Cytochrome c oxidase activity in mitochondria of cardiomyocytes from isolated cardiac tissue incubated under long-term hypoxic conditions

Electron microscopic histochemistry based upon the oxidative polymerization of 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) was applied to identify cytochrome c oxidase activity. We found that the incubation of isolated small pieces of cardiac tissue over 72 h under hypoxic conditions caused changes in the mitochondrial ultrastructure and disorders in the functional activity of mitochondria, particularly in the IV complex of respirator chain. Small, electron-dense mitochondria appeared inside electron-light mitochondria (“mitochondria inside mitochondria”) stained positively for cytochrome c oxidase activity along the full length of crista. The results are discussed in connection with the concept of intracellular regeneration and mitochondria structural transformations during mitoptosis.     

Sediment Core Sectioning and Extraction of Pore Waters under Anoxic Conditions

We demonstrate a method for sectioning sediment cores and extracting pore waters while maintaining oxygen-free conditions. A simple, inexpensive system is built and can be transported to a temporary work space close to field sampling site(s) to facilitate rapid analysis. Cores are extruded into a portable glove bag, where they are sectioned and each 1-3 cm thick section (depending on core diameter) is sealed into 50 ml centrifuge tubes. Pore waters are separated with centrifugation outside of the glove bag and then returned to the glove bag for separation from the sediment. These extracted pore water samples can be analyzed immediately. Immediate analyses of redox sensitive species, such as sulfide, iron speciation, and arsenic speciation indicate that oxidation of pore waters is minimal; some samples show approximately 100% of the reduced species, e.g. 100% Fe(II) with no detectable Fe(III). Both sediment and pore water samples can be preserved to maintain chemical species for further analysis upon return to the laboratory.     

靶向PUMA的siRNA对缺氧/复氧诱导大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的保护作用

为探讨p53上调凋亡调制物(p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis,PUMA)在大鼠心肌细胞缺氧/复氧(hypoxia/reoxygenatio,H/R)损伤中的作用,本研究将靶向PUMA的siRNA(si-PUMA)转染大鼠心肌细胞以建立PUMA沉默表达模型,观察其对心肌细胞H/R损伤的影响.RT-PCR和Western印迹结果表明,最适转染浓度50 nmol/L si-PUMA能靶向抑制H/R损伤心肌细胞的PUMA表达;MTT法检测心肌细胞存活率及培养基乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase,LDH)活性测定结果发现,si-PUMA组细胞存活率较H/R 6 h模型组明显提高,培养液中LDH活性显著降低(P<0.01);分光光度法及Annexin V-FITC/PI联合染色流式细胞凋亡检测结果显示,si-PUMA组caspase-3活性较H/R 6h组明显下调,细胞凋亡率明显降低(P<0.01);RT-PCR结果提示,与H/R6 h组相比,si-PUMA组Bax及Bcl-2表达分别出现显著下调及上调(P<0.05).以上结果表明,靶向PUMA的siRN...     

大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的保护作用

为探讨p53上调凋亡调制物(p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis, PUMA)在大鼠心肌细胞缺氧/复氧（hypoxia/reoxygenatio, H/R）损伤中的作用,本 研究将靶向PUMA的siRNA（si-PUMA）转染大鼠心肌细胞以建立PUMA沉默表达模型,观察其对心肌细胞H/R损伤的影响.RT-PCR和Western印迹结果表明,最适转染浓度50 nmol/L si-PUMA能靶向抑制H/R损伤心肌细胞的PUMA表达;MTT法检测心肌细胞存活率及培养基乳酸脱氢酶（lactate dehydrogenase, LDH）活性测定结果发现,si-PUMA 组细胞存活率较H/R 6 h模型组明显提高,培养液中LDH活性显著降低（P<0.01）;分光光度法及Annexin V-FITC/PI联合染色流式细胞凋亡检测结果显示,si-PUMA组caspase-3活性较H/R 6h组明显下调,细胞凋亡率明显降低（P <0.01）;RT-PCR结果 提示,与H/R 6 h组相比,si-PUMA组Bax及Bcl-2表达分别出现显著下调及上调（P <0.05）.以上结果表明,靶向PUMA的siRNA转染能明显增强心肌细胞耐受H/R损伤的能力,对心肌细胞具有较好的保护作用;PUMA介导H/R诱导的心肌细胞凋亡,是心肌缺血/再灌注损伤基因治疗的一个潜在靶点.     

