bims-mitmed 2022-01-02 papers

bims-mitmed

Biomed News

on Mitochondrial medicine

Issue of 2022–01–02
twenty-one papers selected by
Dario Brunetti, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico

A Leigh syndrome caused by compound heterozygous mutations on NDUFAF5 induce early infant death: A case report.
Defining the interactome of the human mitochondrial ribosome identifies SMIM4 and TMEM223 as respiratory chain assembly factors.
Mitochondrial Function and Parkinson's Disease: From the Perspective of the Electron Transport Chain.
Association Between Epilepsy and Leigh Syndrome With MT-ND3 Mutation, Particularly the m.10191T>C Point Mutation.
Mitochondrial Quality Surveillance: Mitophagy in cardiovascular health and disease.
Variants in mitochondrial ATP synthase cause variable neurologic phenotypes.
Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Strategies to Repair the Mitochondrial Function in Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Generation of an iPSC line from a patient with early-onset epileptic encephalopathy carrying CARS2 (p.G476R) mutation.
Advanced approach for comprehensive mtDNA genome testing in mitochondrial disease.
Induction and Detection of Mitophagy.
Mitochondrial phenotypes in iPSC AD models.
Episodic weakness and axonal sensorimotor neuropathy caused by a mitochondrial MT-ATP6 mutation.
The role of FUNDC1 in mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and human diseases.
Mitochondrial disease manifestations in relation to transcriptome location and function.
Patient-derived iPSCs link elevated mitochondrial respiratory complex I function to osteosarcoma in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome.
Contribution of Mitochondrial Dysfunction Combined with NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Selected Neurodegenerative Diseases.
SIRT2 regulates mitochondrial dynamics and reprogramming via MEK1-ERK-DRP1 and AKT1-DRP1 axes.
Targeting mitochondrial permeability transition pore ameliorates PM2.5-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in airway epithelial cells.
Mitochondrial Deficits With Neural and Social Damage in Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice.
Evaluation of mitochondrial dysfunction due to oxidative stress in therapeutic, toxic and lethal concentrations of tramadol.
NAD kinase sustains lipogenesis and mitochondrial metabolismthrough fatty acid synthesis.

Mol Genet Genomic Med. 2021 Dec 28. e1852

A Leigh syndrome caused by compound heterozygous mutations on NDUFAF5 induce early infant death: A case report.

Yan Wen, Guoyan Lu, Lina Qiao, Yifei Li.

   BACKGROUND: The NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex assembly factor gene (NDUFAF5) has been linked to the occurrence of Leigh syndrome, but few causative mutations have been identified. Here we report a rare case of Leigh syndrome in an infant who died in the early postnatal period.
METHODS: We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and mutation analysis of NDUFAF5 to obtain genetic data on the patient and describe the clinical and genetic characteristics.
RESULTS: The proband was a 2-month-old male infant who suffered from recurrent vomiting and persistent seizure and died at 2 months of age after early medical support and treatment. His parents reported the unexplained death of the infant's older brother at 1 year of age. WES of the patient's DNA revealed c.357C>G and c.611C>T compound heterozygous mutations in NDUFAF5; analysis with the MutationTaster application indicated that both were pathogenic (p = 0.99). Significant structural changes in the transport domain of the protein were predicted using SWISS-MODEL. We estimated the stability of the mutant protein using a mutation cutoff scanning matrix and found reductions in Gibbs free energy (-0.623 kcal/mol for p.D119E and -0.813 kcal/mol for p.A204V), indicating that the mutations led to an unstable protein structure. We speculated that the patient died as a result of impaired mitochondrial function caused by the NDUFAF5 mutations, and made a diagnosis of Leigh syndrome.
CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that molecular genetic screening is useful for the diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases, especially in children with a positive family history. Leigh syndrome should be considered in the diagnosis of patients presenting with severe recurrent vomiting and feeding difficulties with persistent seizure. Our findings expand the mutation spectrum of the NDUFAF5 gene and contribute to the genotype-phenotype map of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I deficiency.

Keywords:   NDUFAF5 ; Leigh syndrome; case report; genomic sequence; mitochondrial deficiency

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/mgg3.1852
Elife. 2021 Dec 31. pii: e68213. [Epub ahead of print]10

Defining the interactome of the human mitochondrial ribosome identifies SMIM4 and TMEM223 as respiratory chain assembly factors.

Sven Dennerlein, Sabine Poerschke, Silke Oeljeklaus, Cong Wang, Ricarda Richter-Dennerlein, Johannes Sattmann, Diana Bauermeister, Elisa Hanitsch, Stefan Stoldt, Thomas Langer, Stefan Jakobs, Bettina Warscheid, Peter Rehling.

