scholarly journals Translocator Protein (18 kDa): A Promising Therapeutic Target and Diagnostic Tool for Cardiovascular Diseases

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolong Qi ◽  
Jiahong Xu ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
Junjie Xiao
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane Potential ◽  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Therapeutic Target ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Translocator Protein ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Translocator Protein 18 Kda ◽  
Cardiovascular Systems

The translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) is a five transmembrane domain protein in mitochondria, abundantly expressed in a variety of organs and tissues. TSPO contributes to a wide range of biological processes, including cholesterol transportation, mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory chain regulation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Recent studies have demonstrated that TSPO might also be involved in the physiological regulation of cardiac chronotropy and inotropy. Accordingly, TSPO ligands play significant roles in protecting the cardiovascular systems under pathological conditions through cardiac electrical activity retention, intracellular calcium maintenance, mitochondrial energy provision, mitochondrial membrane potential equilibrium, and reactive oxygen species inhibition. This paper focuses on the physiological and pathological characteristics of TSPO in the cardiovascular systems and also summarizes the properties of TSPO ligands. TSPO represents a potential therapeutic target and diagnostic tool for cardiovascular diseases including arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, myocarditis, and large vessel vasculitis.

scholarly journals The spatio-temporal dynamics of mitochondrial membrane potential during oocyte maturation

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 695-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usama AL-Zubaidi ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
Ozgur Cinar ◽  
Rebecca L Robker ◽  
Deepak Adhikari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane Potential ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Mitochondrial Function ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Meiotic Spindle ◽  
Mitochondrial Activity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Abstract Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles and their distribution, structure and activity affect a wide range of cellular functions. Mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψm) is an indicator of mitochondrial activity and plays a major role in ATP production, redox balance, signaling and metabolism. Despite the absolute reliance of oocyte and early embryo development on mitochondrial function, there is little known about the spatial and temporal aspects of ΔΨm during oocyte maturation. The one exception is that previous findings using a ΔΨm indicator, JC-1, report that mitochondria in the cortex show a preferentially increased ΔΨm, relative to the rest of the cytoplasm. Using live-cell imaging and a new ratiometric approach for measuring ΔΨm in mouse oocytes, we find that ΔΨm increases through the time course of oocyte maturation and that mitochondria in the vicinity of the first meiotic spindle show an increase in ΔΨm, compared to other regions of the cytoplasm. We find no evidence for an elevated ΔΨm in the oocyte cortex. These findings suggest that mitochondrial activity is adaptive and responsive to the events of oocyte maturation at both a global and local level. In conclusion, we have provided a new approach to reliably measure ΔΨm that has shed new light onto the spatio-temporal regulation of mitochondrial function in oocytes and early embryos.

scholarly journals Ligands of the Mitochondrial 18 kDa Translocator Protein Attenuate Apoptosis of Human Glioblastoma Cells Exposed to Erucylphosphohomocholine

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 435-450
Author(s):  
Wilfried Kugler ◽  
Leo Veenman ◽  
Yulia Shandalov ◽  
Svetlana Leschiner ◽  
Ilana Spanier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Cyclosporin A ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane Potential ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Translocator Protein ◽  
Glioblastoma Cells ◽  
Caspase 9 ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Background: We have previously shown that the anti-neoplastic agent erucylphosphohomocholine (ErPC3) requires the mitochondrial 18 kDa Translocator protein (TSPO), formerly known as the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), to induce cell death via the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.Methods: With the aid of the dye JC-1 and cyclosporin A, applied to glioblastoma cells, we now investigated the significance of opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) for ErPC3-induced apoptosis in interaction with the TSPO ligands, PK 11195 and Ro5 4864. Furthermore, we measured cytochrome c release, and caspase-9 and -3 activation in this paradigm.Results: The human glioblastoma cell lines, U87MG, A172 and U118MG express the MPTP-associated TSPO, voltage-dependent anion channel and adenine nucleotide transporter. Indeed, ErPC3-induced apoptosis was inhibited by the MPTP blocker cyclosporin A and by PK 11195 and Ro5 4864 in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, PK 11195 and Ro5 4864 inhibited collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and caspase-9 and -3 activation caused by ErPC3 treatment.Conclusions: This study shows that PK 11195 and Ro5 4864 inhibit the pro-apoptotic function of ErPC3 by blocking its capacity to cause a collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Thus, the TSPO may serve to open the MPTP in response to anti-cancer drugs such as ErPC3.

