Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is thought to be a critical event in mediating the damage to hearts that accompanies their reperfusion following prolonged ischaemia. Protection from reperfusion injury occurs if the prolonged ischaemic period is preceded by short ischaemic periods followed by recovery. Here we investigate whether such ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) is accompanied by inhibition of MPTP opening. MPTP opening in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts was determined by perfusion with 2-deoxy[ We demonstrate that IPC inhibits initial MPTP opening in hearts reperfused after 30 min global ischaemia, and subsequently enhances pore closure as hearts recover. However, MPTP opening in mitochondria isolated from IPC hearts occurred more readily than control mitochondria, implying that MPTP inhibition by IPC in situ was secondary to other factors such as decreased calcium overload and oxidative stress. Hearts perfused with cyclosporin A or sanglifehrin A, powerful inhibitors of the MPTP, also recovered better from ischaemia than controls (improved haemodynamic function and less lactate dehydrogenase release). However, the mitochondrial DOG entrapment technique showed these agents to be less effective than IPC at preventing MPTP opening. Our data suggest that protection from reperfusion injury is better achieved by reducing factors that induce MPTP opening than by inhibiting the MPTP directly.

Studies with different ATP-sensitive potassium (K ATP ) channel openers and blockers have implicated opening of mitochondrial K ATP (mitoK ATP ) channels in ischaemic preconditioning (IPC). It would be predicted that this should increase mitochondrial matrix volume and hence respiratory chain activity. Here we confirm this directly using mitochondria rapidly isolated from Langendorffperfused hearts. Pre-ischaemic matrix volumes for control and IPC hearts (expressed in ml per mg protein ± S.E.M., n = 6), determined with 3 H 2 O and [14 C]sucrose, were 0.67 ± 0.02 and 0.83 ± 0.04 (P < 0.01), respectively, increasing to 1.01 ± 0.05 and 1.18 ± 0.02 following 30 min ischaemia (P < 0.01) and to 1.21 ± 0.13 and 1.26 ± 0.25 after 30 min reperfusion. Rates of ADP-stimulated (State 3) and uncoupled 2-oxoglutarate and succinate oxidation increased in parallel with matrix volume until maximum rates were reached at volumes of 1.1 ml ml _1 or greater. The mitoK ATP channel opener, diazoxide (50 mM), caused a similar increase in matrix volume, but with inhibition rather than activation of succinate and 2-oxoglutarate oxidation. Direct addition of diazoxide (50 mM) to isolated mitochondria also inhibited State 3 succinate and 2-oxoglutarate oxidation by 30 %, but not that of palmitoyl carnitine. Unexpectedly, treatment of hearts with the mitoK ATP channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate (5HD) at 100 or 300 mM, also increased mitochondrial volume and inhibited respiration. In isolated mitochondria, 5HD was rapidly converted to 5HD-CoA by mitochondrial fatty acyl CoA synthetase and acted as a weak substrate or inhibitor of respiration depending on the conditions employed. These data highlight the dangers of using 5HD and diazoxide as specific modulators of mitoK ATP channels in the heart.

Reactive oxygen species are important regulators of protozoal infection. Promastigotes of Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of Kala-azar, undergo an apoptosis-like death upon exposure to H 2 O 2 . The present study shows that upon activation of death response by H 2 O 2 , a dose-and time-dependent loss of mitochondrial membrane potential occurs. This loss is accompanied by a depletion of cellular glutathione, but cardiolipin content or thiol oxidation status remains unchanged. ATP levels are reduced within the first 60 min of exposure as a result of mitochondrial membrane potential loss. A tight link exists between changes in cytosolic Ca 2؉ homeostasis and collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, but the dissipation of the potential is independent of elevation of cytosolic Na ؉ and mitochondrial Ca 2؉ . Partial inhibition of cytosolic Ca 2؉ increase achieved by chelating extracellular or intracellular Ca 2؉ by the use of appropriate agents resulted in significant rescue of the fall of the mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis-like death. It is further demonstrated that the increase in cytosolic Ca 2؉ is an additive result of release of Ca 2؉ from intracellular stores as well as by influx of extracellular Ca 2؉ through flufenamic acid-sensitive non-selective cation channels; contribution of the latter was larger. Mitochondrial changes do not involve opening of the mitochondrial transition pore as cyclosporin A is unable to prevent mitochondrial membrane potential loss. An antioxidant like Nacetylcysteine is able to inhibit the fall of the mitochondrial membrane potential and prevent apoptosis-like death. Together, these findings show the importance of non-selective cation channels in regulating the response of L. donovani promastigotes to oxidative stress that triggers downstream signaling cascades leading to apoptosis-like death.Mitochondria are pivotal in controlling cell life and death (1). Maintenance of proper mitochondrial transmembrane potential (⌬ m ) 1 is essential for the survival of the cell as it drives the synthesis of ATP and maintains oxidative phosphorylation (2). Recently, the study of mitochondrial potential has become a focus of apoptosis regulation as many investigations demonstrate a major functional impact of mitochondrial alterations on apoptosis (2). Apoptosis is a process of cell death in which the cells undergo nuclear and cytoplasmic shrinkage; the chromatin is condensed and partitioned into multiple fragments, and finally the cells are broken into multiple membrane-bound bodies. In a number of experimental systems, disruption of ⌬ m constitutes a constant early event of the apoptotic process that precedes nuclear disintegration (3-5). For example, in thymocytes or tumor necrosis factor-stimulated U937 cells (3, 6), thymocytes or imexon-treated myeloma cells (5, 7), and PC-12 cells (8), a loss of ⌬ m occur as an early change associated with apoptosis. Lymphocytes with low ⌬ m show irreversible commitment to apoptosis in comparison to cells with high ⌬ m that do...