  Human mitochondria express a genome that encodes thirteen core subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS). These proteins insert into the inner membrane co-translationally. Therefore, mitochondrial ribosomes engage with the OXA1L-insertase and membrane-associated proteins, which support membrane insertion of translation products and early assembly steps into OXPHOS complexes. To identify ribosome-associated biogenesis factors for the OXPHOS system, we purified ribosomes and associated proteins from mitochondria. We identified TMEM223 as a ribosome-associated protein involved in complex IV biogenesis. TMEM223 stimulates the translation of COX1 mRNA and is a constituent of early COX1 assembly intermediates. Moreover, we show that SMIM4 together with C12ORF73 interacts with newly synthesized cytochrome b to support initial steps of complex III biogenesis in complex with UQCC1 and UQCC2. Our analyses define the interactome of the human mitochondrial ribosome and reveal novel assembly factors for complex III and IV biogenesis that link early assembly stages to the translation machinery.

Keywords:  assembly; biochemistry; cell biology; chemical biology; mitochondria; oxidative phosphorylation; ribosome; translation

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.68213
Front Mol Neurosci. 2021 ;14 797833

Mitochondrial Function and Parkinson's Disease: From the Perspective of the Electron Transport Chain.

Jeng-Lin Li, Tai-Yi Lin, Po-Lin Chen, Ting-Ni Guo, Shu-Yi Huang, Chun-Hong Chen, Chin-Hsien Lin, Chih-Chiang Chan.

  Parkinson's disease (PD) is known as a mitochondrial disease. Some even regarded it specifically as a disorder of the complex I of the electron transport chain (ETC). The ETC is fundamental for mitochondrial energy production which is essential for neuronal health. In the past two decades, more than 20 PD-associated genes have been identified. Some are directly involved in mitochondrial functions, such as PRKN, PINK1, and DJ-1. While other PD-associate genes, such as LRRK2, SNCA, and GBA1, regulate lysosomal functions, lipid metabolism, or protein aggregation, some have been shown to indirectly affect the electron transport chain. The recent identification of CHCHD2 and UQCRC1 that are critical for functions of complex IV and complex III, respectively, provide direct evidence that PD is more than just a complex I disorder. Like UQCRC1 in preventing cytochrome c from release, functions of ETC proteins beyond oxidative phosphorylation might also contribute to the pathogenesis of PD.

Keywords:  Parkinson’s disease; apoptosis; electron transport chain; mitochondria quality control; mitophagy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2021.797833
Front Neurol. 2021 ;12 752467

Association Between Epilepsy and Leigh Syndrome With MT-ND3 Mutation, Particularly the m.10191T>C Point Mutation.

Ji-Hoon Na, Min Jung Lee, Chul Ho Lee, Young-Mock Lee.

  Background and Purpose: Recent advances in molecular genetic testing have led to a rapid increase in the understanding of the genetics of Leigh syndrome. Several studies have suggested that Leigh syndrome with MT-ND3 mutation is strongly associated with epilepsy. This study focused on the epilepsy-related characteristics of Leigh syndrome with MT-ND3 mutation identified in a single tertiary hospital in South Korea. Methods: We selected 31 patients with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations who were genetically diagnosed with mtDNA-associated Leigh syndrome. Among them, seven patients with MT-ND3 mutations were detected. We reviewed various clinical findings such as laboratory findings, brain images, electroencephalography data, seizure types, seizure frequency, antiepileptic drug use history, and current seizure status. Results: The nucleotide changes in the seven patients with the Leigh syndrome with MT-ND3 mutation were divided into two groups: m.10191T>C and m.10158T>C. Six of the seven patients were found to have the m.10191T>C mutations. The median value of the mutant load was 82.5%, ranging from 57.9 to 93.6%. No particular tendency was observed for the first symptom or seizure onset or mutant load. The six patients with the m.10191T>C mutation were diagnosed with epilepsy. Three of these patients were diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Conclusion: We reported a very strong association between epilepsy and MT-ND3 mutation in Leigh syndrome, particularly the m.10191T>C mutation. The possibility of an association between the epilepsy phenotype of the m.10191T>C mutation and LGS was noted.

Keywords:  Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; MT-ND3; epilepsy; m10191T>C; mitochondrial DNA-associated Leigh syndrome

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.752467
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2021 12 29.

Mitochondrial Quality Surveillance: Mitophagy in cardiovascular health and disease.

Rachel Y Diao, Asa B Gustafsson.

