Ovarian Aging: Role of Pituitary-Ovarian Axis Hormones and ncRNAs in Regulating Ovarian Mitochondrial Activity

The number of mitochondria in the oocyte along with their functions (e.g., energy production, scavenger activity) decline with age progression. Such multifaceted functions support several processes during oocyte maturation, ranging from energy supply to synthesis of the steroid hormones. Hence, it is hardly surprising that their impairment has been reported in both physiological and premature ovarian aging, wherein they are crucial players in the apoptotic processes that arise in aged ovaries. In any form, ovarian aging implies the progressive damage of the mitochondrial structure and activities as regards to ovarian germ and somatic cells. The imbalance in the circulating hormones and peptides (e.g., gonadotropins, estrogens, AMH, activins, and inhibins), active along the pituitary-ovarian axis, represents the biochemical sign of ovarian aging. Despite the progress accomplished in determining the key role of the mitochondria in preserving ovarian follicular number and health, their modulation by the hormonal signalling pathways involved in ovarian aging has been poorly and randomly explored. Yet characterizing this mechanism is pivotal to molecularly define the implication of mitochondrial dysfunction in physiological and premature ovarian aging, respectively. However, it is fairly difficult considering that the pathways associated with ovarian aging might affect mitochondria directly or by altering the activity, stability and localization of proteins controlling mitochondrial dynamics and functions, either unbalancing other cellular mediators, released by the mitochondria, such as non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). We will focus on the mitochondrial ncRNAs (i.e., mitomiRs and mtlncRNAs), that retranslocate from the mitochondria to the nucleus, as active players in aging and describe their role in the nuclear-mitochondrial crosstalk and its modulation by the pituitary-ovarian hormone dependent pathways. In this review, we will illustrate mitochondria as targets of the signaling pathways dependent on hormones and peptides active along the pituitary/ovarian axis and as transducers, with a particular focus on the molecules retrieved in the mitochondria, mainly ncRNAs. Given their regulatory function in cellular activities we propose them as potential diagnostic markers and/or therapeutic targets.

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A Crucial Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Dehydration Resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22094607 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. 4607

Author(s):

Chang-Lin Chen ◽

Ying-Chieh Chen ◽

Wei-Ling Huang ◽

Steven Lin ◽

Rimantas Daugelavičius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Survival Rate ◽

Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽

Growth Conditions ◽

Stationary Growth Phase ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Mitochondrial Activity ◽

Wild Type ◽

Stationary Growth

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles as they continuously undergo fission and fusion. These dynamic processes conduct not only mitochondrial network morphology but also activity regulation and quality control. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a remarkable capacity to resist stress from dehydration/rehydration. Although mitochondria are noted for their role in desiccation tolerance, the mechanisms underlying these processes remains obscure. Here, we report that yeast cells that went through stationary growth phase have a better survival rate after dehydration/rehydration. Dynamic defective yeast cells with reduced mitochondrial genome cannot maintain the mitochondrial activity and survival rate of wild type cells. Our results demonstrate that yeast cells balance mitochondrial fusion and fission according to growth conditions, and the ability to adjust dynamic behavior aids the dehydration resistance by preserving mitochondria.

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Combining Bioinformatics and Experiments to Identify CREB1 as a Key Regulator in Senescent Granulosa Cells

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics10050295 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 295 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pei-Hsuan Lin ◽

Li-Te Lin ◽

Chia-Jung Li ◽

Pei-Gang Kao ◽

Hsiao-Wen Tsai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Granulosa Cells ◽

Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽

Ros Production ◽

Oxygen Species ◽

Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species ◽

Ovarian Aging ◽

Gene Expression Analyses ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Aging of functional ovaries occurs many years before aging of other organs in the female body. In recent years, a greater number of women continue to postpone their pregnancies to later stages in their lives, raising concerns of the effect of ovarian aging. Mitochondria play an important role in the connection between the aging granulosa cells and oocytes. However, the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in these cells remain poorly understood. Therefore, we evaluated the molecular mechanism of the aging granulosa cells, including aspects such as accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, reduction of mtDNA, imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics, and diminished cell proliferation. Here, we applied bioinformatics approaches, and integrated publicly available resources, to investigate the role of CREB1 gene expression in reproduction. Senescence hallmark enrichment and pathway analysis suggested that the downregulation of bioenergetic-related genes in CREB1. Gene expression analyses showed alterations in genes related to energy metabolism and ROS production in ovary tissue. We also demonstrate that the biogenesis of aging granulosa cells is subject to CREB1 binding to the PRKAA1 and PRKAA2 upstream promoters. In addition, cofactors that regulate biogenesis significantly increase the levels of SIRT1 and PPARGC1A mRNA in the aging granulosa cells. These findings demonstrate that CREB1 elevates an oxidative stress-induced senescence in granulosa cells by reducing the mitochondrial function.

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The role of abnormal mitochondrial dynamics in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Yearbook of Neurology and Neurosurgery ◽

10.1016/s0513-5117(09)79132-x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2009 ◽

pp. 149-150

Author(s):

J.P. Blass

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Mitochondrial Dynamics

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Antioxidants in Fish Sperm and the Potential Role of Melatonin

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10010036 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 36

Author(s):

Francisca Félix ◽

Catarina C. V. Oliveira ◽

Elsa Cabrita

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Fish Cell ◽

Cell Protection ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Fish Sperm ◽

Scavenger Activity ◽

Stress Damage ◽

Novel Antioxidants ◽

Aquaculture Production

In recent years, the effects of novel antioxidants have played an important role in the research focusing on fish cell protection. As food demand grows, aquaculture production becomes more intensive, and fish are more exposed to oxidative stress conditions, like high densities, temperature shifting, frequent fish handling and samplings, and prophylactic or disease treatments, which expose fish to a different environment. Particularly in reproduction, germ cells lose antioxidant capacity with spermatogenesis, as spermatozoa are more prone to oxidative stress. Antioxidants have been used in a variety of fish physiological problems including in reproduction and in the establishment of cryopreservation protocols. From the most used antioxidants to natural plant food and herbs, and endogenously produced antioxidants, like melatonin, a review of the literature available in terms of their effects on the protection of fish spermatozoa is presented here in a classified structure. Several direct and indirect approaches to improve gamete quality using antioxidants administration are mentioned (through feed supplementation or by adding in cryopreservation media), as well as factors affecting the efficiency of these molecules and their mechanisms of action. Special attention is given to the unclear melatonin pathway and its potential scavenger activity to prevent and counteract oxidative stress damage on fish spermatozoa.

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Ndufs4 ablation decreases synaptophysin expression in hippocampus

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90127-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Subrata Kumar Shil ◽

Yoshiteru Kagawa ◽

Banlanjo Abdulaziz Umaru ◽

Fumika Nanto-Hara ◽

Hirofumi Miyazaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nadh Dehydrogenase ◽

Leigh Syndrome ◽

Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain ◽

Mitochondrial Activity ◽

Mitochondrial Complex ◽

Neuronal Function ◽

Mouse Hippocampus ◽

Extracellular Regulated Kinase ◽

Presynaptic Protein

AbstractAltered function of mitochondrial respiratory chain in brain cells is related to many neurodegenerative diseases. NADH Dehydrogenase (Ubiquinone) Fe-S protein 4 (Ndufs4) is one of the subunits of mitochondrial complex I and its mutation in human is associated with Leigh syndrome. However, the molecular biological role of Ndufs4 in neuronal function is poorly understood. In this study, upon Ndufs4 expression confirmation in NeuN-positive neurons, and GFAP-positive astrocytes in WT mouse hippocampus, we found significant decrease of mitochondrial respiration in Ndufs4-KO mouse hippocampus. Although there was no change in the number of NeuN positive neurons in Ndufs4-KO hippocampus, the expression of synaptophysin, a presynaptic protein, was significantly decreased. To investigate the detailed mechanism, we silenced Ndufs4 in Neuro-2a cells and we observed shorter neurite lengths with decreased expression of synaptophysin. Furthermore, western blot analysis for phosphorylated extracellular regulated kinase (pERK) revealed that Ndufs4 silencing decreases the activity of ERK signalling. These results suggest that Ndufs4-modulated mitochondrial activity may be involved in neuroplasticity via regulating synaptophysin expression.