Platelets apoptosis in rats after global brain ischemia

2018 ◽  
pp. 27-35
Author(s):  
А.А. Соколовская ◽  
Э.Д. Вирюс ◽  
В.В. Александрин ◽  
А.С. Роткина ◽  
К.А. Никифорова ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane Potential ◽  
Brain Ischemia ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Global Brain Ischemia ◽  
Platelet Apoptosis ◽  
Global Brain

Цель исследования. Ишемические повреждения головного мозга, являются одной из наиболее частой причин инвалидности и смертности во всем мире. Недавно была установлена роль апоптоза тромбоцитов в патофизиологии инсульта, однако его механизмы до сих пор остаются невыясненными. Несмотря на различные экспериментальные модели, направленные на мониторинг апоптоза тромбоцитов, результаты, относительно изучения и выявления апоптоза тромбоцитов при ишемии головного мозга у крыс, весьма немногочисленны. Цель исследования - анализ апоптоза тромбоцитов с помощью метода проточной цитофлуориметрии на модели глобальной ишемии мозга у крыс. Методика. В экспериментах использовано 6 крыс-самцов Вистар в возрасте от 5 до 6 мес., разделенных на 2 группы: интактный контроль (К) и глобальная ишемия головного мозга. Модель глобальной ишемии головного мозга у крыс воспроизводилась путём билатеральной окклюзии общих сонных артерий на фоне гипотензии. Уровень системного артериального давления снижали посредством кровопотери до 40-45 мм рт. ст. Суспензию тромбоцитов крыс получали методом гельфильтрации с использованием сефарозы 2B. Для анализа экстернализации фосфатидилсерина (ФС) тромбоциты крыс инкубировали с Аннексином V-PE в связывающем буфере. Для оценки митохондриального мембранного потенциала (ММП) тромбоциты инкубировали с катионным красителем JC-1. После инкубации образцы немедленно анализировали на проточном цитофлуориметре FACSCalibur (Becton Dickinson, США). Результаты. Согласно полученным данным, экстернализация ФС на тромбоцитах крыс, перенесших инсульт, была значительно выше (53,45 ± 4,21%), чем в контрольной группе крыс (5,27 ± 2,40%). Данный эффект подтверждается выраженной деполяризацией митохондриальных мембран (DYm). После экспериментальной ишемии мозга почти 40% тромбоцитов было деполяризовано. Заключение. Использованный в работе подбор методов и маркеров обеспечивает понимание механизмов апоптоза тромбоцитов как в экспериментальных, так и в клинических условиях. Полученные данные позволяют сделать заключение, что апоптоз тромбоцитов является одним из факторов развития глобальной ишемии головного мозга у крыс. Результаты могут быть использованы для понимания механизмов, участвующих в развитии ишемического повреждения, что, в свою очередь, может быть использовано при разработке новых терапевтических стратегий. Aim. Stroke is one of the most common causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Multiple experimental models of stroke have focused on monitoring of platelet apoptosis. However, studies on and detection of platelet apoptosis in rats with ischemic stroke are very scarce. We investigated platelet apoptosis in rats with global brain ischemia using flow cytometry. Methods. Experiments were carried out on healthy, adult Wistar male rats weighing 300-350 g. The rats were divided into the following 2 groups: intact rats and rats with global brain ischemia. Global brain ischemia was induced by two-vessel (2-VO) carotid occlusion in combination with hypotension. Systemic blood pressure was reduced by 40-45 mm Hg by inducing haemorrhage. Platelets were isolated by gel filtration on Sepharose 2B. For evaluation of phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, platelets were incubated with Annexin V-PE and analyzed on FACSCalibur (BD Biosciences). Mitochondrial membrane potential (DY) was measured during platelets apoptosis using JC-1, a mitochondrial membrane potential indicator. Platelets were analyzed by flow cytometry immediately after the incubation. Results. PS externalization on platelets was significantly greater after global brain ischemia (53.45 ± 4.21%) than in the control group (5.27 ± 2.40%). Pronounced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (DYm) confirmed this finding. In the rat group with experimental brain ischemia, almost 40% (35.24 ± 5.21%) of platelets were depolarized. Conclusion. Our results provide insight into mechanisms involved in platelet apoptosis during ischemic stroke and can be used in further development of new therapeutic strategies.

Reserpine Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Hormone Independent Prostate Cancer Cells through Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Failure

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1313-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manjula Devi Ramamoorthy ◽  
Ashok Kumar ◽  
Mahesh Ayyavu ◽  
Kannan Narayanan Dhiraviam
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane Potential ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Reactive Oxygen ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Prostate Cancer Cells

Background: Reserpine, an indole alkaloid commonly used for hypertension, is found in the roots of Rauwolfia serpentina. Although the root extract has been used for the treatment of cancer, the molecular mechanism of its anti-cancer activity on hormonal independent prostate cancer remains elusive. Methods: we evaluated the cytotoxicity of reserpine and other indole alkaloids, yohimbine and ajmaline on Prostate Cancer cells (PC3) using MTT assay. We investigated the mechanism of apoptosis using a combination of techniques including acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, high content imaging of Annexin V-FITC staining, flow cytometric quantification of the mitochondrial membrane potential and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and cell cycle analysis. Results: Our results indicate that reserpine inhibits DNA synthesis by arresting the cells at the G2 phase and showed all standard sequential features of apoptosis including, destabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced production of reactive oxygen species and DNA ladder formation. Our in silico analysis further confirmed that indeed reserpine docks to the catalytic cleft of anti-apoptotic proteins substantiating our results. Conclusion: Collectively, our findings suggest that reserpine can be a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer.

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