  Selective autophagy of the mitochondria, known as mitophagy, is a major mitochondrial quality control pathway in the heart that is involved in removing unwanted or dysfunctional mitochondria from the cell. Baseline mitophagy is critical for maintaining the fitness of the mitochondrial population by continuous turnover of aged and less functional mitochondria. Mitophagy is also critical in adapting to stress associated with mitochondrial damage or dysfunction. The removal of damaged mitochondria prevents ROS-mediated damaged to proteins and DNA and suppresses activation of inflammation and cell death. Impairments in mitophagy are associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancers, inflammatory diseases, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular disease. Mitophagy is a highly regulated and complex process that requires the coordination of labeling dysfunctional mitochondria for degradation while simultaneously promoting de novo autophagosome biogenesis adjacent to the cargo. In this review, we provide an update on our current understanding of these steps in mitophagy induction and discuss the physiological and pathophysiological consequences of altered mitophagy in the heart.

Keywords:  Parkin; autophagy; heart; mitochondria; mitophagy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00360.2021
Ann Neurol. 2021 Dec 26.

Variants in mitochondrial ATP synthase cause variable neurologic phenotypes.

Michael Zech, Robert Kopajtich, Katja Steinbrücker, Céline Bris, Naig Gueguen, René G Feichtinger, Melanie T Achleitner, Neslihan Duzkale, Maximilien Périvier, Johannes Koch, Harald Engelhardt, Peter Freisinger, Matias Wagner, Theresa Brunet, Riccardo Berutti, Dmitrii Smirnov, Tharsini Navaratnarajah, Richard J T Rodenburg, Lynn S Pais, Christina Austin-Tse, Melanie O'Leary, Sylvia Boesch, Robert Jech, Somayeh Bakhtiari, Sheng Chih Jin, Friederike Wilbert, Michael C Kruer, Saskia B Wortmann, Matthias Eckenweiler, Johannes A Mayr, Felix Distelmaier, Robert Steinfeld, Juliane Winkelmann, Holger Prokisch.

OBJECTIVE: ATP synthase (ATPase) is responsible for the majority of ATP production. Nevertheless, disease phenotypes associated with mutations in ATPase subunits are extremely rare. We aimed at expanding the spectrum of ATPase-related diseases.
METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing in cohorts with 2,962 mitochondrial-disease- and/or dystonia-diagnosed individuals and international collaboration were used to identify deleterious variants in ATPase-encoding genes. Findings were complemented by transcriptional and proteomic profiling of patient fibroblasts. ATPase integrity and activity were assayed using cells and tissues from five patients.
RESULTS: We present ten total individuals with biallelic or de-novo monoallelic variants in nuclear ATPase subunit genes. Three unrelated patients showed the same homozygous missense ATP5F1E mutation (including one published case). An intronic splice-disrupting alteration in compound heterozygosity with a nonsense variant in ATP5PO was found in one patient. Three patients had de-novo heterozygous missense variants in ATP5F1A, whereas another three were heterozygous for ATP5MC3 de-novo missense changes. Bioinformatics methods and populational data supported the variants` pathogenicity. Immunohistochemistry, proteomics, and/or immunoblotting revealed significantly reduced ATPase amounts in association to ATP5F1E and ATP5PO mutations. Diminished activity and/or defective assembly of ATPase was demonstrated by enzymatic assays and/or immunoblotting in cells bearing ATP5F1A-p.Arg207His, ATP5MC3-p.Gly79Val, and ATP5MC3-p.Asn106Lys. The associated clinical profiles were heterogeneous, ranging from hypotonia with spontaneous resolution (1/10) to epilepsy with early death (1/10) or variable persistent abnormalities including movement disorders, developmental delay, intellectual disability, hyperlactatemia, and other neurologic and systemic features. Although potentially reflecting an ascertainment bias, dystonia was common (7/10).
INTERPRETATION: Our results establish evidence for a previously unrecognized role of ATPase nuclear-gene defects in phenotypes characterized by neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative features. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.26293
Pharmaceutics. 2021 Dec 01. pii: 2055. [Epub ahead of print]13(12):

Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Strategies to Repair the Mitochondrial Function in Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Luis F González, Lorenzo E Bevilacqua, Rodrigo Naves.

