Mitochondrial Dynamics and Metabolic Regulation

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles, the location, size and distribution of which are controlled by a family of proteins that modulate mitochondrial fusion and fission. Recent evidence indicates that mitochondrial morphology is crucial for cell physiology, as changes in mitochondrial shape have been linked to neurodegeneration, calcium signalling, lifespan and cell death. Because immune cells contain few mitochondria, these organelles have been considered to have only a marginal role in this physiological context-which is conversely well characterized from the point of view of signalling. Nevertheless, accumulating evidence shows that mitochondrial dynamics have an impact on the migration and activation of immune cells and on the innate immune response. Here, we discuss the roles of mitochondrial dynamics in cell pathophysiology and consider how studying dynamics in the context of the immune system could increase our knowledge about the role of dynamics in key signalling cascades.

BackgroundThe identification of early mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and associated biomarkers could advance development of new therapies and improve monitoring and predicting of AD progression. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been suggested to underlie AD pathophysiology, however, no comprehensive study exists that evaluates the effect of different familial AD (FAD) mutations on mitochondrial function, dynamics, and brain energetics.Methods and FindingsWe characterized early mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolomic signatures of energetic stress in three commonly used transgenic mouse models of FAD. Assessment of mitochondrial motility, distribution, dynamics, morphology, and metabolomic profiling revealed the specific effect of each FAD mutation on the development of mitochondrial stress and dysfunction. Inhibition of mitochondrial trafficking was characteristic for embryonic neurons from mice expressing mutant human presenilin 1, PS1(M146L) and the double mutation of human amyloid precursor protein APP(Tg2576) and PS1(M146L) contributing to the increased susceptibility of neurons to excitotoxic cell death. Significant changes in mitochondrial morphology were detected in APP and APP/PS1 mice. All three FAD models demonstrated a loss of the integrity of synaptic mitochondria and energy production. Metabolomic profiling revealed mutation-specific changes in the levels of metabolites reflecting altered energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction in brains of FAD mice. Metabolic biomarkers adequately reflected gender differences similar to that reported for AD patients and correlated well with the biomarkers currently used for diagnosis in humans.ConclusionsMutation-specific alterations in mitochondrial dynamics, morphology and function in FAD mice occurred prior to the onset of memory and neurological phenotype and before the formation of amyloid deposits. Metabolomic signatures of mitochondrial stress and altered energy metabolism indicated alterations in nucleotide, Krebs cycle, energy transfer, carbohydrate, neurotransmitter, and amino acid metabolic pathways. Mitochondrial dysfunction, therefore, is an underlying event in AD progression, and FAD mouse models provide valuable tools to study early molecular mechanisms implicated in AD.

Mitochondria undergo continual cycles of fusion and fission, and the balance of these opposing processes regulates mitochondrial morphology. Paradoxically, cells invest many resources to maintain tubular mitochondrial morphology, when reducing both fusion and fission simultaneously achieves the same end. This observation suggests a requirement for mitochondrial fusion, beyond maintenance of organelle morphology. Here, we show that cells with targeted null mutations in Mfn1 or Mfn2 retained low levels of mitochondrial fusion and escaped major cellular dysfunction. Analysis of these mutant cells showed that both homotypic and heterotypic interactions of Mfns are capable of fusion. In contrast, cells lacking both Mfn1 and Mfn2 completely lacked mitochondrial fusion and showed severe cellular defects, including poor cell growth, widespread heterogeneity of mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased cellular respiration. Disruption of OPA1 by RNAi also blocked all mitochondrial fusion and resulted in similar cellular defects. These defects in Mfn-null or OPA1-RNAi mammalian cells were corrected upon restoration of mitochondrial fusion, unlike the irreversible defects found in fzodelta yeast. In contrast, fragmentation of mitochondria, without severe loss of fusion, did not result in such cellular defects. Our results showed that key cellular functions decline as mitochondrial fusion is progressively abrogated.

