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Zhang Q, Han XZ, Burraco P, Wang XF, Teng LW, Liu ZS, Du WG. Oxidative stress mediates the impact of heatwaves on survival, growth and immune status in a lizard. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231768. [PMID: 37876201 PMCID: PMC10598448 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change often includes increases in the occurrence of extreme environmental events. Among these, heatwaves affect the pace of life and performance of wildlife, particularly ectothermic animals, owing to their low thermoregulatory abilities. However, the underlying mechanisms by which this occurs remain unclear. Evidence shows that heatwaves alter the redox balance of ectotherms, and oxidative stress is a major mediator of life-history trade-offs. Therefore, oxidative stress may mediate the effect of extreme thermal conditions on the life histories of ectotherms. To test this hypothesis, a 2 × 2 experiment was conducted to manipulate the redox balance (through a mitochondrial uncoupler that alleviates oxidative stress) of the desert toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus przewalskii) exposed to heatwave conditions. We recorded lizard growth and survival rates and quantified their redox and immune statuses. In control lizards (unmanipulated redox balance), heatwave conditions decreased growth and survival and induced oxidative damage and immune responses. By contrast, lizards with alleviated oxidative stress showed close-to-normal growth, survival, and immune status when challenged with heatwaves. These results provide mechanistic insight into the role of oxidative stress in mediating the effects of extreme temperatures on ectothermic vertebrates, which may have major eco-evolutionary implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Zhi Han
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China
| | - Pablo Burraco
- Doñana Biological Station (CSIC), Calle Americo Vespucio 29, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Xi-Feng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Wei Teng
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Sheng Liu
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei-Guo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
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Jiang H, He CJ, Li AM, He B, Li Y, Zhou MN, Ye J. Mitochondrial Uncoupling Inhibits Reductive Carboxylation in Cancer Cells. Mol Cancer Res 2023; 21:1010-1016. [PMID: 37358566 PMCID: PMC10592403 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-23-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
When the electron transport chain (ETC) function is impaired, cancer cells rely on reductive carboxylation (RC) to convert α-ketoglutarate (αKG) to citrate for macromolecular synthesis, thereby promoting tumor growth. Currently, there is no viable therapy to inhibit RC for cancer treatment. In this study, we demonstrate that the mitochondrial uncoupler treatment effectively inhibits RC in cancer cells. Mitochondrial uncoupler treatment activates the ETC and increases the NAD+/NADH ratio. Using U-13C-glutamine and 1-13C-glutamine tracers, we show that mitochondrial uncoupling accelerates the oxidative tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and blocks RC under hypoxia, in von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor-deficient kidney cancer cells, or under anchorage-independent growth condition. Together, these data demonstrate that mitochondrial uncoupling redirects α-KG from RC back to the oxidative TCA cycle, highlighting that the NAD+/NADH ratio is one key switch that determines the metabolic fate of α-KG. Inhibiting RC could be a key mechanism by which mitochondrial uncouplers inhibit tumor growth. IMPLICATIONS Mitochondrial uncoupling is a novel strategy to target RC in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowen Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford, CA 94305, US
| | - Clifford Jiajun He
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford, CA 94305, US
| | - Albert M Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford, CA 94305, US
| | - Bo He
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford, CA 94305, US
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford, CA 94305, US
| | - Meng-Ning Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford, CA 94305, US
| | - Jiangbin Ye
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford, CA 94305, US
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford, CA 94305, US
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford, CA 94305, US
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3
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Rokitskaya TI, Arutyunyan AM, Khailova LS, Kataeva AD, Firsov AM, Kotova EA, Antonenko YN. Usnic Acid-Mediated Exchange of Protons for Divalent Metal Cations across Lipid Membranes: Relevance to Mitochondrial Uncoupling. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23. [PMID: 36555847 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Usnic acid (UA), a unique lichen metabolite, is a protonophoric uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, widely known as a weight-loss dietary supplement. In contrast to conventional proton-shuttling mitochondrial uncouplers, UA was found to carry protons across lipid membranes via the induction of an electrogenic proton exchange for calcium or magnesium cations. Here, we evaluated the ability of various divalent metal cations to stimulate a proton transport through both planar and vesicular bilayer lipid membranes by measuring the transmembrane electrical current and fluorescence-detected pH gradient dissipation in pyranine-loaded liposomes, respectively. Thus, we obtained the following selectivity series of calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese and copper cations: Zn2+ > Mn2+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ >> Cu2+. Remarkably, Cu2+ appeared to suppress the UA-mediated proton transport in both lipid membrane systems. The data on the divalent metal cation/proton exchange were supported by circular dichroism spectroscopy of UA in the presence of the corresponding cations.
