活性氧诱导细胞凋亡

细胞凋亡是细胞主动的衰老和死亡方式。细胞凋亡过程极其复杂,其生化机制还不十分清楚。用活性氧如H_2O_2、ONOO及脂质过氧化物等可直接诱导某些细胞发生凋亡,抗氧化剂对细胞凋亡有抑制作用。细胞内产生活性氧的部位主要是线粒体电子传递链、黄嘌呤—黄嘌呤氧化酶途径、磷脂酶A_2激活的花生四烯酸代谢途径及精氨酸-NO合成酶途径。外源性活性氧或通过内源性活性氧的生成,导致细胞内氧化还原状态的失衡,诱导某些基因的表达,引起凋亡。     

线粒体的热机效率原理及其在运动疲劳中的应用

基于呼吸链电子漏现象提出了用热机效率原理描述线粒体合成ＡＴＰ 的工作效率, 指出呼吸链漏电不仅使线粒体合成ＡＴＰ 的效率降低, 而且导致线粒体生成有害的活性氧自由基, 引起线粒体损伤。通过检测游泳耗竭小鼠心肌线粒体生成过氧化氢速率的增高和线粒体呼吸对氰化钾敏感性的下降,证明了耗竭运动引起呼吸链电子漏水平明显增高。随电子漏增加而出现的活性氧的损伤表现在线粒体脂质过氧化程度增加,呼吸链四个酶复合物的活性均有不同程度降低,以及呼吸控制率的下降等等。文章讨论了呼吸链电子漏和电子漏引起的活性氧生成对线粒体合成ＡＴＰ 效率的影响。     

H2O2诱导Neuro-2a细胞死亡机理的研究

细胞内线粒体呼吸链过程中的电子漏和神经细胞代谢的酶类如单胺氧化酶(MAO)等可产生活性氧物质(ROS)如H2O2等.ROS对细胞有毒性作用,导致细胞死亡,在许多疾病特别是神经退行性疾病中具有重要作用.我们用H2O2诱导N-2a神经母细胞瘤细胞,利用光镜、荧光显微镜、透射电镜观察了诱导的N-2a细胞的死亡,结果表明其死亡形式不同于典型的细胞凋亡,而类似于Ⅱ型神经细胞编程性死亡,死亡细胞染色质呈团块状凝集,细胞核膜仍保持完整.DNA不降解形成ladder,且不需要caspase-3,1的活性,但是H2O2诱导的Neuro-2a细胞死亡可以被Bcl-XL抑制.我们的结果可以说明,ROS介导的细胞毒性作用是导致Ⅱ型神经细胞编程性死亡的一个原因.     

肝细胞线粒体凋亡途径及保护机制研究进展

线粒体在能量代谢、自由基产生、衰老、细胞凋亡中起重要作用。线粒体的基因突变,呼吸链缺陷,线粒体膜的改变等因素均会影响整个细胞的正常功能,从而导致病变。凋亡发生时,线粒体通透性转换孔开放,使得线粒体膜电位降低,呼吸链电子传递障碍,细胞ATP合成障碍,生成大量活性氧簇,线粒体发生水肿,线粒体外膜破裂,膜间隙释放大量促凋亡因子如细胞色素C。Bcl-2家族对线粒体的功能有调控作用,介导细胞色素C的释放,Caspase酶原的激活等。病毒性肝炎、酒精性肝病,梗阻性黄疸、肝癌、毒素和药物介导的肝损伤等疾病中都伴随着肝细胞凋亡的发生,目前保肝药物对肝细胞线粒体功能的保护机制主要体现在稳定线粒体膜功能,减轻氧化损伤等方面,针对临床疾病的治疗有很好的指导作用。     

肝细胞线粒体凋亡途径及保护机制研究进展

线粒体在能量代谢、自由基产生、衰老、细胞凋亡中起重要作用。线粒体的基因突变,呼吸链缺陷,线粒体膜的改变等因素均会影响整个细胞的正常功能,从而导致病变。凋亡发生时,线粒体通透性转换孔开放,使得线粒体膜电位降低,呼吸链电子传递障碍,细胞ATP合成障碍,生成大量活性氧簇,线粒体发生水肿,线粒体外膜破裂,膜间隙释放大量促凋亡因子如细胞色素C。Bcl-2家族对线粒体的功能有调控作用,介导细胞色素C的释放,Caspase酶原的激活等。病毒性肝炎、酒精性肝病,梗阻陛黄疸、肝癌、毒素和药物介导的肝损伤等疾病中都伴随着肝细胞凋亡的发生,目前保肝药物对肝细胞线粒体功能的保护机制主要体现在稳定线粒体膜功能,减轻氧化损伤等方面,针对临床疾病的治疗有很好的指导作用。     

