditions during incubation for 48 h with or without iron. Our results tend to suggest that iron inactivates Parkin in SH-SY5Y cells and thereby inhibits the proteasomal degradation of α-synuclein, and the accumulated α-synuclein causes mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. These results have implications in the pathogenesis of sporadic PD and also familial type with Parkin mutations.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 5454-5468 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Vande Velde ◽  
J. Cizeau ◽  
D. Dubik ◽  
J. Alimonti ◽  
T. Brown ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Many apoptotic signaling pathways are directed to mitochondria, where they initiate the release of apoptogenic proteins and open the proposed mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) pore that ultimately results in the activation of the caspase proteases responsible for cell disassembly. BNIP3 (formerly NIP3) is a member of the Bcl-2 family that is expressed in mitochondria and induces apoptosis without a functional BH3 domain. We report that endogenous BNIP3 is loosely associated with mitochondrial membrane in normal tissue but fully integrates into the mitochondrial outer membrane with the N terminus in the cytoplasm and the C terminus in the membrane during induction of cell death. Surprisingly, BNIP3-mediated cell death is independent of Apaf-1, caspase activation, cytochrome c release, and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor. However, cells transfected with BNIP3 exhibit early plasma membrane permeability, mitochondrial damage, extensive cytoplasmic vacuolation, and mitochondrial autophagy, yielding a morphotype that is typical of necrosis. These changes were accompanied by rapid and profound mitochondrial dysfunction characterized by opening of the mitochondrial PT pore, proton electrochemical gradient (Δψm) suppression, and increased reactive oxygen species production. The PT pore inhibitors cyclosporin A and bongkrekic acid blocked mitochondrial dysregulation and cell death. We propose that BNIP3 is a gene that mediates a necrosis-like cell death through PT pore opening and mitochondrial dysfunction.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Fajardo ◽  
Mingming Zhao ◽  
Gerald Berry ◽  
Daria Mochly-Rosen ◽  
Daniel Bernstein

β2-adrenergic receptors (β2-ARs) modulate cardioprotection through crosstalk with multiple pathways. We have previously shown that β2-ARs are cardioprotective during acute exposure to Doxorubicin (DOX). DOX cardiotoxicity is mediated through a Ca 2+ -dependent opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPT) and mitochondrial dysfunction, however the upstream signals linking cell surface receptors and the MPT are not clear. The purpose of this study was to assess crosstalk between β2-AR signaling and mitochondrial function in DOX toxicity. DOX 10 mg/kg was administered to β2−/− and WT mice. Whereas there was no mortality in WT, 85% of β2−/− mice died within 30 min (n=20). Pro- and anti-survival kinases were assessed by immunobloting. At baseline, β2−/− showed normal levels of ϵPKC, but a 16% increase in δPKC compared to WT (p<0.05). After DOX, β2−/− showed a 64% decrease in ϵPKC (p<0.01) and 22% increase in δPKC (p<0.01). The ϵPKC activator ΨϵRACK decreased mortality by 40% in β2−/− mice receiving DOX; there was no improvement in survival with the δPKC inhibitor δV1–1. After DOX, AKT activity was decreased by 76% (p<0.01) in β2−/− but not in WT. The α1-AR blocker prazosin, inhibiting signaling through Gαq, restored AKT activity and reduced DOX mortality by 47%. We next assessed the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in β2−/− mediated DOX toxicity. DOX treated β2−/− mice, but not WT, show marked vacuolization of mitochondrial cristae. Complex I activity decreased 31% in β2−/− mice with DOX; but not in WT. Baseline rate of Ca2+ release and peak [Ca2+]i ratio were increased 85% and 17% respectively in β2−/− myocytes compared to WT. Verapamil decreased mortality by 27% in DOX treated β2−/− mice. Cyclosporine, a blocker of both MPT and calcineurin, reduced DOX mortality to 50%. In contrast, FK506, a blocker of calcineurin but not the MPT, did not reduce DOX mortality. Cyclosporine prevented the decrease in AKT activity in β2−/− whereas FK506 did not. These findings suggest that β2-ARs modulate pro-survival kinases and attenuate mitochondrial dysfunction during DOX cardiotoxicity; absence of β2-ARs enhances DOX toxicity via negative regulation of survival kinases and enhancement of intracellular Ca2+, sensitizing mitochondria to opening of the MPT.


2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Bernal-Ramírez ◽  
Adriana Riojas-Hernández ◽  
Flor E Morales-Marroquín ◽  
Elvía M Domínguez-Barragán ◽  
David Rodríguez-Mier ◽  
...  

Several mechanisms have been implicated in heart failure (HF) development due to obesity, including altered Ca2+ homeostasis and mitochondrial increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). Besides their metabolic role, mitochondria are important cell death regulators, since their disruption induces apoptosis. The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) formation is key in this process. Ca2+ and ROS are known inducers of MPTP, and mitochondria are the main ROS generators. However, it has not been demonstrated that MPTP formation is involved in cardiac cell death due to obesity. Therefore, the aim of this work was to determine whether Ca2+ alterations and/or MPTP opening underlie cardiac dysfunction. We used obese Zucker fa/fa rats (32 weeks old), displaying concentric hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction. We measured: i) Systolic and diastolic Ca2+ signaling in isolated myocytes, in basal conditions and upon β-adrenergic stimulation (β-AS), and ii) in vitro mitochondrial function: respiration, ROS production and MPTP opening. We found that the main alteration in Ca2+ signaling in fa/fa myocytes was a decrease in SERCA Ca2+ removal capacity, since Ca2+ transient amplitude and spark frequency were unchanged. Furthermore, in fa/fa myocytes, β-AS response was preserved. On the other hand, fa/fa mitochondria respiration, in state 3 decreased, but was unchanged in state 4, when glutamate/malate were used as substrate, resulting in an small decrease in respiratory control. In addition, fa/fa mitochondria were more sensitive to MPTP opening, induced by Ca2+ and carboxyatractiloside (CAT). Moreover, fa/fa mitochondria showed increased H2O2 production, and in exposed thiol groups in the adenine nucleotide translocase, a regulatory MPTP component. Since Ca2+ signaling is relatively normal in fa/fa cells, it does not seem to be the main contributor to the cardiac contractile dysfunction. However, given that fa/fa mitochondria showed decrease respiratory performance, were more susceptible to MPTP opening, and showed enhanced H2O2 production. We conclude that fa/fa mitochondria were more vulnerable to enhanced oxidative stress, causing MPTP opening, which could be exacerbated by SERCA slower Ca2+ removal capacity, leading to myocyte apoptosis.


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