The Effect of S-15176 Difumarate Salt on Ultrastructure and Functions of Liver Mitochondria of C57BL/6 Mice with Streptozotocin/High-Fat Diet-Induced Type 2 Diabetes

Uridine Administration Promotes Normalization of Heart Mitochondrial Function in Dystrophin-Deficient Mice and Decreases Tissue Fibrosis

The work shows the effect of the metabolic modulator uridine on the functioning and ultrastructure of heart mitochondria in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. Intraperitoneal administration of uridine (30 mg/kg/day for 28 days) improved K+ transport and increased its content in the heart mitochondria of mdx mice to the level of wild-type animals. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the level of malondialdehyde and an increase in the number of mitochondria in the heart of mdx mice. At the same time, uridine did not affect the hyperfunctionality of mitochondria in mdx mice, which manifested in an increase in the calcium retention capacity. Nevertheless, we noted that uridine causes a significant decrease in the level of fibrosis in the heart of mdx mice, which attested to a positive effect of therapy.

Effect of Large-Conductance Calcium-Dependent K+ Channel Activator NS1619 on Function of Mitochondria in the Heart of Dystrophin-Deficient Mice

Dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy (Duchenne dystrophy) is characterized by impaired ion homeostasis, in which mitochondria play an important role. In the present work, using a model of dystrophin-deficient mdx mice, we revealed decrease in the efficiency of potassium ion transport and total content of this ion in the heart mitochondria. We evaluated the effect of chronic administration of the benzimidazole derivative NS1619, which is an activator of the large-conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ channel (mitoBK_Ca), on the structure and function of organelles and the state of the heart muscle. It was shown that NS1619 improves K+ transport and increases content of the ion in the heart mitochondria of mdx mice, but this is not associated with the changes in the level of mitoBK_Ca protein and expression of the gene encoding this protein. The effect of NS1619 was accompanied by the decrease in the intensity of oxidative stress, assessed by the level of lipid peroxidation products (MDA products), and normalization of the mitochondrial ultrastructure in the heart of mdx mice. In addition, we found positive changes in the tissue manifested by the decrease in the level of fibrosis in the heart of dystrophin-deficient animals treated with NS1619. It was noted that NS1619 had no significant effect on the structure and function of heart mitochondria in the wild-type animals. The paper discusses mechanisms of influence of NS1619 on the function of mouse heart mitochondria in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and prospects for applying this approach to correct pathology.

Transforming Growth Factorβ1 Overexpression Is Associated with Insulin Resistance and Rapidly Progressive Kidney Fibrosis under Diabetic Conditions

Diabetes mellitus is a global health problem. Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. The clinical course, response to therapy, and prognosis of nephropathy are worse in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients. The role of transforming growth factorβ1 in kidney fibrosis is undebatable. This study assessed whether the overexpression of transforming growth factorβ1 is associated with insulin resistance and the rapid progression of transforming growth factorβ1-mediated nephropathy under diabetic conditions. Diabetes mellitus was induced with streptozotocin in wild-type mice and transgenic mice with the kidney-specific overexpression of human transforming growth factorβ1. Mice treated with saline were the controls. Glucose tolerance and kidney fibrosis were evaluated. The blood glucose levels, the values of the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, and the area of kidney fibrosis were significantly increased, and the renal function was significantly impaired in the diabetic transforming growth factorβ1 transgenic mice compared to the non-diabetic transgenic mice, diabetic wild-type mice, and non-diabetic mice. Transforming growth factorβ1 impaired the regulatory effect of insulin on glucose in the hepatocyte and skeletal muscle cell lines. This study shows that transforming growth factorβ1 overexpression is associated with insulin resistance and rapidly progressive kidney fibrosis under diabetic conditions in mice.