Mitochondrial Ceramide and the Induction of Apoptosis

In most cell types, a key event in apoptosis is the release of proapoptotic intermembrane space proteins from mitochondria to the cytoplasm. In general, it is the release of these intermembrane space proteins that is responsible for the activation of caspases and DNases that are responsible for the execution of apoptosis. The mechanism for the increased permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane during the induction phase of apoptosis is currently unknown and highly debated. This review will focus on one such proposed mechanism, namely, the formation of ceramide channels in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Ceramides are known to play a major regulatory role in apoptosis by inducing the release of proapoptotic proteins from the mitochondria. As mitochondria are known to contain the enzymes responsible for the synthesis and hydrolysis of ceramide, there exists a mechanism for regulating the level of ceramide in mitochondria. In addition, mitochondrial ceramide levels have been shown to be elevated prior to the induction phase of apoptosis. Ceramide has been shown to form large protein permeable channels in planar phospholipid and mitochondrial outer membranes. Thus, ceramide channels are good candidates for the pathway with which proapoptotic proteins are released from mitochondria during the induction phase of apoptosis.     

Berbamine ameliorates isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction by inhibiting mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in rats

Berbamine (BBM), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid from roots, bark, and stem of Berberis plant such as Berberis aristata has a wide range of pharmacological activities. However, the evidence for the cardioprotective effect of BBM is inadequate and the molecular mechanism of BBM remains unclear. This study investigated the underlying molecular mechanism of BBM-mediated cardioprotection on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in rats. The assays of mitochondria antioxidant status, mitochondrial marker enzymes, and electron microscopic analysis of mitochondria revealed BBM significantly prevented the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by ISO. The ISO-induced elevation of mitochondrial oxidative stress was also curbed by BBM. Furthermore, pretreatment with BBM protected the heart tissue from ISO-induced apoptosis as evident from decreased terminal dUTP nickend-labeling positive cells and decreased expression of Bax, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-9, and caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and increased expression of Bcl-2 in ISO-induced rats. These current findings suggest that BBM exerts a significant cardioprotective effect on ISO-induced myocardial infarction in rats.     

线粒体在运动保护心肌免受缺血再灌注损伤中的作用

线粒体是参与心肌缺血再灌注(myocardial ischemia and reperfusion,MI/R)损伤的关键细胞器,线粒体活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)爆发、Ca²⁺失调、线粒体通透性转换孔(mitochondrial permeability transition pore,mPTP)开放、线粒体肿胀、促凋亡蛋白释放等都会导致线粒体功能障碍,心肌功能受损。运动是预防MI/R损伤的有效干预手段,其保护作用可能通过线粒体来实现。运动保护MI/R损伤的线粒体机制由多种因素决定,如线粒体能量学、K_ATP通道、mPTP、线粒体跨膜电位(ΔΨ_m)、线粒体蛋白、线粒体脂质、线粒体质量控制、远程调控因子等。本文综述了MI/R产生的线粒体机制,运动对MI/R的保护作用以及线粒体在其中的作用,以期为MI/R损伤的线粒体治疗策略提供参考。     

线粒体，活性氧和细胞凋亡

在能量代谢和自由基代谢中,线粒体均占据着十分重要的地位.通过呼吸链电子漏途径,线粒体产生大量超氧阴离子,并通过链式反应形成对机体有损伤作用的活性氧.通过呼吸链电子漏,氧化磷酸化解偶联,线粒体内膜产生通透性转变孔道（PTP）及Box-和/或PTP-介导的细胞色素c向胞质的转移等种种因素,线粒体参与一般抗氧化防御及细胞凋亡等重要生理过程的调控.在与线粒体相关的细胞凋亡中,活性氧的信号作用是十分明显的.     

地塞米松诱导红系细胞凋亡的观察(英文)