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Abstract
The term 'magic bullet' is a scientific concept proposed by the German Nobel laureate Paul Ehrlich in 1907, describing a medicine that could specifically and efficiently target a disease without harming the body. Oncologists have been looking for a magic bullet for cancer therapy ever since. However, the current therapies for cancers-including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy-pose either pan-cytotoxicity or only single-target efficacy, precluding their ability to function as a magic bullet. Intriguingly, niclosamide, an FDA-approved drug for treating tapeworm infections with an excellent safety profile, displays broad anti-cancer activity in a variety of contexts. In particular, niclosamide inhibits multiple oncogenic pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Ras, Stat3, Notch, E2F-Myc, NF-κB, and mTOR and activates tumor suppressor signaling pathways such as p53, PP2A, and AMPK. Moreover, niclosamide potentially improves immunotherapy by modulating pathways such as PD-1/PDL-1. We recently discovered that niclosamide ethanolamine (NEN) reprograms cellular metabolism through its uncoupler function, consequently remodeling the cellular epigenetic landscape to promote differentiation. Inspired by the promising results from the pre-clinical studies, several clinical trials are ongoing to assess the therapeutic effect of niclosamide in cancer patients. This current review summarizes the functions, mechanism of action, and potential applications of niclosamide in cancer therapy as a magic bullet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowen Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Albert M. Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jiangbin Ye
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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Cho I, Song HO, Ji HE, Yang S, Cho JH. BAM15 Relieves Neurodegeneration in Aged Caenorhabditis elegans and Extends Lifespan. Metabolites 2022; 12:1129. [PMID: 36422268 PMCID: PMC9698188 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12111129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BAM15 was recently screened as a protonophore uncoupler specifically for the mitochondrial membrane but not the plasma membrane. It is equally as potent as FCCP, but less toxic. Previously, mitochondrial uncoupling via DNP alleviates neurodegeneration in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans during aging. Therefore, we investigated whether BAM15 uncouplers could phenotypically and functionally reduce neuronal defects in aged nematodes. We observed green fluorescence protein-tagged mechanosensory neurons and performed touch and chemotaxis assays during aging. Wild-type animals treated with both 50 µM BAM15 and 10 µM DNP showed reduced mechanosensory neuronal defects during aging, which correlates with the maintenance of touch responses and short-term memory during aging. Uncoupler mutant ucp-4 also responded the same way as the wild-type, reducing neurodegeneration in 50 µM BAM15 and 10 µM DNP-treated animals compared to the DMSO control. These results suggest that 50 µM BAM15 alleviates neurodegeneration phenotypically and functionally in C. elegans during aging, potentially through mitochondrial uncoupling. In accordance with the preserved neuronal shape and function in aged C. elegans, 50 µM BAM15 extended the mean lifespan of both wild-type and ucp-4 mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Injeong Cho
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Ok Song
- Department of Infection Biology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha Eun Ji
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungtae Yang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hoon Cho
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
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Bi F, Jiang Z, Park W, Hartwich TMP, Ge Z, Chong KY, Yang K, Morrison MJ, Kim D, Kim J, Zhang W, Kril LM, Watt DS, Liu C, Yang-Hartwich Y. A Benzenesulfonamide-Based Mitochondrial Uncoupler Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Immunogenic Cell Death in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:2398-2409. [PMID: 34625503 PMCID: PMC8643344 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies and requires new therapeutic strategies to improve clinical outcomes. EOC metastasizes in the abdominal cavity through dissemination in the peritoneal fluid and ascites, efficiently adapt to the nutrient-deprived