BKCa Activator NS1619 Improves the Structure and Function of Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria in Duchenne Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive hereditary disease caused by the absence of the dystrophin protein. This is secondarily accompanied by a dysregulation of ion homeostasis, in which mitochondria play an important role. In the present work, we show that mitochondrial dysfunction in the skeletal muscles of dystrophin-deficient mdx mice is accompanied by a reduction in K+ transport and a decrease in its content in the matrix. This is associated with a decrease in the expression of the mitochondrial large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (mitoBKCa) in the muscles of mdx mice, which play an important role in cytoprotection. We observed that the BKCa activator NS1619 caused a normalization of mitoBKCa expression and potassium homeostasis in the muscle mitochondria of these animals, which was accompanied by an increase in the calcium retention capacity, mitigation of oxidative stress, and improvement in mitochondrial ultrastructure. This effect of NS1619 contributed to the reduction of degeneration/regeneration cycles and fibrosis in the skeletal muscles of mdx mice as well as a normalization of sarcomere size, but had no effect on the leakage of muscle enzymes and muscle strength loss. In the case of wild-type mice, we noted the negative effect of NS1619 manifested in the inhibition of the functional activity of mitochondria and disruption of their structure, which, however, did not significantly affect the state of the skeletal muscles of the animals. This article discusses the role of mitoBKCa in the development of DMD and the prospects of the approach associated with the correction of its function in treatments of this secondary channelopathy.

Effect of Chronic Treatment with Uridine on Cardiac Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the C57BL/6 Mouse Model of High-Fat Diet–Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Long-term hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus is associated with complex damage to cardiomyocytes and the development of mitochondrial dysfunction in the myocardium. Uridine, a pyrimidine nucleoside, plays an important role in cellular metabolism and is used to improve cardiac function. Herein, the antidiabetic potential of uridine (30 mg/kg/day for 21 days, i.p.) and its effect on mitochondrial homeostasis in the heart tissue were examined in a high-fat diet–streptozotocin-induced model of diabetes in C57BL/6 mice. We found that chronic administration of uridine to diabetic mice normalized plasma glucose and triglyceride levels and the heart weight/body weight ratio and increased the rate of glucose utilization during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. Analysis of TEM revealed that uridine prevented diabetes-induced ultrastructural abnormalities in mitochondria and sarcomeres in ventricular cardiomyocytes. In diabetic heart tissue, the mRNA level of Ppargc1a decreased and Drp1 and Parkin gene expression increased, suggesting the disturbances of mitochondrial biogenesis, fission, and mitophagy, respectively. Uridine treatment of diabetic mice restored the mRNA level of Ppargc1a and enhanced Pink1 gene expression, which may indicate an increase in the intensity of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, and as a consequence, mitochondrial turnover. Uridine also reduced oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction and suppressed lipid peroxidation, but it had no significant effect on the impaired calcium retention capacity and potassium transport in the heart mitochondria of diabetic mice. Altogether, these findings suggest that, along with its hypoglycemic effect, uridine has a protective action against diabetes-mediated functional and structural damage to cardiac mitochondria and disruption of mitochondrial quality-control systems in the diabetic heart.

S-15176 Difumarate Salt Can Impair Mitochondrial Function through Inhibition of the Respiratory Complex III and Permeabilization of the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane

S-15176 difumarate salt, a derivative of the anti-ischemic metabolic drug trimetazidine, has been intensively studied for its impact on cellular metabolism in animal models of ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver, heart, spinal cord, and other organs. Despite evidence of some reduction in oxidative damage to cells, the results of therapy with S-15176 have been mostly disappointing, possibly because of the lack of data on its underlying mechanisms. Here, we aimed to investigate in more detail the role of complexes I-IV of the electron transport chain and membrane permeability transition in mitochondrial toxicity associated with S-15176. Using rat thymocyte and liver mitochondria, we demonstrated that: (1) acute exposure to S-15176 (10 to 50 μM) dose-dependently decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential; (2) S-15176 suppressed the ADP-stimulated (State 3) and uncoupled (State 3UDNP) respiration of mitochondria energized with succinate or malate/glutamate, but not ascorbate/TMPD, and increased the resting respiration (State 4) when using all the substrate combinations; (3) S-15176 directly inhibited the activity of the respiratory complex III; (4) low doses of S-15176 diminished the rate of H2O2 production by mitochondria; (5) at concentrations of above 30 μM, S-15176 reduced calcium retention capacity and contributed to mitochondrial membrane permeabilization. Taken together, these findings suggest that S-15176 at tissue concentrations reached in animals can impair mitochondrial function through suppression of the cytochrome bc1 complex and an increase in the nonspecific membrane permeability.