Purpose Changes in mitochondrial morphology have been linked with mitochondrial function and host cell homeostasis in many metabolic diseases. Cancer is increasingly perceived as metabolic disease, so understanding and regulating mitochondrial dynamics is of interest in cancer therapeutics. Recent studies indicate that distinct metabolic profile of cancer is dependent on genes that regulate the fusion and fission of mitochondria. Importantly, high levels of mitochondrial fission activity are common in cancer cell malignancy and in stem cell′s resistance to differentiation. Since these two phenotypes converge into cancer stem cells, investigating mitochondrial fission activity will provide hints to target cancer stem cell in therapeutics. Purpose of this study is to elucidate what regulates mitochondrial dynamics in cancer stem cells to sustain their stemness properties. In GBM, amplification of the oncogenic variant of EGFR, EGFRvIII, is associated with poor patient prognosis and has recently been known as the major contributor for stemness. Thus, we investigated the role of this oncogenic change in mitochondrial dynamics and stemness control in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). Methods Patient-derived GSCs were cultured and sorted by FACS based on tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) dye emission level, which indicates mitochondrial membrane potential and functional activeness. The highest and the lowest TMRE groups each was collected and subject to further experiments. siRNA was used for loss-of-function study and lentivirus containing overexpression vector was used for gain-of-function study. In order to show the effect of EGFRvIII kinase activity inhibition, gefitinib and its derivative were used. Results High TMRE GSCs showed stronger self-renewal ability in spheroid culture and higher levels of stemness marker Nestin, EGFRvIII, and mitochondrial fission regulator DRP1 expression than low TMRE GSCs. The high TMRE GSCs also showed more fragmented mitochondrial pattern, indicative of active mitochondrial fission. As underlying mechanism of EGFRvIII action on mitochondrial membrane potential, we figured out that EGFRvIII is localized at mitochondria. In order target mitochondria localized EGFRvIII, we used a gefitinib derivative which has mitochondria targeting moiety. This drug reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, self-renewal property, protein levels that regulate mitochondrial dynamics and less fragmented mitochondria, compared to gefitinib treated cells. Conclusion EGFRvIII promotes self-renewal property of GSCs by translocating to mitochondria and upregulating mitochondrial membrane potential and fission-related protein levels. This finding highlights the role of mitochondrial dynamics as a mediator mechanism between tumor-specific oncogenic change and stem cell self-renewal ability. Citation Format: Yeonhee You, Jun Hee Hong, Jinlong Yin, Young Taek Oh, Sung Soo Kim, Jong Bae Park. Mitochondria localized EGFRvIII promotes stemness through regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in glioblastoma stem cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1133.

Mitochondria form filamentous networks that undergo continuous fission/fusion. In the pancreatic beta-cells, mitochondria are essential for the transduction of signals linking nutrient metabolism to insulin granule exocytosis. Here we have studied mitochondrial networks in the insulinoma cell line INS-1E, primary rat and human beta-cells. We have further investigated the impact of mitochondrial fission/fusion on metabolism-secretion coupling in INS-1E cells. Overexpression of hFis1 caused dramatic mitochondrial fragmentation, whereas Mfn1 evoked hyperfusion and the aggregation of mitochondria. Cells overexpressing hFis1 or Mfn1 showed reduced mitochondrial volume, lowered cellular ATP levels, and as a consequence, impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Decreased mitochondrial ATP generation was partially compensated for by enhanced glycolysis as indicated by increased lactate production in these cells. Dominant-negative Mfn1 elicited mitochondrial shortening and fragmentation of INS-1E cell mitochondria, similar to hFis1. However, the mitochondrial volume, cytosolic ATP levels, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were little affected. We conclude that mitochondrial fragmentation per se does not impair metabolism-secretion coupling. Through their impact on mitochondrial bioenergetics and distribution, hFis1 and Mfn1 activities influence mitochondrial signal generation thereby insulin exocytosis.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that exhibits a common set of behavioral and cognitive impairments. Although the etiology of ASD remains unclear, mitochondrial dysfunction has recently emerged as a possible causative factor underlying ASD. The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that augments mitochondrial function, and has been shown to reduce autistic behaviors in both humans and in rodent models of ASD. The aim of the current study was to examine mitochondrial bioenergetics in the BTBR mouse model of ASD and to determine whether the KD improves mitochondrial function. We also investigated changes in mitochondrial morphology, which can directly influence mitochondrial function. We found that BTBR mice had altered mitochondrial function and exhibited smaller more fragmented mitochondria compared to C57BL/6J controls, and that supplementation with the KD improved both mitochondrial function and morphology. We also identified activating phosphorylation of two fission proteins, pDRP1S616 and pMFFS146, in BTBR mice, consistent with the increased mitochondrial fragmentation that we observed. Intriguingly, we found that the KD decreased pDRP1S616 levels in BTBR mice, likely contributing to the restoration of mitochondrial morphology. Overall, these data suggest that impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics and mitochondrial fragmentation may contribute to the etiology of ASD and that these alterations can be reversed with KD treatment.