  Mitochondria are vital organelles in eukaryotic cells that control diverse physiological processes related to energy production, calcium homeostasis, the generation of reactive oxygen species, and cell death. Several studies have demonstrated that structural and functional mitochondrial disturbances are involved in the development of different neuroinflammatory (NI) and neurodegenerative (ND) diseases (NI&NDDs) such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Remarkably, counteracting mitochondrial impairment by genetic or pharmacologic treatment ameliorates neurodegeneration and clinical disability in animal models of these diseases. Therefore, the development of nanosystems enabling the sustained and selective delivery of mitochondria-targeted drugs is a novel and effective strategy to tackle NI&NDDs. In this review, we outline the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction associated with unbalanced mitochondrial dynamics, altered mitophagy, oxidative stress, energy deficit, and proteinopathies in NI&NDDs. In addition, we review different strategies for selective mitochondria-specific ligand targeting and discuss novel nanomaterials, nanozymes, and drug-loaded nanosystems developed to repair mitochondrial function and their therapeutic benefits protecting against oxidative stress, restoring cell energy production, preventing cell death, inhibiting protein aggregates, and improving motor and cognitive disability in cellular and animal models of different NI&NDDs.

Keywords:  drug delivery; mitochondria; mitochondrial dysfunction; nanomedicine; nanosystems; nanovehicle; neurodegenerative diseases; neuroinflammatory diseases

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13122055
Stem Cell Res. 2021 Dec 20. pii: S1873-5061(21)00480-3. [Epub ahead of print]59 102633

Generation of an iPSC line from a patient with early-onset epileptic encephalopathy carrying CARS2 (p.G476R) mutation.

Manting Xu, Xin Duan, Xiaotun Ren, Zhimei Liu, Shuhua Chen, Fang Fang.

Mutations in CARS2 gene, encoding for the mitochondrial cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase, has been reported to be associated with early-onset epileptic encephalopathy (EOEE). Here, we generated an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from the human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) of an one-year-old boy with EOEE carrying homozygous c.1426G > A mutation in CARS2 gene. These iPSCs exhibited stable amplification, expressed pluripotent markers, and differentiated spontaneously into three germ layers in vitro.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scr.2021.102633
Mol Genet Metab. 2021 Dec 18. pii: S1096-7192(21)01191-4. [Epub ahead of print]

Advanced approach for comprehensive mtDNA genome testing in mitochondrial disease.

Jing Wang, Jorune Balciuniene, Maria Alejandra Diaz-Miranda, Elizabeth M McCormick, Erfan Aref-Eshghi, Alison M Muir, Kajia Cao, Juliana Troiani, Alicia Moseley, Zhiqian Fan, Zarazuela Zolkipli-Cunningham, Amy Goldstein, Rebecca D Ganetzky, Colleen C Muraresku, James T Peterson, Nancy B Spinner, Douglas C Wallace, Matthew C Dulik, Marni J Falk.

  Mitochondrial disease diagnosis requires interrogation of both nuclear and mitochondrial (mtDNA) genomes for single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number alterations, both in the proband and often maternal relatives, together with careful phenotype correlation. We developed a comprehensive mtDNA sequencing test ('MitoGenome') using long-range PCR (LR-PCR) to amplify the full length of the mtDNA genome followed by next generation sequencing (NGS) to accurately detect SNVs and large-scale mtDNA deletions (LSMD), combined with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for LSMD heteroplasmy quantification. Overall, MitoGenome tests were performed on 428 samples from 394 patients with suspected or confirmed mitochondrial disease. The positive yield was 11% (43/394), including 34 patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenic SNVs (the most common being m.3243A > G in 8/34 (24%) patients), 8 patients with single LSMD, and 3 patients with multiple LSMD exceeding 10% heteroplasmy levels. Two patients with both LSMD and pathogenic SNV were detected. Overall, this LR-PCR/NGS assay provides a highly accurate and comprehensive diagnostic method for simultaneous mtDNA SNV detection at heteroplasmy levels as low as 1% and LSMD detection at heteroplasmy levels below 10%. Inclusion of maternal samples for variant classification and ddPCR to quantify LSMD heteroplasmy levels further enables accurate pathogenicity assessment and clinical correlation interpretation of mtDNA genome sequence variants and copy number alterations.

Keywords:  Heteroplasmy; Mitochondrial genome; Multiple deletions; Single large-scale deletion; mtDNA mutation

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgme.2021.12.006
Methods Mol Biol. 2022 ;2445 227-239

Induction and Detection of Mitophagy.

Maria A Yapryntseva, Boris Zhivotovsky, Vladimir Gogvadze.

  Mitophagy, a process of selective elimination of mitochondria by autophagy, is a mechanism of mitochondrial quality control that maintains mitochondrial network functionality. The elimination of damaged mitochondria through autophagy requires two steps: induction of general autophagy and priming of damaged mitochondria for selective autophagic recognition. Mitophagy impairment is linked to various pathologies; thus, removal of malfunctioning or even harmful mitochondria is vital to cellular physiology. Here, we describe methods that can be applied to the investigation of mitophagy.

