The localization of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase in the mitochondrial intermembrane space suggests a functional relationship with superoxide anion (O 2•− ) released into this compartment. The present study was aimed at examining the functionality of Cu,Znsuperoxide dismutase and elucidating the molecular basis for its activation in the intermembrane space. Intact rat liver mitochondria neither scavenged nor dismutated externally generated O 2•− , unless the mitochondrial outer membrane was disrupted selectively by digitonin. The activation of the intermembrane space Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase following the disruption of mitochondrial outer membrane was largely inhibited by bacitracin, an inhibitor of protein disulphide-isomerase. Thiol alkylating agents, such as N-methylmaleimide or iodoacetamide, decreased intermembrane space Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase activation during, but not after, disruption of the outer membrane. This inhibitory effect was overcome by exposing mitochondria to low micromolar concentrations of H 2 O 2 before disruption of the outer membrane in the presence of the alkylating agents. Moreover, H 2 O 2 treatment alone enabled intact mitochondria to scavenge externally generated O 2•− . These findings suggest that intermembrane space Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase is inactive in intact mitochondria and that an oxidative modification of its critical thiol groups is necessary for its activation.

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IMS (intermembrane space) SOD1 (Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase) is inactive in isolated intact rat liver mitochondria and is activated following oxidative modification of its critical thiol groups. The present study aimed to identify biochemical pathways implicated in the regulation of IMS SOD1 activity and to assess the impact of its functional state on key mitochondrial events. Exogenous H2O2 (5 microM) activated SOD1 in intact mitochondria. However, neither H2O2 alone nor H2O2 in the presence of mitochondrial peroxiredoxin III activated SOD1, which was purified from mitochondria and subsequently reduced by dithiothreitol to an inactive state. The reduced enzyme was activated following incubation with the superoxide generating system, xanthine and xanthine oxidase. In intact mitochondria, the extent and duration of SOD1 activation was inversely correlated with mitochondrial superoxide production. The presence of TxrR-1 (thioredoxin reductase-1) was demonstrated in the mitochondrial IMS by Western blotting. Inhibitors of TxrR-1, CDNB (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) or auranofin, prolonged the duration of H2O2-induced SOD1 activity in intact mitochondria. TxrR-1 inactivated SOD1 purified from mitochondria in an active oxidized state. Activation of IMS SOD1 by exogenous H2O2 delayed CaCl2-induced loss of transmembrane potential, decreased cytochrome c release and markedly prevented superoxide-induced loss of aconitase activity in intact mitochondria respiring at state-3. These findings suggest that H2O2, superoxide and TxrR-1 regulate IMS SOD1 activity reversibly, and that the active enzyme is implicated in protecting vital mitochondrial functions.

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Melatonin and steroid hormones are cytochrome P450 (CYP or P450; EC 1.14.14.1) substrates that have antioxidant properties and mitochondrial protective activities. IMS (Mitochondrial intermembrane space) SOD1 (Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase) is activated following oxidative modification of its critical thiol moieties by superoxide anion (O2.− ). This study was aimed at investigating the potential association between the hormonal protective antioxidant actions in mitochondria and regulation of IMS SOD1 activity. Melatonin, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, and vitamin D induced a sustained activation over time of SOD1 in intact mitochondria showing a bell-shaped enzyme activation dose-response with a threshold at 50 nM and a maximum effect at 1 μM concentration. Enzyme activation was not affected by furafylline, but it was inhibited by omeprazole, ketoconazole, and tiron, thereby supporting the occurrence of a mitochondrial P450 activity and O2.− requirements. Mitochondrial P450–dependent activation of IMS SOD1 prevented O2.− -induced loss of aconitase activity in intact mitochondria respiring at state 3 respiration. Optimal protection of aconitase activity was observed at 0.1 μM P450 substrate concentration evidencing a likely oxidative effect on the mitochondrial matrix by higher substrate concentrations. Likewise, enzyme activation mediated by mitochondrial P450 activity delayed CaCl2-induced loss of trans-membrane potential, and decreased cytochrome c release. Omeprazole and ketoconazole abrogated both protecting mitochondrial functions promoted by melatonin and steroid hormones.

Urine from normotensive volunteers and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus glomerulonephropathy was sequentially concentrated by negative-pressure ultrafiltration, dialyzed against distilled water, and extracted into the chloroform phase of a mixture of organic solvents(chloroform:methanol:water, 1:1:0.9 vol/vol). The lipid fraction was further purified by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel plates using neutral, acidic, and basic mixtures of organic solvents and it was then tested for its ability to induce the release of [3H]serotonin from rabbit platelets. All of the samples contained a platelet-activating moiety similar to a synthetic platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) on the basis of its chromatographic behavior, resistance to the pretreatment of platelets by 10(-6) M indomethacin, and loss of activity by alkaline methanolysis or treatment by phospholipases A2, C, and D. Cross-densensitization experiments between synthetic PAF-acether and the urine factor showed that both compounds act on platelets through the activation of the same putative receptor. Further, the urine factor induced hypotension when intra-arterially injected in normotensive rats, and this activity was also abrogated by alkaline methanolysis. In summary, these data provide evidence of the presence in normal human urine and, probably, of the release by the kidney of a lipid factor with platelet-activating and hypotensive activity whose general structure seems to be alkyl-acyl-glyceryl-phosphorylcholine and, therefore, is similar to the structure of the inflammatory mediator PAF-acether and the antihypertensive polar renomedullary lipid.

Blood platelets have been widely proposed as biomarkers in studies of mitochondrial function and aging-related and neurodegenerative diseases. Defects in mitochondrial function were found not only in the substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease patients but also in their blood platelets. Similarly, it has also been described in the blood platelet mitochondria of Alzheimer's disease patients. To study mitochondrial aerobic metabolism function and protein expression in platelets of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and control subjects, mitochondrial aconitase, mitochondrial superoxide dismutases 1 and 2 (SOD1 and SOD2), and respiratory complex enzyme activities in platelets of MS patients and control subjects were determined. Likewise, mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial SOD1 and cytochrome c expressions were investigated. Mitochondrial aconitase activity was higher in MS patients than in controls (P < 0.05). A significant increase on all respiratory complex activities in MS patients was observed (P < 0.05). Mitochondrial lipid peroxidation was significantly higher in MS patients than in controls (P < 0.05). Significant changes of cytochrome c and mitochondrial SOD1 expressions were detected (P < 0.05), with a decrease of 44 ± 5 % and an increase of 46 ± 6 %, respectively. Our study reveals that significant changes in mitochondrial aerobic metabolism function and mitochondrial SOD1 and cytochrome c expressions are produced in platelets of MS patients.