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Role of Mitochondria in Viral Infections

Life ◽

10.3390/life11030232 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 232

Author(s):

Srikanth Elesela ◽

Nicholas W. Lukacs

Keyword(s):

Viral Infections ◽

Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽

The Body ◽

Viral Diseases ◽

Multiple Organs ◽

Innate Immune Signaling ◽

Mitochondrial Functions ◽

Host Virus Interactions ◽

Virus Interactions

Viral diseases account for an increasing proportion of deaths worldwide. Viruses maneuver host cell machinery in an attempt to subvert the intracellular environment favorable for their replication. The mitochondrial network is highly susceptible to physiological and environmental insults, including viral infections. Viruses affect mitochondrial functions and impact mitochondrial metabolism, and innate immune signaling. Resurgence of host-virus interactions in recent literature emphasizes the key role of mitochondria and host metabolism on viral life processes. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to damage of mitochondria that generate toxic compounds, importantly mitochondrial DNA, inducing systemic toxicity, leading to damage of multiple organs in the body. Mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy are essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial quality control and homeostasis. Therefore, metabolic antagonists may be essential to gain a better understanding of viral diseases and develop effective antiviral therapeutics. This review briefly discusses how viruses exploit mitochondrial dynamics for virus proliferation and induce associated diseases.

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Role of cysteine in regulating morphogenesis and mitochondrial activity in the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.78.7.4596 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 78 (7) ◽

pp. 4596-4600 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

B. Maresca ◽

A. M. Lambowitz ◽

V. B. Kumar ◽

G. A. Grant ◽

G. S. Kobayashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Histoplasma Capsulatum ◽

Mitochondrial Activity ◽

Dimorphic Fungus

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Syntaxin-17-Dependent Mitochondrial Dynamics is Essential for Protection Against Oxidative-Stress-Induced Apoptosis

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox8110522 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 522 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Wang ◽

Xiao ◽

Huang ◽

Liu

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽

Mitochondrial Fission ◽

Autophagic Flux ◽

Wild Type ◽

Dual Roles ◽

Defective Mutant ◽

U2os Cells ◽

Induced Apoptosis

In this study, cell death induced by the oxidant tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBH) was observed in U2OS cells; this phenotype was rescued by Syntaxin 17 (STX17) knockout (KO) but the mechanism is unknown. STX17 plays dual roles in autophagosome–lysosome fusion and mitochondrial fission. However, the contribution of the two functions of STX17 to apoptosis has not been extensively studied. Here, we sought to dissect the dual roles of STX17 in oxidative-stress-induced apoptosis by taking advantage of STX17 knockout cells and an autophagosome–lysosome fusion defective mutant of STX17. We generated STX17 knockout U2OS cells using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system and the STX17 knockout cells were reconstituted with wild-type STX17 and its autophagosome–lysosome fusion defective mutant. Autophagy was assessed by autophagic flux assay, Monomer red fluorescent protein (mRFP)–GFP–LC3 assay and protease protection assay. Golgi, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/ER–Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) and mitochondrial dynamics were examined by staining the different indicator proteins. Apoptosis was evaluated by caspase cleavage assay. The general reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry. In STX17 complete knockout cells, sealed autophagosomes were efficiently formed but their fusion with lysosomes was less defective. The fusion defect was rescued by wild-type STX17 but not the autophagosome–lysosome fusion defective mutant. No obvious defects in Golgi, ERGIC or ER dynamics were observed. Mitochondria were significantly elongated, supporting a role of STX17 in mitochondria fission and the elongation caused by STX17 KO was reversed by the autophagosome–lysosome fusion defective mutant. The clearance of protein aggregation was compromised, correlating with the autophagy defect but not with mitochondrial dynamics. This study revealed a mixed role of STX17 in autophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and oxidative stress response. STX17 knockout cells were highly resistant to oxidative stress, largely due to the function of STX17 in mitochondrial fission rather than autophagy.