Keywords:  Autophagy; Confocal microscopy; Flow cytometry; Mitochondria; Mitophagy; Respiration

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2071-7_14
Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Dec;17 Suppl 2 e058489

Mitochondrial phenotypes in iPSC AD models.

Kaitlin Flannagan, Julia A Stopperan, Benjamin M Troutwine, Colton R Lysaker, Taylor Strope, Julia Draper, Cynthia Shaddy-Gouvion, Jay Vivian, Mohammad Haeri, Heather M Wilkins.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial dysfunction is observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Altered mitochondrial respiration, cytochrome oxidase (COX) Vmax, and mitophagy are observed in human subjects and animal models of AD. Models derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may not recapitulate these phenotypes after reprogramming from differentiated adult cells. We examined mitochondrial function across iPSC derived models including cerebral organoids, forebrain neurons, and astrocytes. Postmortem brain tissue was used as a comparison.
METHOD: iPSCs were reprogrammed from fibroblasts either from the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (KU ADRC) cohort or purchased from WiCell. Postmortem brain samples were from the KU ADRC cohort when available. A total of four non-demented and four sporadic AD iPSC lines were examined. Postmortem brain tissue was derived from 9 ND and 12 AD subjects. iPSCs were differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, or cerebral organoids using StemCell Technologies protocols and reagents. iPSC derived models and postmortem brain tissue were subjected to mitochondrial respiration analysis using Seahorse XF technology and spectrophotometric COX Vmax assays. iPSC derived neurons and astrocytes underwent fluorescent assays to determine mitochondrial mass, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitophagy levels.
RESULT: iPSC derived neurons and cerebral organoids showed reduced COX Vmax in AD subjects. These results were not observed in astrocytes. Postmortem human brain samples showed reduced COX Vmax in AD subjects. iPSC derived neurons had reduced mitochondrial respiration parameters, mitochondrial mass, mitophagy, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial superoxide production. iPSC derived astrocytes had reduced mitochondrial respiration parameters but increased mitochondrial membrane potential and no change in mitochondrial superoxide production.
CONCLUSION: iPSC derived models from AD subjects show mitochondrial dysfunction phenotypes like what is observed in postmortem brain. As iPSCs do not maintain their epigenetic signatures after reprogramming the observed phenotypes are likely due to other somatic factors.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.058489
J Formos Med Assoc. 2021 Dec 22. pii: S0929-6646(21)00536-2. [Epub ahead of print]

Episodic weakness and axonal sensorimotor neuropathy caused by a mitochondrial MT-ATP6 mutation.

Tzu-Hsuan Su, Ni-Chung Lee, Chao-Szu Wu, Steven Shinn-Forng Peng, Pi-Chuan Fan.

  Episodic weakness is typically associated with a group of disorders so called periodic paralyses. Their major causes are mutation of ion channels, and have rarely been linked to mitochondrial disorders. We report a 20-year-old man with episodic weakness and axonal sensorimotor neuropathy since the age of 10 years. Analysis of the next generation sequencing data of the entire mitochondrial genome extracted from the blood revealed a homoplasmic m.9185T > C variant in MT-ATP6. Acetazolamide may be responsive for episodic weakness, and supplements with l-carnitine with coenzyme-Q10 seem to be beneficial as well. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in Taiwan which reveals episodic weakness and sensorimotor polyneuropathy as a unique phenotype of MT-ATP6 mutations.

Keywords:  Episodic weakness; MT-ATP6 mutations; Mitochondrial disorders

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2021.12.003
Biochem Pharmacol. 2021 Dec 27. pii: S0006-2952(21)00517-7. [Epub ahead of print] 114891

The role of FUNDC1 in mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and human diseases.

Hui Liu, Caixia Zang, Fangyu Yuan, Cheng Ju, Meiyu Shang, Jingwen Ning, Yang Yang, Jingwei Ma, Gen Li, Xiuqi Bao, Dan Zhang.

  Mitochondria are the principal sites of energy metabolism and provide most of the energy needed for normal cellular function. They are dynamic organelles that constantly undergo fission, fusion and mitophagy to maintain their homeostasis and function. However, dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy leads to reduced ATP generation and mutation of their DNA, which ultimately leads to cell death. Increasing evidence has shown that the FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 (FUNDC1), a novel mitophagy receptor, participates in the process of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy and plays a critical role in various human diseases. Herein, we review the role of FUNDC1 in mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics, thus providing a better understanding of the relationship between the two processes. Moreover, we summarize the treatments targeting FUNDC1, and suggest that FUNDC1 may represent a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of several human diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Keywords:  FUNDC1; human diseases; mitochondrial dynamics; mitophagy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114891
Mol Genet Metab. 2021 Dec 23. pii: S1096-7192(21)01193-8. [Epub ahead of print]

Mitochondrial disease manifestations in relation to transcriptome location and function.