正常机体内,红细胞生成素（ＥＰＯ）诱导红系细胞分化,并阻止其凋亡,使其维持机体所需足够的数量。本文采用诱发贫血病毒（ＦＶＡ）诱导ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ小鼠脾细胞所形成的红细胞为实验系统,研究了外界因子？？地塞米松（Ｄｅｘ）对ＥＰＯ作用的影响。取６８周雌性ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ小鼠,尾部静脉注射含ＦＶＡ的小鼠血清。１５天后,断颈处死。取脾于ＩＭＤＭ中漂洗、剪碎、过滤、离心、制成单细胞悬液,在ＥＰＯ存在下,于平皿中培养至不同的时期后,进行不同浓度、不同时间的Ｄｅｘ处理。取细胞进行：（１）台盼蓝染色计数死细胞数;（２）观察ＤＮＡ电泳图谱;（３）电镜检察细胞学变化。Ｆｉｇ．１表明：随着Ｄｅｘ处理浓度和时间的增加,细胞死亡率也增加。Ｆｉｇ．２表明：１０－４浓度Ｄｅｘ处理,即可使早（１２ｈ）、中（２４ｈ）幼期红细胞凋亡,ＤＮＡ断裂成多聚核小体,产生明显ＤＮＡ梯形带。Ｆｉｇ．３表明：高浓度Ｄｅｘ可以使早幼期红细胞凋亡。电镜观察表明：与对照（Ｆｉｇ．４）比较,Ｄｅｘ处理后,细胞核固缩,染色质沿核膜内面周边凝聚,核周间隙扩张,胞质内出现空泡（Ｆｉｇ．５）;随后细胞破碎,出现大量凋亡小体（Ｆｉｇ．６）。Ｄｅｘ拮抗ＥＰＯ,诱导红系细胞凋亡的现象此     

Overexpression of Rcan1-1L Inhibits Hypoxia-Induced Cell Apoptosis through Induction of Mitophagy

Mitophagy, a cellular process that selectively targets dysfunctional mitochondria for degradation, is currently a hot topic in research into the pathogenesis and treatment of many human diseases. Considering that hypoxia causes mitochondrial dysfunction, which results in cell death, we speculated that selective activation of mitophagy might promote cell survival under hypoxic conditions. In the present study, we introduced the Regulator of calcineurin 1-1L (Rcan1-1L) to initiate the mitophagy pathway and aimed to evaluate the effect of Rcan1-1L-induced mitophagy on cell survival under hypoxic conditions. Recombinant adenovirus vectors carrying Rcan1-1L were transfected into human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human adult cardiac myocytes. Using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide MTT assay and Trypan blue exclusion assay, Rcan1-1L overexpression was found to markedly reverse cell growth inhibition induced by hypoxia. Additionally, Rcan1-1L overexpression inhibited cell apoptosis under hypoxic conditions, as detected by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) apoptosis assay. Meanwhile, the mitochondria-mediated cell apoptotic pathway was inhibited by Rcan1-1L. In contrast, knockdown of Rcan1-1L accelerated hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, Rcan1-1L overexpression significantly reduced mitochondrial mass, decreased depolarized mitochondria, and downregulated ATP and reactive oxygen species production. We further delineated that the loss of mitochondrial mass was due to the activation of mitophagy induced by Rcan1-1L. Rcan1-1L overexpression activated autophagy flux and promoted translocation of the specific mitophagy receptor Parkin into mitochondria from the cytosol, whereas inhibition of autophagy flux resulted in the accumulation of Parkin-loaded mitochondria. Finally, we demonstrated that mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening was significantly increased by Rcan1-1L overexpression, which suggested that Rcan1-1L might evoke mitophagy through regulating mitochondrial permeability transition pores. Taken together, we provide evidence that Rcan1-1L overexpression induces mitophagy, which in turn contributes to cell survival under hypoxic conditions, revealing for the first time that Rcan1-1L-induced mitophagy may be used for cardioprotection.     

六种重金属离子胁迫诱导鱼类细胞凋亡的研究

以草鱼（Ctenopharyngodon idellus）ZC7901细胞为研究模型,选用六种重金属离子进行胁迫诱导鱼类细胞凋亡试验.结果显示,在Cd²⁺、Cr⁶⁺、Hg²⁺、Cu²⁺、As⁵⁺、Pb²⁺的胁迫作用下,ZC7901细胞均出现了明显的染色质凝集、趋边化、形成凋亡小体等凋亡形态特征,核酸电泳显示DNA发生特异降解而呈现电泳阶梯,用末端脱氧核糖核酸转移酶介导的dUTP切口末端标记（TUNEL）法,检测到DNA的3′-OH断端均被原位特异标记,表明六种重金属离子均能诱导鱼类细胞发生典型的凋亡.     

Induction of permeability transition in pancreatic mitochondria by cerulein in rats

Hyperstimulation with cholecystokinin analogue cerulein induces a mild edematous pancreatitis in rats. There is evidence for a diminished energy metabolism of acinar cells in this experimental model. The aim of this study was to demonstrate permeability transition of the mitochondrial inner membrane as an early change in mitochondrial function and morphology. As functional parameters, the respiration and membrane potential of mitochondria isolated from control and cerulein-treated animals were measured, and changes in volume and morphology were investigated by swelling experiments and electron microscopy. Five hours after the first injection of cerulein, the leak respiration was nearly doubled and the resting membrane potential was decreased by about 17 mV. These alterations were reversed by extramitochondrial ADP or did not occur when cyclosporin A was added to the mitochondrial incubation. A considerable portion of the mitochondria isolated from cerulein-treated animals was swollen and showed dramatic changes in morphology such as a wrinkled outer membrane and the loss of a distinct cristae structure. These data provide evidence for the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore at an early stage of cerulein induced pancreatitis. This suggests that the permeability transition is an initiating event for lysis of individual mitochondria and the initiation of apoptosis and/or necrosis, as had been shown to occur in this experimental model.     

线粒体膜间隙蛋白在细胞凋亡中的作用

线粒体除了作为细胞内的“能量工厂”外,在控制细胞凋亡中起主导作用。细胞凋亡时,线粒体膜通透性增加,释放可溶性线粒体膜间隙蛋白质,进一步破坏细胞结构。在这些致死性蛋白质中,有些(cytc、Smac／DIABLO、Omi／HtrA2等)能够激活caspases,另一些(endo G、AIF、Omi/HtrA2等)则以非caspase依赖的方式发挥作用。多种线粒体因子参与细胞凋亡,强化了细胞器在凋亡控制中的核心作用。     

Preservation of mitochondrial structure and function after Bid- or Bax-mediated cytochrome c release

Proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family, including Bid and Bax, can activate apoptosis by directly interacting with mitochondria to cause cytochrome c translocation from the intermembrane space into the cytoplasm, thereby triggering Apaf-1-mediated caspase activation. Under some circumstances, when caspase activation is blocked, cells can recover from cytochrome c translocation; this suggests that apoptotic mitochondria may not always suffer catastrophic damage arising from the process of cytochrome c release. We now show that recombinant Bid and Bax cause complete cytochrome c loss from isolated mitochondria in vitro, but preserve the ultrastructure and protein import function of mitochondria, which depend on inner membrane polarization. We also demonstrate that, if caspases are inhibited, mitochondrial protein import function is retained in UV-irradiated or staurosporine-treated cells, despite the complete translocation of cytochrome c. Thus, Bid and Bax act only on the outer membrane, and lesions in the inner membrane occurring during apoptosis are shown to be secondary caspase-dependent events.     

Induction of Apoptosis in Cardiac Myocytes by an A3Adenosine Receptor Agonist

The effects of the selective adenosine (ADO) A₃receptor agonist IB-MECA (N⁶-(3-iodobenzyl)adenosine-5′-N-methylcarboxamide) on cultured newborn rat cardiomyocytes were examined in comparison with ADO, the ADO A₁receptor-selective agonistR-PIA (N⁶-R-phenylisopropyladenosine), or the ADO A₃selective antagonist MRS 1191 (3-ethyl-5-benzyl-2-methyl-6-phenyl-4-phenylethynyl-1,4-(±)-dihydropyridine-3,5 dicarboxylate), using digital image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei. At high concentration, IB-MECA (10 μM ) and ADO (200 μM) induced apoptosis; however,R-PIA or MRS 1191 did not have any detectable effects on cardiac cells. In addition, DNA breaks in cardiomyocytes undergoing apoptosis following treatment by IB-MECA were identifiedin situusing the nick end labeling of DNA (“TUNEL”-like) assay. In the presence of 10 μM IB-MECA, disorder in the contraction waves appeared, and a decrease in the frequency of beats was observed. Analysis with light microscopy revealed that the number of contracting cells decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The A₃receptor agonist IB-MECA caused an increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i). The drug produced a rapid rise followed by a sustained increase in [Ca²⁺]_i, which lasted for 40–60 s. Finally, cessation of beating and Ca²⁺transients were observed. Full recovery of contractile activity and rhythmical Ca²⁺transients were observed 15–20 min after IB-MECA treatment. The induction of apoptosis in the cardiocytes by IB-MECA led to the appearance of features of apoptotic nuclei: the onset of condensation, compacting, and margination of nuclear chromatin. These effects were accompanied by the disintegration of the structural framework of the nucleus and nuclear breakdown. The results suggest that activation of the A₃adenosine receptor may participate in the process of apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.     

Investigation of Calcium Accumulation in Mitochondria in Cells Undergoing Apoptosis

One of the earliest features of apoptosis is the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) due to opening of a pore in the mitochondrial membrane. We estimated the Ca²⁺ capacity of mitochondria (a threshold level of Ca²⁺ that induces the release of this cation from mitochondria) during apoptosis. Incubation of thymocytes at 37°C for 4 h equally decreased the mitochondrial Ca²⁺ capacity both in the presence and the absence of dexamethasone, an inducer of apoptosis. At the same time, dexamethasone significantly stimulated internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, which is one of the manifestations of apoptosis. Cyclosporin A prevented the time-dependent decrease in the Ca²⁺ capacity of mitochondria but did not affect internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Therefore, induction of apoptosis assessed by internucleosomal DNA fragmentation is not mediated by the mitochondrial permeability transition.     

Apoptosis of odontoclasts under physiological root resorption of human deciduous teeth

This study was designed to establish the apoptosis of odontoclasts during physiological root resorption of human deciduous teeth. Deciduous teeth were fixed, decalcified, and embedded in paraffin for immunohistochemical (IHC) observations and in Epon for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Apoptotic cells were identified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick-end labeling (TUNEL), and then tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity was determined on the same sections. Epon-embedded specimens were sectioned serially into 0.5-μm semithin sections; some of these sections were re-embedded in Epon, sectioned into 0.1-μm ultrathin sections, and observed by TEM. IHC revealed that the nuclei of TRAP-positive odontoclasts on the dentine were generally TUNEL-negative. Around these odontoclasts, a few TRAP-positive structures were present together with TUNEL-positive structures, e.g., a TRAP-positive structure with one TUNEL-positive nucleus, a TRAP-positive structure with one TUNEL-positive nucleus plus one or two TUNEL-negative nuclei, or a TRAP-positive structure with no nucleus. By TEM, some odontoclasts showed nuclear fragments including compacted chromatin. The results suggest that, during apoptosis, odontoclasts fragment into variously sized cellular parts including three or fewer nuclei. This study was supported by a grant from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, Culture, and Technology (grant no. 16591819) and by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, Culture, and Technology to promote multidisciplinary research projects (2003).     

线粒体神经酰胺对细胞凋亡的诱导作用

凋亡诱导期,线粒体内神经酰胺水平升高,当每纳摩尔线粒体膜磷脂内含4～6皮摩尔神经酰胺时,神经酰胺即在线粒体外膜形成稳定的跨膜通道,从而使外膜通透性增加,线粒体膜间蛋白释放,启动细胞凋亡.神经酰胺通道只能在线粒体外膜形成,它是由神经酰胺柱组成的桶装结构,神经酰胺的反式双键具有增加通道的稳定性的作用.     

瞬时受体电位香草酸亚型1激活释放的P物质在小鼠急性心肌梗死后凋亡中的保护作用

瞬时受体电位香草酸亚型1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, TRPV1)在心肌缺血激活后可传导心绞痛信号和释放P物质(substance P, SP).SP是速激肽家族成员之一,主要通过结合并激活神经激肽1 (neurokinin 1,NK1)受体发挥作用. TRPV1和SP在缺血性心脏病中对心功能的恢复和重塑有一定保护作用,但对心肌梗死后凋亡的作用及具体机制尚不明确.本研究用TRPV1基因敲除(TRPV1-/- )小鼠和野生型(wide type, WT)小鼠建立心肌梗死模型,并外源性给予SP和NK1受体拮抗剂RP67580,用TTC染色法观察梗死的面积,TUNEL法检测心肌细胞凋亡指数,Western印迹方法检测caspase-3、Bcl-2、Bax、p53的蛋白表达.结果发现,心肌梗死24 h后,TRPV1-/-小鼠比WT小鼠梗死面积更大,凋亡指数和caspase-3活性更高,Bcl-2/Bax和p53蛋白表达更低. SP预处理可以明显缩小TRPV1-/-小鼠梗死面积,降低凋亡指数、caspase-3活性和升高Bcl-2/Bax比值,而在WT小鼠中改善不明显.外源性给予RP67580,阻断SP与NK1受体结合后,与相应对照组相比,WT小鼠梗死面积和凋亡指数更大,caspase-3蛋白表达更高,Bcl-2/Bax比值更低;TRPV1-/-小鼠与相应对照组比较,凋亡指数和caspase-3表达升高,Bcl-2/Bax比值降低.研究结果表明,SP可能介导了TRPV1在急性心肌梗死后凋亡中的保护作用.