microenvironment, and resist current chemotherapeutic agents. Accumulating evidence suggests that mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is critical for the adaptation of EOC cells to this otherwise hostile microenvironment. Although chemical mitochondrial uncouplers can impair mitochondrial functions and thereby target multiple, essential pathways for cancer cell proliferation, traditional mitochondria uncouplers often cause toxicity that precludes their clinical application. In this study, we demonstrated that a mitochondrial uncoupler, specifically 2,5-dichloro-N-(4-nitronaphthalen-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide, hereinafter named Y3, was an antineoplastic agent in ovarian cancer models. Y3 treatment activated AMP-activated protein kinase and resulted in the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress sensors as well as growth inhibition and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells in vitro Y3 was well tolerated in vivo and effectively suppressed tumor progression in three mouse models of EOC, and Y3 also induced immunogenic cell death of cancer cells that involved the release of damage-associated molecular patterns and the activation of antitumor adaptive immune responses. These findings suggest that mitochondrial uncouplers hold promise in developing new anticancer therapies that delay tumor progression and protect patients with ovarian cancer against relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Bi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Sheng Jing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ziyan Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wonmin Park
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Tobias M P Hartwich
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Zhiping Ge
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kay Y Chong
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kevin Yang
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Madeline J Morrison
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Dongin Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Jaeyeon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky Health Care, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Liliia M Kril
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky Health Care, Lexington, Kentucky
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - David S Watt
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky Health Care, Lexington, Kentucky
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Chunming Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
- Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky Health Care, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Yang Yang-Hartwich
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Žuna K, Jovanović O, Khailova LS, Škulj S, Brkljača Z, Kreiter J, Kotova EA, Vazdar M, Antonenko YN, Pohl EE. Mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins (UCP1-UCP3) and Adenine Nucleotide Translocase (ANT1) Enhance the Protonophoric Action of 2,4-Dinitrophenol in Mitochondria and Planar Bilayer Membranes. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1178. [PMID: 34439844 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) is a classic uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria which is still used in “diet pills”, despite its high toxicity and lack of antidotes. DNP increases the proton current through pure lipid membranes, similar to other chemical uncouplers. However, the molecular mechanism of its action in the mitochondria is far from being understood. The sensitivity of DNP’s uncoupling action in mitochondria to carboxyatractyloside, a specific inhibitor of adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT), suggests the involvement of ANT and probably other mitochondrial proton-transporting proteins in the DNP’s protonophoric activity. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the contribution of recombinant ANT1 and the uncoupling proteins UCP1-UCP3 to DNP-mediated proton leakage using the well-defined model of planar bilayer lipid membranes. All four proteins significantly enhanced the protonophoric effect of DNP. Notably, only long-chain free fatty acids were previously shown to be co-factors of UCPs and ANT1. Using site-directed mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulations, we showed that arginine 79 of ANT1 is crucial for the DNP-mediated increase of membrane conductance, implying that this amino acid participates in DNP binding to ANT1.