Vikram Jakkamsetti, Seema Balasubramaniam, Nidhi Grover, Juan M Pascual.

  Localization within the nervous system provides context for neurological disease manifestations and treatment, with numerous disease mechanisms exhibiting predilect locations. In contrast, the molecular function of most disease-causing genes is generally considered dissociated from such brain regional correlations because most genes are expressed throughout the brain. We tested the factual basis for this dissociation by discerning between two distinct genetic disease mechanism possibilities: One, gene-specific, in which genetic disorders are poorly localizable because they are multiform at the molecular level, with each mutant gene acting more widely or complexly than via mere loss or gain of one function. The other, more general, where aspects shared by groups of genes such as membership in a gene set that sustains a concerted biological process accounts for a common or localizable phenotype. We analyzed mitochondrial substrate disorders as a paradigm of apparently heterogeneous diseases when considered from the point of view of their manifestations and individual function of their causal genes. We used publicly available transcriptomes, disease phenotypes published in peer-reviewed journals and Human Ontology classifications for 27 mitochondrial substrate metabolism diseases and analyzed if these disorders manifest common phenotypes and if this relates to common brain regions or cells as demarcated by their transcriptome. The most frequent phenotypic manifestations and brain structures involved were almost stereotypic regardless of the individual gene affected, correlating with the regional abundance of the transcriptome that served mitochondrial substrate metabolism. This also applied to the transcriptome of inhibitory neurons, which are dysfunctional in some mitochondrial diseases. This stands in contrast with resistance to dementia atrophy from other causes, which is known to also associate with greater expression of a similar fraction of the transcriptome. The results suggest that brain region or cell type dysfunction stemming from a broad process such as mitochondrial substrate metabolism is more relevant for disease manifestations than individual gene participation in specific molecular function.

Keywords:  Metabolism; Mitochondrial; Phenotype; Transcriptome

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgme.2021.12.008
PLoS Genet. 2021 Dec;17(12): e1009971

Patient-derived iPSCs link elevated mitochondrial respiratory complex I function to osteosarcoma in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome.

Brittany E Jewell, An Xu, Dandan Zhu, Mo-Fan Huang, Linchao Lu, Mo Liu, Erica L Underwood, Jun Hyoung Park, Huihui Fan, Julian A Gingold, Ruoji Zhou, Jian Tu, Zijun Huo, Ying Liu, Weidong Jin, Yi-Hung Chen, Yitian Xu, Shu-Hsia Chen, Nino Rainusso, Nathaniel K Berg, Danielle A Bazer, Christopher Vellano, Philip Jones, Holger K Eltzschig, Zhongming Zhao, Benny Abraham Kaipparettu, Ruiying Zhao, Lisa L Wang, Dung-Fang Lee.

Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by poikiloderma, small stature, skeletal anomalies, sparse brows/lashes, cataracts, and predisposition to cancer. Type 2 RTS patients with biallelic RECQL4 pathogenic variants have multiple skeletal anomalies and a significantly increased incidence of osteosarcoma. Here, we generated RTS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to dissect the pathological signaling leading to RTS patient-associated osteosarcoma. RTS iPSC-derived osteoblasts showed defective osteogenic differentiation and gain of in vitro tumorigenic ability. Transcriptome analysis of RTS osteoblasts validated decreased bone morphogenesis while revealing aberrantly upregulated mitochondrial respiratory complex I gene expression. RTS osteoblast metabolic assays demonstrated elevated mitochondrial respiratory complex I function, increased oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and increased ATP production. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory complex I activity by IACS-010759 selectively suppressed cellular respiration and cell proliferation of RTS osteoblasts. Furthermore, systems analysis of IACS-010759-induced changes in RTS osteoblasts revealed that chemical inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory complex I impaired cell proliferation, induced senescence, and decreased MAPK signaling and cell cycle associated genes, but increased H19 and ribosomal protein genes. In summary, our study suggests that mitochondrial respiratory complex I is a potential therapeutic target for RTS-associated osteosarcoma and provides future insights for clinical treatment strategies.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1009971
Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021 Nov 25. pii: 1221. [Epub ahead of print]14(12):

Contribution of Mitochondrial Dysfunction Combined with NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Selected Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Anna Litwiniuk, Agnieszka Baranowska-Bik, Anita Domańska, Małgorzata Kalisz, Wojciech Bik.

  Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are the most common forms of neurodegenerative illnesses. It has been widely accepted that neuroinflammation is the key pathogenic mechanism in neurodegeneration. Both mitochondrial dysfunction and enhanced NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3) inflammasome complex activity have a crucial role in inducing and sustaining neuroinflammation. In addition, mitochondrial-related inflammatory factors could drive the formation of inflammasome complexes, which are responsible for the activation, maturation, and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). The present review includes a broadened approach to the role of mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in abnormal NLRP3 activation in selected neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, we also discuss the potential mitochondria-focused treatments that could influence the NLRP3 complex.

Keywords:  Alzheimer’s disease; NLRP3 inflammasome; Parkinson’s disease; mitochondrial dysfunction

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14121221
Cell Rep. 2021 Dec 28. pii: S2211-1247(21)01651-X. [Epub ahead of print]37(13): 110155

SIRT2 regulates mitochondrial dynamics and reprogramming via MEK1-ERK-DRP1 and AKT1-DRP1 axes.

Young Cha, Taewoo Kim, Jeha Jeon, Yongwoo Jang, Patrick B Kim, Claudia Lopes, Pierre Leblanc, Bruce M Cohen, Kwang-Soo Kim.

  During somatic reprogramming, cellular energy metabolism fundamentally switches from predominantly mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation toward glycolysis. This metabolic reprogramming, also called the Warburg effect, is critical for the induction of pluripotency, but its molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined. Notably, SIRT2 is consistently downregulated during the reprogramming process and regulates glycolytic switch. Here, we report that downregulation of SIRT2 increases acetylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase-1 (MEK1) at Lys175, resulting in activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and subsequent activation of the pro-fission factor dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1). In parallel, downregulation of SIRT2 hyperacetylates the serine/threonine protein kinase AKT1 at Lys20 in a non-canonical way, activating DRP1 and metabolic reprogramming. Together, our study identified two axes, SIRT2-MEK1-ERK-DRP1 and SIRT2-AKT1-DRP1, that critically link mitochondrial dynamics and oxidative phosphorylation to the somatic reprogramming process. These upstream signals, together with SIRT2's role in glycolytic switching, may underlie the Warburg effect observed in human somatic cell reprogramming.

Keywords:  AKT1; DRP1; MEK1-ERK axis; OXPHOS; SIRT2; Warburg-like effect; human somatic cell reprogramming; induced pluripotent stem cells; metabolic reprogramming; mitochondrial remodeling

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110155
Environ Pollut. 2021 Dec 22. pii: S0269-7491(21)02302-2. [Epub ahead of print]295 118720

Targeting mitochondrial permeability transition pore ameliorates PM2.5-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in airway epithelial cells.

Yingmin Liang, Pak Hin Chu, Linwei Tian, Kin Fai Ho, Mary Sau Man Ip, Judith Choi Wo Mak.

  Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter not larger than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) escalated the risk of respiratory diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction may play a pivotal role in PM2.5-induced airway injury. However, the potential effect of PM2.5 on mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP)-related airway injury is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of mPTP in PM2.5-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in airway epithelial cells in vitro. PM2.5 significantly reduced cell viability and caused apoptosis in BEAS-2B cells. We also found PM2.5 caused cellular and mitochondrial morphological alterations, evidenced by the disappearance of mitochondrial cristae, mitochondrial swelling, and the rupture of the outer mitochondrial membrane. PM2.5 induced mPTP opening via upregulation of voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC), leading to deprivation of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and intracellular calcium level. PM2.5 suppressed mitochondrial respiratory function by reducing basal and maximal respiration, and ATP production. The mPTP targeting compounds cyclosporin A [CsA; a potent inhibitor of cyclophilin D (CypD)] and VBIT-12 (a selective VDAC1 inhibitor) significantly inhibited PM2.5-induced mPTP opening and apoptosis, and preserved mitochondrial function by restoring mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing mitochondrial ROS generation and intracellular calcium content, and maintaining mitochondrial respiration function. Our data further demonstrated that PM2.5 caused reduction in nuclear expressions of PPARγ and PGC-1α, which were reversed in the presence of CsA. These findings suggest that mPTP might be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of PM2.5-induced airway injury.

Keywords:  Airway epithelial cells; Cyclosporin A; Mitochondrial function; Mitochondrial permeability transition pore; Particulate matter

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118720
Front Aging Neurosci. 2021 ;13 748388

Mitochondrial Deficits With Neural and Social Damage in Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice.