The FOXO3a (forkhead box O3a)-BNIP3 (B-cell lymphoma 2/adenovirus E1B 19kDa interacting protein 3) pathway modulates mitochondrial dynamics and function and contributes to myocardial remodeling in rodent models of heart failure. We sought to investigate the expression of this pathway along with the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α]), dynamics (DRP-1 [dynamin-related protein 1], OPA-1 [optic atrophy 1], and MFN 2 [mitofusin 2]), and oxidative phosphorylation (citrate synthase and electron transport chain complexes) markers and COX IV (cytochrome C oxidase) activity in myocardium from patients with valvular or ischemic heart disease and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Subepicardial left ventricular biopsies (10×1×1 mm3) were obtained at aortic valve replacement (HFpEFAVR, n=5; and HFrEFAVR, n=4), coronary artery bypass grafting (HFpEFCABG, n=5; and HFrEFCABG, n=5), or left ventricular assist device implantation (HFrEFLVAD, n=4). Subepicardial biopsies from patients with normal left ventricular function (n=2) and from donor hearts (n=3) served as controls (normal). Relative to normal, mitochondrial fragmentation and cristae destruction were evident, and mitochondrial area was decreased in HFpEF; 1.00±0.09 versus 0.71±0.08; P=0.016. These mitochondrial morphological changes were more pronounced in HFrEF (0.54±0.06); P=0.002 HFpEF versus HFrEF. BNIP3 (monomer+dimer) expression was increased in HFpEF (3.99±2.44) and in HFrEF (5.19±1.70) relative to normal; P=0.004 and P<0.001, respectively. However, BNIP3 monomer was increased in HFrEF (4.32±1.43) compared with normal (0.99±0.06) and HFpEF (1.97±0.90); P=0.001 and 0.004, respectively. The HFrEF group uniquely showed increase in DRP-1 expression (1.94±0.38) and decreases in PGC-1α expression (0.61±0.07) and COX IV activity (0.70±0.10) relative to normal; P=0.013, P<0.001, and P<0.001, respectively, with no significant change in electron transport chain complexes expression. These findings in human myocardium confirm studies in rodents where contractile dysfunction is associated with activation of the FOXO3a-BNIP3 pathway and altered mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis, and function.

Introduction: Regulation of mitochondrial morphology and dynamics is crucial for the maintenance of various cellular functions in cardiac myocytes. Abnormal mitochondrial morphologies concomitant with mitochondrial dysfunction are frequently observed in various pathophysiological states of human heart such as heart failure, where the catecholamine level is elevated. However, it is still unclear what kinds of cardiac signaling pathways regulate mitochondrial morphology and function under pathophysiological conditions. Hypothesis: Adrenergic signaling induces cardiac mitochondrial morphology changes and mitochondrial dysfunction, which simultaneously contribute to cardiac injury. Methods: H9c2 cardiac myoblasts were stimulated by α 1 -adrenoceptor (α 1 -AR) agonist phenylephrine and mitochondrial morphology was monitored by confocal microscopy. Translocation and phosphorylation of a mitochondrial fission protein, dynamin-like protein 1 (DLP1) was observed from whole cell lysates, cytosolic proteins and mitochondrial proteins by western blotting. Results: We found that persistent α 1 -AR stimulation induced mitochondrial fragmentation, followed by an increase in the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol in H9c2 cardiac myoblasts. These effects were abolished by the treatment of α 1 -AR antagonist, prazosin. Further, mitochondrial fragmentation by α 1 -AR stimulation was inhibited by expression of the dominant-negative fission mutant DLP1-K38A, suggesting that the mitochondrial fission is required for mitochondrial fragmentation observed in α 1 -AR stimulation. We also found that DLP1 was translocated from cytosol to mitochondria under α 1 -AR stimulation. In addition, activation of protein kinase D1 (PKD1), a protein kinase downstream of α 1 -AR signaling, led to the phosphorylation of DLP1 at serine 637 which lies within a putative PKD phosphorylation consensus motif. Conclusion: α 1 -AR signaling induces mitochondrial fragmentation and cell injury, possibly through PKD1-dependent phosphorylation of DLP1.