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Pan X, Song Y, He M, Yan X, Huang C, Li J, Dong W, Cheng J, Jia J. Mitochondrial Uncouplers Confer Protection by Activating AMP-Activated Protein Kinase to Inhibit Neuroinflammation Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Biol Pharm Bull 2021; 43:1210-1219. [PMID: 32741941 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b20-00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a disease with high disability and mortality rates. Currently, the efficacy of therapies available for ICH is limited. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation substantially exacerbates brain damage following ICH. Here, we investigated whether mitochondrial uncouplers conferred protection by suppressing neuroinflammation following ICH. To mimic ICH-induced neuroinflammation in vitro, we treated microglia with red blood cell (RBC) lysate. RBC lysate enhanced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in microglia. A clinically used uncoupler, niclosamide (Nic), reduced the RBC lysate-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in microglia. Moreover, Nic ameliorated brain edema, decreased neuroinflammation, and improved neurological deficits in a well-established mouse model of ICH. Like niclosamide, the structurally unrelated uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-triflouromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) reduced brain edema, decreased neuroinflammation, and improved neurological deficits following ICH. It has been reported that mitochondrial uncouplers activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Mechanistically, Nic enhanced AMPK activation following ICH, and AMPK knockdown abolished the beneficial effects of Nic following ICH. In conclusion, mitochondrial uncouplers conferred protection by activating AMPK to inhibit microglial neuroinflammation following ICH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Pan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University.,Department of Neurology, Wuxi Xishan People's Hospital
| | - Yanmei Song
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University
| | - Meijun He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University
| | - Xiaoling Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University
| | - Caiyun Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University
| | - Jie Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University
| | - Wanli Dong
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University
| | - Jian Cheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University
| | - Jia Jia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University
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Jian C, Fu J, Cheng X, Shen LJ, Ji YX, Wang X, Pan S, Tian H, Tian S, Liao R, Song K, Wang HP, Zhang X, Wang Y, Huang Z, She ZG, Zhang XJ, Zhu L, Li H. Low-Dose Sorafenib Acts as a Mitochondrial Uncoupler and Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Cell Metab 2020; 31:892-908.e11. [PMID: 32375062 PMCID: PMC9375823 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sorafenib is the only first-line therapy for advanced HCC despite its serious adverse effects. Here, we report that at an equivalent of approximately one-tenth the clinical dose for HCC, sorafenib treatment effectively prevents the progression of NASH in both mice and monkeys without any observed significant adverse events. Mechanistically, sorafenib's benefit in NASH is independent of its canonical kinase targets in HCC, but involves the induction of mild mitochondrial uncoupling and subsequent activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Collectively, our findings demonstrate a previously unappreciated therapeutic effect and signaling mechanism of low-dose sorafenib treatment in NASH. We envision that this new therapeutic strategy for NASH has the potential to translate into a beneficial anti-NASH therapy with fewer adverse events than is observed in the drug's current use in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongshu Jian
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jiajun Fu
- Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Medical Science Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xu Cheng
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Li-Jun Shen
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yan-Xiao Ji
- Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Medical Science Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Shan Pan
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Han Tian
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Song Tian
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Rufang Liao
- Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Kehan Song
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Hai-Ping Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yibin Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Zan Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhi-Gang She
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Lihua Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Hongliang Li
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Medical Science Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