导言

线粒体是细胞内具有双层膜结构和独立基因组DNA的重要细胞器,在细胞生命活动中发挥着至关重要的作用。一方面它们是真核细胞的主要能量工厂,通过有氧代谢产生ATP,为细胞生命活动提供能量;另一方面,线粒体是细胞内活性氧产生中心,同时也是细胞内主要钙库之一,调节细胞内钙信号和细胞生长活动。更为重要的是,线粒体还是细胞凋亡和衰老的调控中心。在细胞凋亡过程中,线粒体释放促凋亡因子（如细胞色素C）,对细胞内凋亡信号进行整合和放大。不言而喻,线粒体在细胞生长、衰老和凋亡等生理、病理过程中扮演着重要的角色。     

H_2O_2诱导Neuro-2a细胞死亡机理的研究

细胞内线粒体呼吸链过程中的电子漏和神经细胞代谢的酶类如单胺氧化酶(MAO)等可产生活性氧物质(ROS)如H_2O_2等。ROS对细胞有毒性作用,导致细胞死亡,在许多疾病特别是神经退行性疾病中具有重要作用。我们用H_2o_2诱导N-2a神经母细胞瘤细胞,利用光镜、荧光显微镜、透射电镜观察了诱导的N-2a细胞的死亡,结果表明其死亡形式不同于典型的细胞凋亡,而类似于Ⅱ型神经细胞编程性死亡,死亡细胞染色质呈团块状凝集,细胞核膜仍保持完整。DNA不降解形成ladder,且不需要caspase-3,1的活性,但是H_2O_2诱导的Neuro-2a细胞死亡可以被Bcl-X_L,抑制。我们的结果可以说明,ROS介导的细胞毒性作用是导致Ⅱ型神经细胞编程性死亡的一个原因。     

活性氧参与-氧化氮诱导的神经细胞凋亡

采用激光共聚焦成像技术,用氧化还原敏感的特异性荧光探针(DCFH-DA和DHR123)直接研究了一氧 化氮供体S-亚硝基-N-乙酰基青霉胺(SNAP)诱导未成熟大鼠小脑颗粒神经元凋亡过程中的细胞胞浆、线粒体 中活性氧水平的变化,发现神经细胞经0.5mmol/LSNAP处理1h后,细胞胞浆及线粒体中活性氧水平大大增 加.一氧化氮清除剂血红蛋白能够有效抑制细胞胞浆、线粒体中活性氧的产生,防止细胞凋亡.外源性谷胱甘 肽对细胞也具有良好的保护作用,而当细胞中谷胱甘肽的合成被抑制后,一氧化氮的神经毒性大大增强.实验 结果表明一氧化氮通过促进神经细胞产生内源性活性氧而启动细胞凋亡程序,而谷胱甘肽可能是重要的防止一 氧化氮引发神经损伤的内源性抗氧化剂     

活性氧参与一氧化氮诱导的神经细胞凋亡

采用激光共聚焦成像技术，用氧化还原敏感的特异性荧光探针(DCFH-DA和DHR123)直接研究了一氧化氮供体S-亚硝基-N-乙酰基青霉胺(SNAP)诱导未成熟大鼠小脑颗粒神经元凋亡过程中的细胞胞浆、线粒体中活性氧水平的变化，发现神经细胞经0.5 mmol/L SNAP处理1 h后，细胞胞浆及线粒体中活性氧水平大大增加.一氧化氮清除剂血红蛋白能够有效抑制细胞胞浆、线粒体中活性氧的产生，防止细胞凋亡.外源性谷胱甘肽对细胞也具有良好的保护作用，而当细胞中谷胱甘肽的合成被抑制后，一氧化氮的神经毒性大大增强.实验结果表明一氧化氮通过促进神经细胞产生内源性活性氧而启动细胞凋亡程序，而谷胱甘肽可能是重要的防止一氧化氮引发神经损伤的内源性抗氧化剂.     