Mitochondrial morphology plays a critical role in regulating mitochondrial and cellular function. It is well established that oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury are central to acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity. However, the role of mitochondrial dynamics, namely the remodeling of mitochondrial morphology through fusion and fission, has largely gone unexplored. To investigate this, we used primary mouse hepatocytes treated with APAP which allowed for real-time visualization of mitochondrial morphology using mitotracker green. We found that alterations in mitochondrial morphology were dose dependent, with a biphasic response in mitochondrial shape at higher APAP doses. Importantly, these two distinct mitochondrial morphologies corresponded with differences in mitochondrial respiratory function and polarization. The early change in mitochondrial morphology can be reversible and appears to be an adaptive response caused by alterations in membrane potential, which ultimately help preserve mitochondrial function. The later delayed change in mitochondrial morphology is irreversible and is driven by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased canonical fusion proteins, and alterations in mitochondrial lipid composition. Collectively, these later changes tilt the scales toward mitochondrial fission resulting in fragmented mitochondria with reduced functionality. This work provides evidence of adaptive early changes in mitochondrial morphology, which results in functional consequences that are dictated by the severity of APAP overdose.

Secreted VAPB/ALS8 Major Sperm Protein Domains Modulate Mitochondrial Localization and Morphology via Growth Cone Guidance Receptors

Molecular Machinery of Mitochondrial Fusion and Fission

Mitochondria are crucial organelles in the production of energy and in the control of signalling cascades. A machinery of pro-fusion and fission proteins regulates their morphology and subcellular localization. In muscle this results in an orderly pattern of intermyofibrillar and subsarcolemmal mitochondria. Muscular atrophy is a genetically controlled process involving the activation of the autophagy-lysosome and the ubiquitin-proteasome systems. Whether and how the mitochondria are involved in muscular atrophy is unknown. Here, we show that the mitochondria are removed through autophagy system and that changes in mitochondrial network occur in atrophying muscles. Expression of the fission machinery is per se sufficient to cause muscle wasting in adult animals, by triggering organelle dysfunction and AMPK activation. Conversely, inhibition of the mitochondrial fission inhibits muscle loss during fasting and after FoxO3 overexpression. Mitochondrial-dependent muscle atrophy requires AMPK activation as inhibition of AMPK restores muscle size in myofibres with altered mitochondria. Thus, disruption of the mitochondrial network is an essential amplificatory loop of the muscular atrophy programme.

Mitochondrial dynamics is a key process that modulates the ultrastructure, quality and function of mitochondria. It is disrupted in numerous major neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been correlated with the loss of memory. Previous studies suggest the involvement of Vdac1 and Drp1 in outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and promotion of mitochondrial fragmentation through Drp1 phosphorylation at S616. However, alterations in mitochondrial dynamics with respect to aging, memory loss and neurodegeneration remain unexplored. Therefore, the present study focuses on the involvement of mitochondrial dynamics in neurodegeneration and recognition memory decline during aging. The recognition memory decline was validated by the novel object recognition test and measurement of hippocampal Arc protein level during aging. The ultrastructure analysis revealed a decline in mitochondrial length and area, while an increase in the number of fragmented, round and disrupted mitochondria in the hippocampus during aging. Disruption was also evident in mitochondrial cristae and membrane with advancing age. The change in mitochondrial morphology was corroborated by an increase in the expression of phospho-Drp1 (S616) and Cyt-c proteins but decline in Mfn2, LC3B, Vdac1, Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 proteins in the hippocampus during aging. Taken together, our findings reveal that an increase in the expression of phospho-Drp1 (S616) and decrease in Mfn2 and LC3B proteins in the hippocampus bring about a reduction in mitochondrial length and area, and rise in mitochondrial fragmentation leading to reduced neuronal cell density, increased neurodegeneration and recognition memory decline in old male mice. Diagram depicts the increase in hippocampal mitochondrial fragmentation during aging of mice. Increased mitochondrial fragmentation causes distorted mitochondrial function such as decrease in ATP/ADP transportation due to decrease in Vdac1 protein level and increase in oxidative damage. These alterations result in hippocampal neurodegeneration and consequently impairment in recognition memory during aging.