Abstract-Inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening at reperfusion is critical for cardioprotection by ischemic preconditioning (IP). Some studies have implicated mitochondrial protein phosphorylation in this effect. Here we confirm that mitochondria rapidly isolated from preischemic control and IP hearts show no significant difference in calcium-mediated MPTP opening, whereas IP inhibits MPTP opening in mitochondria isolated from IP hearts following 30 minutes of global normothermic ischemia or 3 minutes of reperfusion. Analysis of protein phosphorylation in density-gradient purified mitochondria was performed using both 2D and 1D electrophoresis, with detection of phosphoproteins using Pro-Q Diamond or phospho-amino-specific antibodies. Several phosphoproteins were detected, including voltage-dependent anion channels isoforms 1 and 2, but none showed significant IP-mediated changes either before ischemia or during ischemia and reperfusion, and neither Western blotting nor 2D fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis detected translocation of protein kinase C (␣, , or ␦ isoforms), glycogen synthase kinase 3␤, or Akt to the mitochondria following IP. In freeze-clamped hearts, changes in phosphorylation of GSK3␤, Akt, and AMP-activated protein kinase were detected following ischemia and reperfusion but no IP-mediated changes correlated with MPTP inhibition or cardioprotection. However, measurement of mitochondrial protein carbonylation, a surrogate marker for oxidative stress, suggested that a reduction in mitochondrial oxidative stress at the end of ischemia and during reperfusion may account for IP-mediated inhibition of MPTP. The signaling pathways mediating this effect and maintaining it during reperfusion are discussed. Key Words: mitochondrial permeability transition Ⅲ preconditioning Ⅲ reperfusion injury Ⅲ protein phosphorylation Ⅲ oxidative stress A critical factor mediating reperfusion injury of the heart is the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), the opening of which causes mitochondrial swelling with release of proapoptotic proteins and uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The resulting ATP deprivation causes disruption of ionic homeostasis and contractile function and ultimately sarcolemma rupture and necrosis. 1 Inhibition of MPTP opening during reperfusion protects hearts from reperfusion injury. 1 Effective cardioprotection is also mediated by ischemic preconditioning (IP) before prolonged ischemia is initiated, 2 and this also involves inhibition of MPTP opening. [3][4][5][6] Extensive evidence points to protein kinase (PK)C playing a central role in IP, although controversy remains over which PKC isoform(s) are involved and their translocation to mitochondria. 7,8 The strongest evidence implicates PKC because PKC-knockout mice do not exhibit IP and transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of PKC or expression of a PKC activator are protected from reperfusion injury. 8 Several studies have reported PKC translocation to th...

During the last 20 years, since the appearance of the first publication on ischemic preconditioning (PC), our knowledge of this phenomenon has increased exponentially. PC is defined as an increased tolerance to ischemia and reperfusion induced by previous sublethal period ischemia. This is the most powerful mechanism known to date for limiting the infract size. This adaptation occurs in a biphasic pattern (i) early preconditioning (lasts for 2-3 h) and (ii) late preconditioning (starting at 24 h lasting until 72-96 h after initial ischemia). Early preconditioning is more potent than delayed preconditioning in reducing infract size. Late preconditioning attenuates myocardial stunning and requires genomic activation with de novo protein synthesis. Early preconditioning depends on adenosine, opioids and to a lesser degree, on bradykinin and prostaglandins, released during ischemia. These molecules activate G-protein-coupled receptor, initiate activation of K(ATP) channel and generate oxygen-free radicals, and stimulate a series of protein kinases, which include protein kinase C, tyrosine kinase, and members of MAP kinase family. Late preconditioning is triggered by a similar sequence of events, but in addition essentially depends on newly synthesized proteins, which comprise iNOS, COX-2, manganese superoxide dismutase, and possibly heat shock proteins. The final mechanism of PC is still not very clear. The present review focuses on the possible role signaling molecules that regulate cardiomyocyte life and death during ischemia and reperfusion.