活性氧、线粒体通透性转换与细胞凋亡

线粒体是真核细胞中非常重要的细胞器,细胞中的活性氧等自由基主要来源于此,线粒体膜的通透性转换(mitochondrial permeability transition,MPT)及其孔道(mitochondrialpermeability transition pore,MPTP)更是在内源性细胞凋亡中发挥了关键作用。持续性的线粒体膜通透性转换在凋亡的效应阶段起决定性作用,可介导细胞色素c等促凋亡因子从线粒体释放到胞浆中,进一步激活下游的信号通路,导致细胞不可逆地走向凋亡。瞬时性的线粒体膜通透性转换及其偶联的线粒体局部的活性氧爆发同样具有促凋亡的作用。线粒体通透性孔道的开放释放出大量活性氧,这些活性氧又能够进一步激活该孔道,以正反馈的形式进一步加剧孔道的打开,放大凋亡信号。活性氧、线粒体通透性转换与细胞凋亡之间具有密不可分的联系,本文根据已知的研究结果集中讨论了这三者的关系,并着重论述了该领域中的最新发现和成果。     

Detoxifying function of cytochrome c against oxygen toxicity

The detoxifying function of cytochrome c to scavenge O2-* and H2O2 in mitochondria is confirmed experimentally. A model of respiratory chain operating with two electron-leak pathways mediated by cytochrome c is suggested to illustrate the controlling mechanism of ROS level in mitochondria. A concept of mitochondrial radical metabolism is suggested based on the two electron-leak pathways mediated by cytochrome c are metabolic routes of O2-*. Two portions of oxygen consumption can be found in mitochondria. The main portion of oxygen consumed in the electron transfer of respiratory chain is used in ATP synthesis, while a subordinate part of oxygen consumed by the leaked electrons contributes to ROS generation. It is found that the amount of electron leak of respiratory chain is not fixed, but varies with age and pathological states. The models of respiratory chain operating with two cytochrome c-mediated electron-leak pathways and a radical metabolism of mitochondria accompanied with energy metabolism are helpful to comprehend the pathological problems caused by oxygen toxicity.     

Elucidation of the effects of lipoperoxidation on the mitochondrial electron transport chain using yeast mitochondria with manipulated fatty acid content

Lipoperoxidative damage to the respiratory chain proteins may account for disruption in mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) function and could lead to an augment in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of lipoperoxidation on ETC function and cytochromes spectra of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria. We compared the effects of Fe²⁺ treatment on mitochondria isolated from yeast with native (lipoperoxidation-resistant) and modified (lipoperoxidation-sensitive) fatty acid composition. Augmented sensitivity to oxidative stress was observed in the complex III-complex IV segment of the ETC. Lipoperoxidation did not alter the cytochromes content. Under lipoperoxidative conditions, cytochrome c reduction by succinate was almost totally eliminated by superoxide dismutase and stigmatellin. Our results suggest that lipoperoxidation impairs electron transfer mainly at cytochrome b in complex III, which leads to increased resistance to antimycin A and ROS generation due to an electron leak at the level of the Q_O site of complex III.     

The energy blockers 3-bromopyruvate and lonidamine: effects on bioenergetics of brain mitochondria

Tumor cells favor abnormal energy production via aerobic glycolysis and show resistance to apoptosis, suggesting the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction. The differences between normal and cancer cells in their energy metabolism provide a biochemical basis for developing new therapeutic strategies. The energy blocker 3-bromopyruvate (3BP) can eradicate liver cancer in animals without associated toxicity, and is a potent anticancer towards glioblastoma cells. Since mitochondria are 3BP targets, in this work the effects of 3BP on the bioenergetics of normal rat brain mitochondria were investigated in vitro, in comparison with the anticancer agent lonidamine (LND). Whereas LND impaired oxygen consumption dependent on any complex of the respiratory chain, 3BP was inhibitory to malate/pyruvate and succinate (Complexes I and II), but preserved respiration from glycerol-3-phosphate and ascorbate (Complex IV). Accordingly, although electron flow along the respiratory chain and ATP levels were decreased by 3BP in malate/pyruvate- and succinate-fed mitochondria, they were not significantly influenced from glycerol-3-phosphate- or ascorbate-fed mitochondria. LND produced a decrease in electron flow from all substrates tested. No ROS were produced from any substrate, with the exception of 3BP-induced H₂O₂ release from succinate, which suggests an antimycin-like action of 3BP as an inhibitor of Complex III. We can conclude that 3BP does not abolish completely respiration and ATP synthesis in brain mitochondria, and has a limited effect on ROS production, confirming that this drug may have limited harmful effects on normal cells.     

Mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species is enhanced at the Q<Subscript>o</Subscript> site of the complex III in the myocardium of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trypanosoma cruzi-</Emphasis>infected mice: beneficial effects of an antioxidant

In this study, we have characterized the cellular source and mechanism for the enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the myocardium during Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Cardiac mitochondria of infected mice, as compared to normal controls, exhibited 63.3% and 30.8% increase in ROS-specific fluorescence of dihydroethidium (detects O₂ ^•−) and amplex red (detects H₂O₂), respectively. This increase in ROS level in cardiac mitochondria of infected mice was associated with a 59% and 114% increase in the rate of glutamate/malate- (complex I substrates) and succinate- (complex II substrate) supported ROS release, respectively, and up to a 74.9% increase in the rate of electron leakage from the respiratory chain when compared to normal controls. Inhibition studies with normal cardiac mitochondria showed that rotenone induced ROS generation at the Q_Nf-ubisemiquinone site in complex I. In complex III, myxothiazol induced ROS generation from a site located at the Q_o center that was different from the Q_i center of O₂ ^•− generation by antimycin. In cardiac mitochondria of infected mice, the rate of electron leakage at complex I during forward (complex I-to-complex III) and reverse (complex II-to-complex I) electron flow was not enhanced, and complex I was not the main site of increased ROS production in infected myocardium. Instead, defects of complex III proximal to the Q_o site resulted in enhanced electron leakage and ROS formation in cardiac mitochondria of infected mice. Treatment of infected mice with phenyl-α-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) improved the respiratory chain function, and, subsequently, decreased the extent of electron leakage and ROS release. In conclusion, we show that impairment of the Q_o site of complex III resulted in increased electron leakage and O₂ ^•− formation in infected myocardium, and was controlled by PBN.     

Multistationary and Oscillatory Modes of Free Radicals Generation by the Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Revealed by a Bifurcation Analysis

The mitochondrial electron transport chain transforms energy satisfying cellular demand and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that act as metabolic signals or destructive factors. Therefore, knowledge of the possible modes and bifurcations of electron transport that affect ROS signaling provides insight into the interrelationship of mitochondrial respiration with cellular metabolism. Here, a bifurcation analysis of a sequence of the electron transport chain models of increasing complexity was used to analyze the contribution of individual components to the modes of respiratory chain behavior. Our algorithm constructed models as large systems of ordinary differential equations describing the time evolution of the distribution of redox states of the respiratory complexes. The most complete model of the respiratory chain and linked metabolic reactions predicted that condensed mitochondria produce more ROS at low succinate concentration and less ROS at high succinate levels than swelled mitochondria. This prediction was validated by measuring ROS production under various swelling conditions. A numerical bifurcation analysis revealed qualitatively different types of multistationary behavior and sustained oscillations in the parameter space near a region that was previously found to describe the behavior of isolated mitochondria. The oscillations in transmembrane potential and ROS generation, observed in living cells were reproduced in the model that includes interaction of respiratory complexes with the reactions of TCA cycle. Whereas multistationarity is an internal characteristic of the respiratory chain, the functional link of respiration with central metabolism creates oscillations, which can be understood as a means of auto-regulation of cell metabolism.     

Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and oxidative stress: Lack of reverse electron transfer-associated production of reactive oxygen species

Reverse electron transfer (RET) from succinate to NAD⁺ is known to be accompanied by high generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, oxidation of fatty acids by mitochondria, despite being a powerful source of FADH₂, does not lead to RET-associated high ROS generation. Here we show that oxidation of carnitine esters of medium- and long-chain fatty acids by rat heart mitochondria is accompanied by neither high level of NADH/NAD⁺ nor intramitochondrial reduction of acetoacetate to β-hydroxybutyrate, comparable to those accompanying succinate oxidation, although it produces the same or higher energization of mitochondria as evidenced by high transmembrane potential. Also in contrast to the oxidation of succinate, where conversion of the pH difference between the mitochondrial matrix and the medium into the transmembrane electric potential by addition of nigericin results in a decrease of ROS generation, the same treatment during oxidation of octanoylcarnitine produces a large increase of ROS. Analysis of respiratory chain complexes by Blue Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed bands that could tentatively point to supercomplex formation between complexes II and I and complexes II and III. However, no such association could be found between complex I and the electron transferring flavoprotein that participates in fatty acid oxidation. It is speculated that structural association between respective respiratory chain components may facilitate effective reverse electron transfer.     

