TY - JOUR
T1 - Mechanistically distinct steps in the mitochondrial death pathway triggered by oxidative stress in cardiac myocytes
AU - Akao, Masaharu
AU - O'Rourke, Brian
AU - Teshima, Yasushi
AU - Seharaseyon, Jegatheesan
AU - Marbán, Eduardo
PY - 2003/2/7
Y1 - 2003/2/7
N2 - Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we characterize three distinct phases of the H2O2-induced response, which leads to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and subsequent cell death in cultured cardiac myocytes. (1) Priming: After H2O2 exposure (100 μmol/L), cells maintain a constant ΔΨm for the cell-to-cell specific latency but at the same time undergo progressive changes in inner mitochondrial membrane structure (swelling and loss of cristae by electron microscopy). An increase of matrix calcium is required, but not sufficient, for this process. (2) Depolarization: Priming is followed by sudden depolarization of ΔΨm, which is mediated by mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, as evidenced by the concomitant release of calcein from mitochondria. This process is rapid (<4 minutes), complete, and irreversible. The duration of depolarization is constant and does not depend on the length of the priming process in any given cell. (3) Fragmentation: Along with massive mitochondrial swelling and release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm, cells undergo surface membrane alterations, such as exposure of phosphatidylserine and eventual loss of membrane integrity and cellular fragmentation. Thus, oxidant stress elicits reproducible and stereotyped responses in cardiac cells. The priming phase, during which mitochondria undergo major ultrastructural alterations but remain functional, represents a particularly attractive target for intervention in the prevention of cell death.
AB - Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we characterize three distinct phases of the H2O2-induced response, which leads to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and subsequent cell death in cultured cardiac myocytes. (1) Priming: After H2O2 exposure (100 μmol/L), cells maintain a constant ΔΨm for the cell-to-cell specific latency but at the same time undergo progressive changes in inner mitochondrial membrane structure (swelling and loss of cristae by electron microscopy). An increase of matrix calcium is required, but not sufficient, for this process. (2) Depolarization: Priming is followed by sudden depolarization of ΔΨm, which is mediated by mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, as evidenced by the concomitant release of calcein from mitochondria. This process is rapid (<4 minutes), complete, and irreversible. The duration of depolarization is constant and does not depend on the length of the priming process in any given cell. (3) Fragmentation: Along with massive mitochondrial swelling and release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm, cells undergo surface membrane alterations, such as exposure of phosphatidylserine and eventual loss of membrane integrity and cellular fragmentation. Thus, oxidant stress elicits reproducible and stereotyped responses in cardiac cells. The priming phase, during which mitochondria undergo major ultrastructural alterations but remain functional, represents a particularly attractive target for intervention in the prevention of cell death.
KW - Cell death
KW - Membrane potential
KW - Mitochondria
KW - Oxidative stress
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U2 - 10.1161/01.RES.0000051861.21316.E9
DO - 10.1161/01.RES.0000051861.21316.E9
M3 - Article
C2 - 12574146
AN - SCOPUS:0037423553
SN - 0009-7330
VL - 92
SP - 186
EP - 194
JO - Circulation research
JF - Circulation research
IS - 2
ER -