Protective mechanisms of resveratrol against ischemia-reperfusion-induced damage in hearts obtained from Zucker obese rats: the role of GLUT-4 and endothelin. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 294: H859-H866, 2008. First published December 7, 2007 doi:10.1152/ajpheart.01048.2007.-The resveratrol-induced cardiac protection was studied in Zucker obese rats. Rats were divided into five groups: group 1, lean control; group 2, obese control (OC); group 3, obese rats treated orally with 5 mg ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ day Ϫ1 of resveratrol (OR) for 2 wk; group 4, obese rats received 10% glucose solution ad libitum for 3 wk (OG); and group 5, obese rats received 10% glucose for 3 wk and resveratrol (OGR) during the 2nd and 3rd wk. Body weight, serum glucose, and insulin were measured, and then hearts were isolated and subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Heart rate, coronary flow, aortic flow, developed pressure, the incidence of reperfusioninduced ventricular fibrillation, and infarct size were measured. Resveratrol reduced body weight and serum glucose in the OR compared with the OC values (414 Ϯ 10 g and 7.08 Ϯ 0.41 mmol/l, respectively, to 378 Ϯ 12 g and 6.11 Ϯ 0.44 mmol/l), but insulin levels were unchanged. The same results were obtained for the OG vs. OGR group. Resveratrol improved postischemic cardiac function in the presence or absence of glucose intake compared with the resveratrolfree group. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation and infarct size was reduced by 83 and 20% in the OR group, and 67 and 16% in the OGR group, compared with the OC and OG groups, respectively. Resveratrol increased GLUT-4 expression and reduced endothelin expression and cardiac apoptosis in ischemic-reperfused hearts in the presence or absence of glucose intake. Thus the protective effect of resveratrol could be related to its direct effects on the heart. heart; ischemia-reperfusion; diabetes; rat IN THE PAST THREE DECADES, an explosive increase in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes was seen worldwide (7, 48).

It is generally believed that the French paradox is related to the consumption of red wine and not other varieties of wine, including white wine or champagne. Some recent studies have indicated that white wine could also be as cardioprotective as red wine. The present investigation compares the cardioprotective abilities of red wine, white wine, and their principal cardioprotective constituents. Different groups of rats were gavaged with red wine, white wine, resveratrol, tyrosol, and hydroxytyrosol. Red wine and its constituent resveratrol and white wine and its constituents tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol all showed different degrees of cardioprotection as evidenced by their abilities to improve postischemic ventricular performance, reduce myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and reduce peroxide formation. It was discovered in this study that although each of the wines and their components increased the enzymatic activities of the mitochondrial complex (I-IV) and citrate synthase, which play very important roles in oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis, some of the groups were more complex-specific in inducing the activity compared to the other groups. Cardioprotective ability was further confirmed by increased expression of phospho-Akt, Bcl-2, eNOS, iNOS, COX-1, COX-2, Trx-1, Trx-2, and HO-1. The results of this study suggest that white wine can provide cardioprotection similar to red wine if it is rich in tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol.

A mitochondrial sulphonylurea-sensitive, ATP-sensitive K+ channel (mitoKATP) that is selectively inhibited by 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) and activated by diazoxide has been implicated in ischaemic preconditioning. Here we re-evaluate the evidence for the existence of this mitoKATP by measuring changes in light scattering (A520) in parallel with direct determination of mitochondrial matrix volumes using 3H2O and [14C]sucrose. Incubation of rat liver and heart mitochondria in KCl medium containing Mg2+ and inorganic phosphate caused a decrease in light scattering over 5 min, which was accompanied by a small (15-30 %) increase in matrix volume. The presence of ATP or ADP in the buffer from the start greatly inhibited the decline in A520, whilst addition after a period of incubation (1-5 min) induced a rapid increase in A520, especially in heart mitochondria. Neither response was accompanied by a change in matrix volume, as measured isotopically. However, the effects of ATP and ADP on A520 were abolished by carboxyatractyloside and bongkrekic acid, inhibitors of the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) that lock the transporter in two discrete conformations and cause distinct changes in A520 in their own right. These data suggest that rather than matrix volume changes, the effects of ATP and ADP on A520 reflect changes in mitochondrial shape induced by conformational changes in the ANT. Furthermore, we were unable to demonstrate either a decrease in A520 or increase in matrix volume with a range of ATP-sensitive K+ channel openers such as diazoxide. Nor did glibencamide or 5-HD cause any reduction of matrix volume, whereas the K+ ionophore valinomycin (0.2 nM), produced a 10-20 % increase in matrix volume that was readily detectable by both techniques. Our data argue against the existence of a sulphonylurea-inhibitable mitoKATP channel.