Glucose fluctuation accelerates cardiac injury of diabetic mice via sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1)

Recent studies have shown that blood glucose fluctuation is associated with complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). SGLT1 (sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 1), is highly expressed in pathological conditions of heart, and is expressed in cardiomyocytes induced by high glucose. Herein, we constructed a diabetic mouse model with glucose fluctuation to investigate whether SGLT1 is involved in glucose fluctuation-induced cardiac injury. Echocardiography, histology examination, and TUNEL staining were performed to evaluate cardiac dysfunction and damage. To assess glucose fluctuation-induced oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured. To assess mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP content, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity, and expression of mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins were determined. The results indicated that diabetic mice with glucose fluctuation showed elevation of cardiac SGLT1 expression, left ventricular dysfunction, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Knockdown of SGLT1 could abrogate the effects of glucose fluctuation on cardiac injury. Thus, our study highlighted that SGLT1 plays an important role in glucose fluctuation induced cardiac injury through oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Effect of the Non-Immunosuppressive MPT Pore Inhibitor Alisporivir on the Functioning of Heart Mitochondria in Dystrophin-Deficient mdx Mice

Supporting mitochondrial function is one of the therapeutic strategies that improve the functioning of skeletal muscle in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In this work, we studied the effect of a non-immunosuppressive inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) alisporivir (5 mg/kg/day), reducing the intensity of the necrotic process and inflammation in skeletal muscles on the cardiac phenotype of dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. We found that the heart mitochondria of mdx mice show an increase in the intensity of oxidative phosphorylation and an increase in the resistance of organelles to the MPT pore opening. Alisporivir had no significant effect on the hyperfunctionalization of the heart mitochondria of mdx mice, and the state of the heart mitochondria of wild-type animals did not affect the dynamics of organelles but significantly suppressed mitochondrial biogenesis and reduced the amount of mtDNA in the heart muscle. Moreover, alisporivir suppressed mitochondrial biogenesis in the heart of wild-type mice. Alisporivir treatment resulted in a decrease in heart weight in mdx mice, which was associated with a significant modification of the transmission of excitation in the heart. The latter was also noted in the case of WT mice treated with alisporivir. The paper discusses the prospects for using alisporivir to correct the function of heart mitochondria in DMD.

Alisporivir Improves Mitochondrial Function in Skeletal Muscle of mdx Mice but Suppresses Mitochondrial Dynamics and Biogenesis

Mitigation of calcium-dependent destruction of skeletal muscle mitochondria is considered as a promising adjunctive therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In this work, we study the effect of intraperitoneal administration of a non-immunosuppressive inhibitor of calcium-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore alisporivir on the state of skeletal muscles and the functioning of mitochondria in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. We show that treatment with alisporivir reduces inflammation and improves muscle function in mdx mice. These effects of alisporivir were associated with an improvement in the ultrastructure of mitochondria, normalization of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, and a decrease in lipid peroxidation, due to suppression of MPT pore opening and an improvement in calcium homeostasis. The action of alisporivir was associated with suppression of the activity of cyclophilin D and a decrease in its expression in skeletal muscles. This was observed in both mdx mice and wild-type animals. At the same time, alisporivir suppressed mitochondrial biogenesis, assessed by the expression of Ppargc1a, and altered the dynamics of organelles, inhibiting both DRP1-mediated fission and MFN2-associated fusion of mitochondria. The article discusses the effects of alisporivir administration and cyclophilin D inhibition on mitochondrial reprogramming and networking in DMD and the consequences of this therapy on skeletal muscle health.