Statins are the drugs most commonly used for lowering plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Although generally well tolerated, statins can induce myopathy, a major cause of non-adherence to treatment. Impaired mitochondrial function has been implicated as a cause of statin-induced myopathy, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We have shown that simvastatin downregulates transcription of TOMM40 and TOMM22 , genes that encode major subunits of the translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane (TOM) complex which is responsible for importing nuclear-encoded proteins and maintaining mitochondrial function. We therefore investigated the role of TOMM40 and TOMM22 in mediating statin effects on mitochondrial function, dynamics, and mitophagy. Cellular and biochemical assays and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate effects of simvastatin and TOMM40 and TOMM22 expression on measures of mitochondrial function and dynamics in C2C12 and primary human skeletal cell myotubes. Knockdown of TOMM40 and TOMM22 in skeletal cell myotubes impaired mitochondrial oxidative function, increased production of mitochondrial superoxide, reduced mitochondrial cholesterol and CoQ levels, disrupted mitochondrial dynamics and morphology, and increased mitophagy, with similar effects resulting from simvastatin treatment. Overexpression of TOMM40 and TOMM22 in simvastatin-treated muscle cells rescued statin effects on mitochondrial dynamics, but not on mitochondrial function or cholesterol and CoQ levels. Moreover, overexpression of these genes resulted in an increase in number and density of cellular mitochondria. These results confirm that TOMM40 and TOMM22 are central in regulating mitochondrial homeostasis and demonstrate that downregulation of these genes by statin treatment mediates disruption of mitochondrial dynamics, morphology, and mitophagy, effects that may contribute to statin-induced myopathy.

This editorial refers to ‘Down-regulation of OPA1 alters mouse mitochondrial morphology, PTP function, and cardiac adaptation to pressure overload’, by J. Piquereau et al ., pp. 408–417, this issue. Mitochondrial research is undergoing something of a renaissance with the discovery that mitochondria are no longer considered to be static, rod-shaped organelles whose only role within the cell is to generate ATP. In fact, mitochondria are highly mobile organelles, capable of changing their shape by undergoing ‘fusion’ (to form elongated, interconnected mitochondria) and ‘fission’ (to form fragmented, discrete mitochondria).1,2 Changes in mitochondrial morphology are regulated by the evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial fusion proteins, mitofusins 1 and 2 (Mfn1 and Mfn2) and optic atrophy-1 (OPA1), and the mitochondrial fission proteins, dynamin-related peptide 1 (Drp1), mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fis1), mitochondrial fission factor (Mff), and mitochondrial dynamics proteins of 49 and 51 kDa (MiD49/51).1,2 Until recently, the investigation of mitochondrial dynamics and morphology had been largely confined to non-cardiovascular cells. However, a number of recent experimental studies have suggested that changes in mitochondrial morphology may play a role in the cardiovascular system in the settings of vascular smooth cell proliferation, cardiac development and differentiation, stem cell differentiation, myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury (IRI), and heart failure (reviewed in 1 and 2). Although the unique arrangement of mitochondria within the adult cardiomyocyte may limit their ability to move within the cell, the fact that the mitochondrial fusion and fission machinery is highly expressed in the adult myocardium would suggest that the mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins may have an important role to play in the adult heart. Whether mitochondrial dynamics are relevant to the post-mitotic adult heart is the subject of on-going investigation in several research laboratories, with recently published experimental studies implicating a role for the mitochondrial fission …