bims-mitper 2023-04-16 papers

Issue of 2023‒04‒16
five papers selected by
Bradley Irizarry
Thomas Jefferson University

Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 24. pii: 6128. [Epub ahead of print]24(7):

Mitochondrial Signaling Pathways Associated with DNA Damage Responses.

Under physiological and stress conditions, mitochondria act as a signaling platform to initiate biological events, establishing communication from the mitochondria to the rest of the cell. Mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP), reactive oxygen species, cytochrome C, and damage-associated molecular patterns act as messengers in metabolism, oxidative stress response, bystander response, apoptosis, cellular senescence, and inflammation response. In this review paper, the mitochondrial signaling in response to DNA damage was summarized. Mitochondrial clearance via fusion, fission, and mitophagy regulates mitochondrial quality control under oxidative stress conditions. On the other hand, damaged mitochondria release their contents into the cytoplasm and then mediate various signaling pathways. The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in radiation carcinogenesis was discussed, and the recent findings on radiation-induced mitochondrial signaling and radioprotective agents that targeted mitochondria were presented. The analysis of the mitochondrial radiation effect, as hypothesized, is critical in assessing radiation risks to human health.

Keywords: DNA damage response; inflammation response; mitochondrial signaling; oxidative stress; radiation carcinogenesis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076128

Eur J Neurol. 2023 Apr 10.

Phenotyping mtDNA-related diseases in childhood: a cohort study of 150 patients.

Anna Ardissone, Giulia Ferrera, Costanza Lamperti, Valeria Tiranti, Daniele Ghezzi, Isabella Moroni, Eleonora Lamantea.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial diseases (MDs) are heterogeneous disorders caused by mutations in nuclear DNA (nDNA) or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) associated with specific syndromes. However, especially in childhood, patients often display heterogeneity. Several reports about the biochemical and molecular profiles in children have been published, but studies tend to not differentiate between mtDNA and nDNA associated diseases and focus is often on a specific phenotype. Thus, large cohort studies specifically focusing on mtDNA defects in the pediatric population are lacking.METHODS: We reviewed the clinical, metabolic, biochemical, and neuroimaging data of 150 patients with MDs due to mtDNA alterations collected at our Neurological Institute over the past 20 years.
RESULTS: MtDNA impairment is less frequent than nDNA in pediatric MDs. Ocular involvement is extremely frequent in our cohort, as is classical Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, especially with onset before 12 years of age. Extra neurological manifestations and isolated myopathy appear to be rare, unlike adult phenotypes. Deep gray matter involvement, early disease onset and specific phenotypes, such as Pearson syndrome and Leigh syndrome, represent unfavorable prognostic factors. Phenotypes related to single large scale mtDNA deletions appear to be very frequent in the pediatric population. Furthermore, we report for the first time a mtDNA pathogenic variant associated with cavitating leukodystrophy.
CONCLUSIONS: We report on a large cohort of pediatric patients with mtDNA defects, adding new data on the phenotypical characterization of mtDNA defects and possible suggestions for the diagnostic workup and therapeutic approach.

Keywords: mitochondrial DNA; mitochondrial disorder; pediatric; phenotypes

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.15814

Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 28. pii: 6313. [Epub ahead of print]24(7):

DNA Damage-Mediated Neurotoxicity in Parkinson's Disease.

Zhong-Xuan Wang, Yao-Lin Li, Jia-Li Pu, Bao-Rong Zhang.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease around the world; however, its pathogenesis remains unclear so far. Recent advances have shown that DNA damage and repair deficiency play an important role in the pathophysiology of PD. There is growing evidence suggesting that DNA damage is involved in the propagation of cellular damage in PD, leading to neuropathology under different conditions. Here, we reviewed the current work on DNA damage repair in PD. First, we outlined the evidence and causes of DNA damage in PD. Second, we described the potential pathways by which DNA damage mediates neurotoxicity in PD and discussed the precise mechanisms that drive these processes by DNA damage. In addition, we looked ahead to the potential interventions targeting DNA damage and repair. Finally, based on the current status of research, key problems that need to be addressed in future research were proposed.

Keywords: DNA damage; DNA repair; Parkinson’s disease; neurodegeneration

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076313

Bull Exp Biol Med. 2023 Apr 15.

Transcriptional Reprogramming Regulates Tumor Cell Survival in Response to Ionizing Radiation: a Role of p53.

O A Kuchur, A V Zavisrskiy, A A Shtil.

Senexin B, a non-toxic selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent protein kinases 8 and 19 (CDK8 and CDK19), in combination with γ-photon irradiation in doses of 2-10 Gy increased the death of colon adenocarcinoma cell line HCT116 (intact p53) in a logarithmically growing culture, which was accompanied by the prevention of cell cycle arrest and a decrease of "senescence" phenotype. The effect of senexin B in cells with intact p53 is similar to that of Tp53 gene knockout: irradiated HCT116p53KO cells passed through the interphase and died independently of senexin B. The inhibitor reduced the ability of cells to colony formation in response to irradiation; p53 status did not affect the effectiveness of the combination of radiation and senexin B. Thus, the CDK8/19 inhibitor senexin B increased cell sensitivity to radiotherapy by mechanisms dependent and independent of p53 status.

Keywords: cell death; cyclin-dependent protein kinases 8/19; ionizing radiation; p53; transcriptional reprogramming

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-023-05764-8

Cells. 2023 Apr 04. pii: 1085. [Epub ahead of print]12(7):

Quadra-Stable Dynamics of p53 and PTEN in the DNA Damage Response.

Shantanu Gupta, Pritam Kumar Panda, Daner A Silveira, Rajeev Ahuja, Ronaldo F Hashimoto.

Cell fate determination is a complex process that is frequently described as cells traveling on rugged pathways, beginning with DNA damage response (DDR). Tumor protein p53 (p53) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) are two critical players in this process. Although both of these proteins are known to be key cell fate regulators, the exact mechanism by which they collaborate in the DDR remains unknown. Thus, we propose a dynamic Boolean network. Our model incorporates experimental data obtained from NSCLC cells and is the first of its kind. Our network's wild-type system shows that DDR activates the G2/M checkpoint, and this triggers a cascade of events, involving p53 and PTEN, that ultimately lead to the four potential phenotypes: cell cycle arrest, senescence, autophagy, and apoptosis (quadra-stable dynamics). The network predictions correspond with the gain-and-loss of function investigations in the additional two cell lines (HeLa and MCF-7). Our findings imply that p53 and PTEN act as molecular switches that activate or deactivate specific pathways to govern cell fate decisions. Thus, our network facilitates the direct investigation of quadruplicate cell fate decisions in DDR. Therefore, we concluded that concurrently controlling PTEN and p53 dynamics may be a viable strategy for enhancing clinical outcomes.

Keywords: DNA damage response; G2/M checkpoint; NSCLC; P53; PTEN; cell fate determination

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12071085