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Khailova LS, Firsov AM, Kotova EA, Antonenko YN. Interaction of Potent Mitochondrial Uncouplers with Thiol-Containing Antioxidants. Antioxidants (Basel) 2019; 8:antiox8060194. [PMID: 31234606 PMCID: PMC6616877 DOI: 10.3390/antiox8060194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is generally considered that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the development of numerous pathologies. The level of ROS can be altered via the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation by using protonophores causing mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Here, we report that the uncoupling activity of potent protonophores, such as carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP), carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), and fluazinam, can be abrogated by the addition of thiol-containing antioxidants to isolated mitochondria. In particular, N-acetylcysteine, glutathione, cysteine, and dithiothreitol removed both a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in the respiration rate that is caused by FCCP. The thiols also reduced the electrical current that is induced by FCCP and CCCP across planar bilayer lipid membranes. Thus, when speculating on the mechanistic roles of ROS level modulation by mitochondrial uncoupling based on the antioxidant reversing certain FCCP and CCCP effects on cellular processes, one should take into account the ability of these protonophoric uncouplers to directly interact with the thiol-containing antioxidants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ljudmila S Khailova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Alexander M Firsov
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Elena A Kotova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Yuri N Antonenko
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
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Abstract
In the sanctity of pure drug discovery, objective reasoning can become clouded when pursuing ideas that appear unorthodox, but are spot on physiologically. To put this into historical perspective, it was an unorthodox idea in the 1950’s to suggest that warfarin, a rat poison, could be repositioned into a breakthrough drug in humans to protect against strokes as a blood thinner. Yet it was approved in 1954 as Coumadin® and has been prescribed to billions of patients as a standard of care. Similarly, no one can forget the horrific effects of thalidomide, prescribed or available without a prescription, as both a sleeping pill and “morning sickness” anti-nausea medication targeting pregnant women in the 1950’s. The “thalidomide babies” became the case-in-point for the need of strict guidelines by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) or full multi-species teratogenicity testing before drug approval. More recently it was found that thalidomide is useful in graft versus host disease, leprosy and resistant tuberculosis treatment, and as an anti-angiogenesis agent as a breakthrough drug for multiple myeloma (except for pregnant female patients). Decades of diabetes drug discovery research has historically focused on every possible angle, except, the energy-out side of the equation, namely, raising mitochondrial energy expenditure with chemical uncouplers. The idea of “social responsibility” allowed energy-in agents to be explored and the portfolio is robust with medicines of insulin sensitizers, insulin analogues, secretagogues, SGLT2 inhibitors, etc., but not energy-out medicines. The primary reason? It appeared unorthodox, to return to exploring a drug platform used in the 1930s in over 100,000 obese patients used for weight loss. This is over 80-years ago and prior to Dr Peter Mitchell explaining the mechanism of how mitochondrial uncouplers, like 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) even worked by three decades later in 1961. Although there is a clear application for metabolic disease, it was not until recently that this platform was explored for its merit at very low, weight-neutral doses, for treating insidious human illnesses and completely unrelated to weight reduction. It is known that mitochondrial uncouplers specifically target the entire organelle’s physiology non-genomically. It has been known for years that many neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases are associated with overt production of reactive oxygen species (ROSs), a rise in isoprostanes (biomarker of mitochondrial ROSs in urine or blood) and poor calcium (Ca2+) handing. It has also been known that mitochondrial uncouplers lower ROS production and Ca2+ overload. There is evidence that elevation of isoprostanes precedes disease onset, in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). It is also curious, why so many neurodegenerative diseases of known and unknown etiology start at mid-life or later, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Huntington Disease (HD), AD, Parkinson Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Is there a relationship to a buildup of mutations that are sequestered over time due to ROSs exceeding the rate of repair? If ROS production were managed, could disease onset due to aging be delayed or prevented? Is it possible that most, if not all neurodegenerative diseases are manifested through mitochondrial dysfunction? Although DNP, a historic mitochondrial uncoupler, was used in the 1930s at high doses for obesity in well over 100,000 humans, and so far, it has never been an FDA-approved drug. This review will focus on the application of using DNP, but now, repositioned as a potential disease-modifying drug for a legion of insidious diseases at much lower and paradoxically, weight neutral doses. DNP will be addressed as a treatment for “metabesity”, an emerging term related to the global comorbidities associated with the over-nutritional phenotype; obesity, diabetes, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, but including neurodegenerative disorders and accelerated aging. Some unexpected drug findings will be discussed, such as DNP’s induction of neurotrophic growth factors involved in neuronal heath, learning and cognition. For the first time in 80’s years, the FDA has granted (to Mitochon Pharmaceutical, Inc., Blue Bell, PA, USA) an open Investigational New Drug (IND) approval to begin rigorous clinical testing of DNP for safety and tolerability, including for the first ever, pharmacokinetic profiling in humans. Successful completion of Phase I clinical trial will open the door to explore the merits of DNP as a possible treatment of people with many truly unmet medical needs, including those suffering from HD, MS, PD, AD, ALS, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Geisler
- Mitochon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 970 Cross Lane, Blue Bell, PA 19422, USA.