Respiratory chain components involved in the glycerophosphate dehydrogenase-dependent ROS production by brown adipose tissue mitochondria

Involvement of mammalian mitochondrial glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH, EC 1.1.99.5) in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was studied in brown adipose tissue mitochondria by different spectroscopic techniques. Spectrofluorometry using ROS-sensitive probes CM-H₂DCFDA and Amplex Red was used to determine the glycerophosphate- or succinate-dependent ROS production in mitochondria supplemented with respiratory chain inhibitors antimycin A and myxothiazol. In case of glycerophosphate oxidation, most of the ROS originated directly from mGPDH and coenzyme Q while complex III was a typical site of ROS production in succinate oxidation. Glycerophosphate-dependent ROS production monitored by KCN-insensitive oxygen consumption was highly activated by one-electron acceptor ferricyanide, whereas succinate-dependent ROS production was unaffected. In addition, superoxide anion radical was detected as a mGPDH-related primary ROS species by fluorescent probe dihydroethidium, as well as by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy with DMPO spin trap. Altogether, the data obtained demonstrate pronounced differences in the mechanism of ROS production originating from oxidation of glycerophosphate and succinate indicating that electron transfer from mGPDH to coenzyme Q is highly prone to electron leak and superoxide generation.     

Mitochondrial role in life and death of the cell

Mitochondria are the major ATP producer of the mammalian cell. Moreover, mitochondria are also the main intracellular source and target of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are continually generated as by-products of aerobic metabolism in human cells. A low level of ROS generated from the respiratory chain was recently proposed to take part in the signaling from mitochondria to the nucleus. Several structural characteristics of mitochondria and the mitochondrial genome enable them to sense and respond to extracellular and intracellular signals or stresses in order to sustain the life of the cell. It has been established that mitochondrial respiratory function declines with age, and that defects in the respiratory chain increase the production of ROS and free radicals in mitochondria. Within a certain concentration range, ROS may induce stress responses of the cell by altering the expression of a number of genes in order to uphold energy metabolism to rescue the cell. However, beyond this threshold, ROS may elicit apoptosis by induction of mitochondrial membrane permeability transition and release of cytochrome c. Intensive research in the past few years has established that mitochondria play a pivotal role in the early phase of apoptosis in mammalian cells. In this article, the role of mitochondria in the determination of life and death of the cell is reviewed on the basis of recent findings gathered from this and other laboratories.     

Changes in electron transport,superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase isoenzymes in chloroplasts and mitochondria of cucumber leaves as influenced by chilling

In order to clarify the relationship between chill-induced disturbance in photosynthetic, respiratory electron transport and the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence quenching, respiration, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were investigated in chloroplasts and mitochondria of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leaves subjected to a chill (8 °C) for 4 d. Chilling decreased net photosynthetic rate (P _N) and quantum efficiency of photosystem 2 (Φ_PS2), but increased the ratio of Φ_PS2 to the quantum efficiency of CO₂ fixation (ΦCO₂) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in cucumber leaves. While chilling inhibited the activity of cytochrome respiration pathway, it induced an increase of alternative respiration pathway activity and the reduction level of Q-pool. Chilling also significantly increased O₂ ^• production rate, H₂O₂ content, and SOD and APX activities in chloroplasts and mitochondria. There was a more significant increase in SOD and APX activities in chloroplasts than in mitochondria with the increase of membrane-bound Fe-SOD and tAPX in chloroplasts being more significant than other isoenzymes. Taken together, chilling inhibited P _N and cytochrome respiratory pathway but enhanced the photosynthetic electron flux to O₂ and over-reduction of respiratory electron transport chain, resulting in ROS accumulation in cucumber leaves. Meanwhile, chilling resulted in an enhancement of the protective mechanisms such as thermal dissipation, alternative respiratory pathway, and ROS-scavenging mechanisms (SODs and APXs) in chloroplasts and mitochondria.     

Water-soluble formulation of Coenzyme Q10 inhibits Bax-induced destabilization of mitochondria in mammalian cells

Oxidative stress leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, which triggers the opening of the permeability transition pores (PTP) and the release of pro-apoptotic factors causing apoptotic cell death. In a limited number of cell systems, anti-oxidants and free-radical scavengers have been shown to block this response. We have previously reported that coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀), an electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, is involved in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) removal and prevention of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells. However, the mechanism of this protection has not been fully elucidated. In the present study we investigated the effects of CoQ₁₀ on the mitochondrial events characteristic to apoptosis, especially on the function of pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Our results demonstrated that following a brief exposure of two human cell lines (fibroblasts and HEK293 cells) to H₂O₂ the intracellular levels of ROS and the association of Bax with the mitochondria significantly increased and the cells underwent apoptosis. Both of these events, as well as the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, were blocked by a 24 h pre-treatment with CoQ₁₀. It is therefore believed that CoQ₁₀ prevented the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential in response to the H₂O₂ treatment. Recombinant Bax protein alone caused the ROS generation and release of cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria and, again, CoQ₁₀ inhibited these Bax-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions.