Interaction of Potent Mitochondrial Uncouplers with Thiol-Containing Antioxidants

Conjugating uncoupler compounds with hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains to achieve adipose tissue selective drug accumulation

One potential approach for treating obesity is to increase energy expenditure in brown and white adipose tissue. Here we aimed to achieve this outcome by targeting mitochondrial uncoupler compounds selectively to adipose tissue, thus avoiding side effects from uncoupling in other tissues. Selective drug accumulation in adipose tissue has been observed with many lipophilic compounds and dyes. Hence, we explored the feasibility of conjugating uncoupler compounds with a lipophilic C8-hydrocarbon chain via an ether bond. We found that substituting the trifluoromethoxy group in the uncoupler FCCP with a C8-hydrocarbon chain resulted in potent uncoupling activity. Nonetheless, the compound did not elicit therapeutic effects in mice, likely as a consequence of metabolic instability resulting from rapid ether bond cleavage. A lipophilic analog of the uncoupler compound 2,6-dinitrophenol, in which a C8-hydrocarbon chain was conjugated via an ether bond in the para-position (2,6-dinitro-4-(octyloxy)phenol), exhibited increased uncoupling activity compared to the parent compound. However, in vivo pharmacokinetics studies suggested that 2,6-dinitro-4-(octyloxy)phenol was also metabolically unstable. In conclusion, conjugation of a hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain to uncoupler compounds resulted in sustained or improved uncoupling activity. However, an ether bond linkage led to metabolic instability, indicating the need to conjugate lipophilic groups via other chemical bonds.

The transient character of mitochondrial uncoupling by the popular fungicide fluazinam is specific for liver

The popular fungicide fluazinam is known to exhibit an unusual cyclic pattern of the protonophoric uncoupling activity in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM), with membrane deenergization followed by spontaneous recoupling in the minute scale, which is associated with glutathione conjugation of fluazinam catalyzed by glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Here, we compare the fluazinam effect on RLM with that on rat kidney (RKM) and heart (RHM) mitochondria by monitoring three bioenergetic parameters: oxygen consumption rate, mitochondrial membrane potential and reduction of nucleotides. Only in RLM, the uncoupling activity of fluazinam was transient, i.e. disappeared in a few minutes, whereas in RKM and RHM it was stable in this time scale. We attribute this difference to the increased activity of mitochondrial GST in liver. We report data on the detection of glutathione-fluazinam conjugates by mass-spectrometry, thin layer chromatography and capillary electrophoresis after incubation of fluazinam with RLM but not with RKM, which supports the assumption of the tissue specificity of the conjugation.

Alkyl esters of 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxylic acid as potent tissue-specific uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation: Involvement of ATP/ADP translocase in mitochondrial uncoupling

An impressive body of evidence has been accumulated now on sound beneficial effects of mitochondrial uncouplers in struggling with the most dangerous pathologies such as cancer, infective diseases, neurodegeneration and obesity. To increase their efficacy while gaining further insight in the mechanism of the uncoupling action has been remaining a challenge. Encouraged by our previous promising results on lipophilic derivatives of 7-hydroxycoumarin-4-acetic acid (UB-4 esters), here, we use a 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxylic acid scaffold to synthesize a new series of 7-hydroxycoumarin (umbelliferone, UB)-derived uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation - alkyl esters of umbelliferone-3-carboxylic acid (UB-3 esters) with varying carbon chain length. Compared to the UB-4 derivatives, UB-3 esters proved to be stronger uncouplers: the most effective of them caused a pronounced increase in the respiration rate of isolated rat heart mitochondria (RHM) at submicromolar concentrations. Both of these series of UB derivatives exhibited a striking difference between their uncoupling patterns in mitochondria isolated from liver and heart or kidney, namely: a pronounced but transient decrease in membrane potential, followed by its recovery, was observed after the addition of these compounds to isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM), while the depolarization of RHM and rat kidney mitochondria (RKM) was rather stable under the same conditions. Interestingly, partial reversal of this depolarization in RHM and RKM was caused by carboxyatractyloside, an inhibitor of ATP/ADP translocase, thereby pointing to the involvement of this mitochondrial membrane protein in the uncoupling activity of both UB-3 and UB-4 esters. The fast membrane potential recovery in RLM uncoupled by the addition of the UB esters was apparently associated with hydrolysis of these compounds, catalyzed by mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2), being in high abundance in liver compared to other tissues. Protonophoric properties of the UB derivatives in isolated mitochondria were confirmed by measurements of RHM swelling in the presence of potassium acetate. In model bilayer lipid membranes (BLM), proton-carrying activity of UB-3 esters was demonstrated by measuring fluorescence response of the pH-dependent dye pyranine in liposomes. Electrophysiological experiments on identified neurons from Lymnaea stagnalis demonstrated low neurotoxicity of UB-3 esters. Resazurin-based cell viability assay showed low toxicity of UB-3 esters to HEK293 cells and primary human fibroblasts. Thus, the present results enable us to consider UB-3 esters as effective tissue-specific protonophoric mitochondrial uncouplers.

Pioglitazone Is a Mild Carrier-Dependent Uncoupler of Oxidative Phosphorylation and a Modulator of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition

Pioglitazone (PIO) is an insulin-sensitizing antidiabetic drug, which normalizes glucose and lipid metabolism but may provoke heart and liver failure and chronic kidney diseases. Both therapeutic and adverse effects of PIO can be accomplished through mitochondrial targets. Here, we explored the capability of PIO to modulate the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m) and the permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening in different models in vitro. ΔΨ_m was measured using tetraphenylphosphonium and the fluorescent dye rhodamine 123. The coupling of oxidative phosphorylation was estimated polarographically. The transport of ions and solutes across membranes was registered by potentiometric and spectral techniques. We found that PIO decreased ΔΨ_m in isolated mitochondria and intact thymocytes and the efficiency of ADP phosphorylation, particularly after the addition of Ca²⁺. The presence of the cytosolic fraction mitigated mitochondrial depolarization but made it sustained. Carboxyatractyloside diminished the PIO-dependent depolarization. PIO activated proton transport in deenergized mitochondria but not in artificial phospholipid vesicles. PIO had no effect on K⁺ and Ca²⁺ inward transport but drastically decreased the mitochondrial Ca²⁺-retention capacity and protective effects of adenine nucleotides against mPTP opening. Thus, PIO is a mild, partly ATP/ADP-translocase-dependent, uncoupler and a modulator of ATP production and mPTP sensitivity to Ca²⁺ and adenine nucleotides. These properties contribute to both therapeutic and adverse effects of PIO.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Mechanism Related to Fluazinam Stress of Panonychus citri (Acarina: Tetranychidae)

Simple Summary

The citrus red mite, Panonychus citri, is an important pest that causes serious citrus production losses in China. The insecticide fluazinam has a good control effect on the pest mites; however, its mechanism of action on mites remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomic sequencing and differential expression genes in P. citri treated with fluazinam, and identified some of the genes potential involved in detoxification metabolism related with the fluazinam exposure. Evaluating the efficacy of fluazinam, and analyzing the transcriptome data of P. citri under fluazinam stress, potentially provide a new agent for prevention and control of P. citri, and also preliminary research results for exploring the mechanism of action of fluazinam on P. citri. Given the up-regulated expression levels of genes for Mn-superoxide dismutase and catalase, we speculate that they play an important role in fluazinam-stress action on P. citri.

Abstract

The use of a large number of chemical acaricides to control these pest mites has led to an increasing problem of pesticide resistance, which has always been the difficulty in integrated pest management (IPM). Fluazinam has a good control effect on Panonychus citri, the serious pest on citrus; however, we only know the mechanism of action of fluazinam as a fungicide and its mechanism of action on mites remains unclear. Through analysis using Illumina high-throughput transcriptomic sequencing and differential expression genes in P. citri treated with fluazinam, 59 cytochrome P450 genes, 23 glutathione s-transferase genes, five carboxylate esterase genes, 11 superoxide dismutase genes and 15 catalase genes were identified. The Gene Ontology enrichment and the enrichment of KEGG results showed that the treatment were enrichment for redox enzyme pathways. Evaluating the efficacy of fluazinam, and analyzing the transcriptome data of P. citri under fluazinam stress, potentially provide a new agent for prevention and control of P. citri, and also preliminary research results for exploring the mechanism of action of fluazinam on P. citri. Given the up-regulated expression levels of genes for Mn-superoxide dismutase and catalase, we speculate that they play an important role in fluazinam-stress action on P. citri.

Cytoprotective Effects of Dinitrosyl Iron Complexes on Viability of Human Fibroblasts and Cardiomyocytes

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule that plays a key role in maintaining vascular homeostasis. Dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) generating NO are widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases. However, the involvement of DNICs in the metabolic processes of the cell, their protective properties in doxorubicin-induced toxicity remain to be clarified. Here, we found that novel class of mononuclear DNICs with functional sulfur-containing ligands enhanced the cell viability of human lung fibroblasts and rat cardiomyocytes. Moreover, DNICs demonstrated remarkable protection against doxorubicin-induced toxicity in fibroblasts and in rat cardiomyocytes (H9c2 cells). Data revealed that the DNICs compounds modulate the mitochondria function by decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m). Results of flow cytometry showed that DNICs were not affected the proliferation, growth of fibroblasts. In addition, this study showed that DNICs did not affect glutathione levels and the formation of reactive oxygen species in cells. Moreover, results indicated that DNICs maintained the ATP equilibrium in cells. Taken together, these findings show that DNICs have protective properties in vitro. It was further suggested that DNICs may be uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria and protective mechanism is mainly provided by the leakage of excess charge through the mitochondrial membrane. It is assumed that the DNICs have the therapeutic potential for treating cardiovascular diseases and for decreasing of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in cancer survivors.

Pros and Cons of Use of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants

Mitochondrial targeting is a novel strategy, which addresses pathologies originating from mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, one of the most potent therapeutics arises from the group of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, which specifically quench mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). They show very high efficacy in the treatment of a diverse array of pathologies encountered in this Special Issue of Antioxidants. However, despite very encouraging results in the use of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, the mechanistic principle of delivering these agents is, to some extent, counterproductive to the goal of selectively treating a population of damaged mitochondria. The main problem that arises is that injured mitochondria may carry a lower membrane potential when compared with normal ones and as a result, injured mitochondria are capable of taking up less therapeutic antioxidants than healthy mitochondria. Another problem is that the intracellular activity of mitochondrial ROS differs from cytosolic ROS in that they carry specific intracellular functions which are maintained at a delicate equilibrium and which may be disturbed under careless use of antioxidant doses. Consequently, understanding the overall benefit of targeting dysfunctional mitochondria in pathological tissue requires furthering the development of alternative techniques to target mitochondria.