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of mitochondrial fission factor

Diabetologia ◽

10.1007/s00125-021-05488-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yukina Takeichi ◽

Takashi Miyazawa ◽

Shohei Sakamoto ◽

Yuki Hanada ◽

Lixiang Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Er Stress ◽

Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽

Mitochondrial Fission ◽

Primary Hepatocytes ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Specific Deletion

Abstract Aims/hypothesis Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles continuously undergoing fission and fusion, referred to as mitochondrial dynamics, to adapt to nutritional demands. Evidence suggests that impaired mitochondrial dynamics leads to metabolic abnormalities such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) phenotypes. However, how mitochondrial dynamics are involved in the development of NASH is poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the role of mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) in the development of NASH. Methods We created mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of MFF (MffLiKO). MffLiKO mice fed normal chow diet (NCD) or high-fat diet (HFD) were evaluated for metabolic variables and their livers were examined by histological analysis. To elucidate the mechanism of development of NASH, we examined the expression of genes related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and lipid metabolism, and the secretion of triacylglycerol (TG) using the liver and primary hepatocytes isolated from MffLiKO and control mice. Results MffLiKO mice showed aberrant mitochondrial morphologies with no obvious NASH phenotypes during NCD, while they developed full-blown NASH phenotypes in response to HFD. Expression of genes related to ER stress was markedly upregulated in the liver from MffLiKO mice. In addition, expression of genes related to hepatic TG secretion was downregulated, with reduced hepatic TG secretion in MffLiKO mice in vivo and in primary cultures of MFF-deficient hepatocytes in vitro. Furthermore, thapsigargin-induced ER stress suppressed TG secretion in primary hepatocytes isolated from control mice. Conclusions/interpretation We demonstrated that ablation of MFF in liver provoked ER stress and reduced hepatic TG secretion in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, MffLiKO mice were more susceptible to HFD-induced NASH phenotype than control mice, partly because of ER stress-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes and suppression of TG secretion from hepatocytes. This study provides evidence for the role of mitochondrial fission in the development of NASH. Graphical abstract

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What Is the Metabolic Amplification of Insulin Secretion and Is It (Still) Relevant?

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo11060355 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 355

Author(s):

Ingo Rustenbeck ◽

Torben Schulze ◽

Mai Morsi ◽

Mohammed Alshafei ◽

Uwe Panten

Keyword(s):

Insulin Secretion ◽

Beta Cell ◽

Adenine Nucleotides ◽

Pancreatic Beta Cell ◽

Secretory Response ◽

Mitochondrial Activity ◽

Insulin Synthesis ◽

Sequence Of Events ◽

Insulin Granules

The pancreatic beta-cell transduces the availability of nutrients into the secretion of insulin. While this process is extensively modified by hormones and neurotransmitters, it is the availability of nutrients, above all glucose, which sets the process of insulin synthesis and secretion in motion. The central role of the mitochondria in this process was identified decades ago, but how changes in mitochondrial activity are coupled to the exocytosis of insulin granules is still incompletely understood. The identification of ATP-sensitive K+-channels provided the link between the level of adenine nucleotides and the electrical activity of the beta cell, but the depolarization-induced Ca2+-influx into the beta cells, although necessary for stimulated secretion, is not sufficient to generate the secretion pattern as produced by glucose and other nutrient secretagogues. The metabolic amplification of insulin secretion is thus the sequence of events that enables the secretory response to a nutrient secretagogue to exceed the secretory response to a purely depolarizing stimulus and is thus of prime importance. Since the cataplerotic export of mitochondrial metabolites is involved in this signaling, an orienting overview on the topic of nutrient secretagogues beyond glucose is included. Their judicious use may help to define better the nature of the signals and their mechanism of action.

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