Alisporivir Treatment Alleviates Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Skeletal Muscles of C57BL/6NCrl Mice with High-Fat Diet/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a systemic metabolic disorder associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, with mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore opening being recognized as one of its pathogenic mechanisms. Alisporivir has been recently identified as a non-immunosuppressive analogue of the MPT pore blocker cyclosporin A and has broad therapeutic potential. The purpose of the present work was to study the effect of alisporivir (2.5 mg/kg/day i.p.) on the ultrastructure and functions of the skeletal muscle mitochondria of mice with diabetes mellitus induced by a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injections. The glucose tolerance tests indicated that alisporivir increased the rate of glucose utilization in diabetic mice. An electron microscopy analysis showed that alisporivir prevented diabetes-induced changes in the ultrastructure and content of the mitochondria in myocytes. In diabetes, the ADP-stimulated respiration, respiratory control, and ADP/O ratios and the level of ATP synthase in the mitochondria decreased, whereas alisporivir treatment restored these indicators. Alisporivir eliminated diabetes-induced increases in mitochondrial lipid peroxidation products. Diabetic mice showed decreased mRNA levels of Atp5f1a, Ant1, and Ppif and increased levels of Ant2 in the skeletal muscles. The skeletal muscle mitochondria of diabetic animals were sensitized to the MPT pore opening. Alisporivir normalized the expression level of Ant2 and mitochondrial susceptibility to the MPT pore opening. In parallel, the levels of Mfn2 and Drp1 also returned to control values, suggesting a normalization of mitochondrial dynamics. These findings suggest that the targeting of the MPT pore opening by alisporivir is a therapeutic approach to prevent the development of mitochondrial dysfunction and associated oxidative stress in the skeletal muscles in diabetes.

Effect of the MPT Pore Inhibitor Alisporivir on the Development of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Heart Tissue of Diabetic Mice

Simple Summary

Diabetes mellitus as a systemic metabolic disease is one of the most serious threats to global health in this century. Diabetic cardiomyopathy is increasingly recognized as one of the most important complications of the disease, which is associated with impaired cell energy metabolism and damage to mitochondria in cardiomyocytes. Therefore, targeting mitochondrial dysfunction by pharmacological agents can be used as a therapeutic strategy in diabetic heart disease. The aim of the work was to study the effect of the mitochondria-targeted agent alisporivir on the development of mitochondrial dysfunction in the heart of mice with experimental diabetes mellitus. Alisporivir has been recently identified as a non-immunosuppressive analogue of cyclosporin A, a selective inhibitor of cyclophilin D and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, with a potential in a wide range of therapeutic indications. Our results indicated that alisporivir alleviates diabetes-induced abnormalities in the ultrastructure and functions of mitochondria in cardiomyocytes and increases the rate of glucose utilization in diabetic mice. The data suggest that alisporivir acts as a mitochondria-targeted metabolic reprogramming agent and attenuates oxidative damage to the heart tissue of diabetic mice.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a systemic metabolic disorder associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, with the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore opening being considered as one of its possible mechanisms. The effect of alisporivir, a non-immunosuppressive cyclosporin derivative and a selective inhibitor of the MPT pore opening, on the ultrastructure and functions of the heart mitochondria of mice with diabetes mellitus induced by a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injections was studied. The treatment of diabetic animals with alisporivir (2.5 mg/kg ip for 20 days) increased the rate of glucose clearance during the glucose tolerance test. The blood glucose level and the indicator of heart rate in alisporivir-treated diabetic mice tended to restore. An electron microscopy analysis showed that alisporivir prevented mitochondrial swelling and ultrastructural alterations in cardiomyocytes of diabetic mice. Alisporivir canceled the diabetes-induced increases in the susceptibility of heart mitochondria to the MPT pore opening and the level of lipid peroxidation products, but it did not affect the decline in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity. The mRNA expression levels of Pink1 and Parkin in the heart tissue of alisporivir-treated diabetic mice were elevated, suggesting the stimulation of mitophagy. In parallel, alisporivir decreased the level of mtDNA in the heart tissue. These findings suggest that targeting the MPT pore opening by alisporivir alleviates the development of mitochondrial dysfunction in the diabetic heart. The cardioprotective effect of the drug in diabetes can be mediated by the induction of mitophagy and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in the organelles.