Coenzyme Q10 Phytosome Formulation Improves CoQ10 Bioavailability and Mitochondrial Functionality in Cultured Cells.

Christian Bergamini,Irene Liparulo,Giorgia Antonelli,Antonella Riva,Romana Fato,Nicola Rizzardi,Francesca Orsini

doi:10.3390/antiox10060927

Christian Bergamini, Irene Liparulo + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10060927

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Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipid-soluble molecule with a dual role: it transfers electrons in the mitochondrial transport chain by promoting the transmembrane potential exploited by the ATPase to synthesize ATP and, in its reduced form, is a membrane antioxidant. Since the high CoQ10 hydrophobicity hinders its bioavailability, several formulations have been developed to facilitate its cellular uptake. In this work, we studied the bioenergetic and antioxidant effects in I407 and H9c2 cells of a CoQ10 phytosome formulation (UBIQSOME®, UBQ). We investigated the cellular and mitochondrial content of CoQ10 and its redox state after incubation with UBQ. We studied different bioenergetic parameters, such as oxygen consumption, ATP content and mitochondrial potential. Moreover, we evaluated the effects of CoQ10 incubation on oxidative stress, membrane lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis and highlighted the connection between the intracellular concentration of CoQ10 and its antioxidant potency. Finally, we focused on the cellular mechanism that regulates UBQ internalization. We showed that the cell lines used in this work share the same uptake mechanism for UBQ, although the intestinal cell line was less efficient. Given the limitations of an in vitro model, the latter result supports that intestinal absorption is a critical step for the oral administration of Coenzyme Q10 formulations.

Highlights

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipid-soluble molecule present in all cell membrane and its primary functions are to transfer electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC)and to accept electrons from Complex I and Complex II to donate reducing equivalents to Complex III
CoQ10 is maintained by plasma membrane redox systems, which are important under oxidative stress conditions [2,3]
Our data show that the food-grade formulation UBQ, by increasing cellular and mitochondrial CoQ10 content, improved cellular bioenergetic parameters in in vitro models

Summary

Introduction

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipid-soluble molecule present in all cell membrane and its primary functions are to transfer electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC)and to accept electrons from Complex I and Complex II to donate reducing equivalents to Complex III. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipid-soluble molecule present in all cell membrane and its primary functions are to transfer electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC). CoQ10 transfers protons to the intermembrane space, contributing to the establishment of the transmembrane potential, utilized by the ATPase for ATP synthesis. CoQ10 is the only lipid-soluble antioxidant synthesized by the cells; in its reduced form, (CoQH2) protects cell membranes and circulating lipoproteins from lipid peroxidation [1]. The equilibrium between the oxidized and reduced form of. CoQ10 is maintained by plasma membrane redox systems, which are important under oxidative stress conditions [2,3]. Doll et al reported that the suppression of a type of cell death linked to lipid peroxidation, named ferroptosis, is mediated by reduced. CoQ10 is involved in the de-novo synthesis of pyrimidine, in the metabolism of fatty acids and the regeneration of vitamins C and E

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