Afzal Misrani, Sidra Tabassum, Qingwei Huo, Sumaiya Tabassum, Jinxiang Jiang, Adeel Ahmed, Xiangmao Chen, Jianwen Zhou, Jiajia Zhang, Sha Liu, Xiaoyi Feng, Cheng Long, Li Yang.

  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. Mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to be an early event in the onset and progression of AD; however, the precise underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated mitochondrial proteins involved in organelle dynamics, morphology and energy production in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus (HIPP) of young (1∼2 months), adult (4∼5 months) and aged (9∼10, 12∼18 months) APP/PS1 mice. We observed increased levels of mitochondrial fission protein, Drp1, and decreased levels of ATP synthase subunit, ATP5A, leading to abnormal mitochondrial morphology, increased oxidative stress, glial activation, apoptosis, and altered neuronal morphology as early as 4∼5 months of age in APP/PS1 mice. Electrophysiological recordings revealed abnormal miniature excitatory postsynaptic current in the mPFC together with a minor connectivity change between the mPFC and HIPP, correlating with social deficits. These results suggest that abnormal mitochondrial dynamics, which worsen with disease progression, could be a biomarker of early-stage AD. Therapeutic interventions that improve mitochondrial function thus represent a promising approach for slowing the progression or delaying the onset of AD.

Keywords:  Alzheimer’s disease; hippocampus; medial prefrontal cortex; mitochondrial dynamics; social interaction

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.748388
Toxicol Res (Camb). 2021 Dec;10(6): 1162-1170

Evaluation of mitochondrial dysfunction due to oxidative stress in therapeutic, toxic and lethal concentrations of tramadol.

Leila Mohammadnejad, Kambiz Soltaninejad, Mohammad Seyedabadi, Seyed Khosro Ghasem Pouri, Mohammad Shokrzadeh, Hamidreza Mohammadi.

  Tramadol (TR) is a centrally acting analgesic drug that is used to relieve pain. The therapeutic (0.1-0.8 mg/l), toxic (1-2 mg/l) and lethal (>2 mg/l) ranges were reported for TR. The present study was designed to evaluate which doses of TR can induce liver mitochondrial toxicity. Mitochondria were isolated from the five rats' liver and were incubated with therapeutic to lethal concentrations (1.7-600 μM) of TR. Biomarkers of oxidative stress including: reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl content, glutathione (GSH) content, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial swelling were assessed. Our results showed that ROS and LPO at 100 μM and protein carbonylation at 600 μM concentrations of TR were significantly increased. GSH was decreased specifically at 600 μM concentration. Mitochondrial function, MMP and mitochondrial swelling decreased in isolated rat liver mitochondria after exposure to 100 and 300 μM, respectively. This study suggested that TR at therapeutic and toxic levels by single exposure could not induce mitochondrial toxicity. But, in lethal concentration (≥100 μM), TR induced oxidative damage and mitochondria dysfunction. This study suggested that ROS overproduction by increasing of TR concentration induced mitochondrial dysfunction and caused mitochondrial damage via Complex II and membrane permeability transition pores disorders, MMP collapse and mitochondria swelling.

Keywords:  biomarkers; liver toxicity; mitochondria; oxidative stress; tramadol

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/toxres/tfab096
Cell Rep. 2021 Dec 28. pii: S2211-1247(21)01653-3. [Epub ahead of print]37(13): 110157

NAD kinase sustains lipogenesis and mitochondrial metabolismthrough fatty acid synthesis.

Mengyao Xu, Long Ding, Jingjing Liang, Xiao Yang, Yuan Liu, Yingchun Wang, Mei Ding, Xun Huang.

  Lipid storage in fat tissue is important for energy homeostasis and cellular functions. Through RNAi screening in Drosophila fat body, we found that knockdown of a Drosophila NAD kinase (NADK), which phosphorylates NAD to synthesize NADP de novo, causes lipid storage defects. NADK sustains lipogenesis by maintaining the pool of NADPH. Promoting NADPH production rescues the lipid storage defect in the fat body of NADK RNAi animals. Furthermore, NADK and fatty acid synthase 1 (FASN1) regulate mitochondrial mass and function by altering the levels of acetyl-CoA and fatty acids. Reducing the level of acetyl-CoA or increasing the synthesis of cardiolipin (CL), a mitochondrion-specific phospholipid, partially rescues the mitochondrial defects of NADK RNAi. Therefore, NADK- and FASN1-mediated fatty acid synthesis coordinates lipid storage and mitochondrial function.

Keywords:  Drosophila; FASN; NADK; lipogenesis; mitochondrial metabolism

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110157