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12
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Shim J, Weatherly LM, Luc RH, Dorman MT, Neilson A, Ng R, Kim CH, Millard PJ, Gosse JA. Triclosan is a mitochondrial uncoupler in live zebrafish. J Appl Toxicol 2016; 36:1662-1667. [PMID: 27111768 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Triclosan (TCS) is a synthetic antimicrobial agent used in many consumer goods at millimolar concentrations. As a result of exposure, TCS has been detected widely in humans. We have recently discovered that TCS is a proton ionophore mitochondrial uncoupler in multiple types of living cells. Here, we present novel data indicating that TCS is also a mitochondrial uncoupler in a living organism: 24-hour post-fertilization (hpf) zebrafish embryos. These experiments were conducted using a Seahorse Bioscience XFe 96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer modified for bidirectional temperature control, using the XF96 spheroid plate to position and measure one zebrafish embryo per well. Using this method, after acute exposure to TCS, the basal oxygen consumption rate (OCR) increases, without a decrease in survival or heartbeat rate. TCS also decreases ATP-linked respiration and spare respiratory capacity and increases proton leak: all indicators of mitochondrial uncoupling. Our data indicate, that TCS is a mitochondrial uncoupler in vivo, which should be taken into consideration when assessing the toxicity and/or pharmaceutical uses of TCS. This is the first example of usage of a Seahorse Extracellular Flux Analyzer to measure bioenergetic flux of a single zebrafish embryo per well in a 96-well assay format. The method developed in this study provides a high-throughput tool to identify previously unknown mitochondrial uncouplers in a living organism. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyoung Shim
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA
| | - Lisa M Weatherly
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA
| | - Richard H Luc
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA
| | - Maxwell T Dorman
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA
| | - Andy Neilson
- Seahorse Bioscience, Inc., North Billerica, Massachusetts, 01862, USA
| | - Ryan Ng
- Seahorse Bioscience, Inc., North Billerica, Massachusetts, 01862, USA
| | - Carol H Kim
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA
| | - Paul J Millard
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Laboratory for Surface Science & Technology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA
| | - Julie A Gosse
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA. .,Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA.
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13
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Weatherly LM, Shim J, Hashmi HN, Kennedy RH, Hess ST, Gosse JA. Antimicrobial agent triclosan is a proton ionophore uncoupler of mitochondria in living rat and human mast cells and in primary human keratinocytes. J Appl Toxicol 2015. [PMID: 26204821 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial used widely in hospitals and personal care products, at ~10 mm. Human skin efficiently absorbs TCS. Mast cells are ubiquitous key players both in physiological processes and in disease, including asthma, cancer and autism. We previously showed that non-cytotoxic levels of TCS inhibit degranulation, the release of histamine and other mediators, from rat basophilic leukemia mast cells (RBL-2H3), and in this study, we replicate this finding in human mast cells (HMC-1.2). Our investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect led to the discovery that TCS disrupts adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in RBL-2H3 cells in glucose-free, galactose-containing media (95% confidence interval EC50 = 7.5-9.7 µm), without causing cytotoxicity. Using these same glucose-free conditions, 15 µm TCS dampens RBL-2H3 degranulation by 40%. The same ATP disruption was found with human HMC-1.2 cells (EC50 4.2-13.7 µm), NIH-3 T3 mouse fibroblasts (EC50 4.8-7.4 µm) and primary human keratinocytes (EC50 3.0-4.1 µm) all with no cytotoxicity. TCS increases oxygen consumption rate in RBL-2H3 cells. Known mitochondrial uncouplers (e.g., carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone) previously were found to inhibit mast cell function. TCS-methyl, which has a methyl group in place of the TCS ionizable proton, affects neither degranulation nor ATP production at non-cytotoxic doses. Thus, the effects of TCS on mast cell function are due to its proton ionophore structure. In addition, 5 µm TCS inhibits thapsigargin-stimulated degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells: further evidence that TCS disrupts mast cell signaling. Our data indicate that TCS is a mitochondrial uncoupler, and TCS may affect numerous cell types and functions via this mechanism. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Weatherly
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Orono, ME, USA.,Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Juyoung Shim
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Hina N Hashmi
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Rachel H Kennedy
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Orono, ME, USA.,Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Samuel T Hess
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Orono, ME, USA.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Julie A Gosse
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Orono, ME, USA.,Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
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