Antimycin A-induced Cell Death Research Articles

NRF2 Activation by AR-20007 Preserves Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells from Antimycin A-Induced Cell Death via Glutathione Metabolism Regulation.

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development and progression of various kidney diseases. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is the primary transcription factor that protects cells from oxidative stress by regulating cytoprotective genes including those involved in the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) pathway. GSH maintains cellular redox status and affects redox signaling, cell proliferation, and cell death. Antimycin A, an inhibitor of complex III of the electron transport chain, causes oxidative stress and reduces GSH levels. In this study, we induced mitochondrial damage in rat renal proximal tubular cells using antimycin A and investigated cellular viability and levels of NRF2 and GSH. Treatment with antimycin A altered the expression of antioxidant genes, including reduction in the transcription of glutathione-cysteine ligase subunits (Gclc and Gclm) and glutathione reductase (Gsr1), followed by a reduction in total GSH content with a concomitant decrease in NRF2 protein expression. AR-20007, previously described as an NRF2 activator, stabilizes and increases NRF2 protein expression in cells. By stimulating NRF2, AR-20007 increased the expression of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes, thereby enhancing protection against oxidative stress induced by antimycin A. These data suggest that NRF2 activation effectively inhibits antimycin A-induced oxidative stress and that NRF2 may be a promising therapeutic target for preventing cell death during acute kidney injury.

Pinacidil protects osteoblastic cells against antimycin A-induced oxidative damage.

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of a non-selective mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channel (mito-KATP) opener, pinacidil, on antimycin A-induced oxidative damage in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Antimycin A inhibits mitochondrial electron transport by binding to complex III. Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with antimycin A in the presence or absence of pinacidil and markers of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress were subsequently examined. The effects of pinacidil on the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt and cyclic adenosine monophosphate‑responsive element-binding protein (CREB) were also examined. In osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to antimycin A, pinacidil inhibited antimycin A-induced cell death. The protective effects of pinacidil on cell survival were prevented by the addition of LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor), an Akt inhibitor or auranofin [a thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibitor], but not by KATP channel inhibitor glibenclamide. Pinacidil inhibited antimycin A-induced inactivation of PI3K and Akt as well as phosphorylation of CREB and TrxR. Furthermore, pinacidil prevented antimycin A-induced mitochondrial superoxide release, mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation, reduced ATP synthesis and intracellular [Ca2+] elevation. In conclusion, these results suggested that pinacidil may rescue osteoblastic cells from antimycin A-induced cellular damage, potentially via antioxidant activity and restoration of mitochondrial function, which are mediated in part by the PI3K/Akt/CREB signaling pathway.

Attenuation of noise-induced hearing loss using methylene blue

The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) has been known to contribute to the pathogenesis of noise-induced hearing loss. In this study, we discovered that in BALB/c mice pretreatment with methylene blue (MB) for 4 consecutive days significantly protected against cochlear injury by intense broad-band noise for 3 h. It decreased both compound threshold shift and permanent threshold shift and, further, reduced outer hair cell death in the cochlea. MB also reduced ROS and RNS formation after noise exposure. Furthermore, it protected against rotenone- and antimycin A-induced cell death and also reversed ATP generation in the in vitro UB-OC1 cell system. Likewise, MB effectively attenuated the noise-induced impairment of complex IV activity in the cochlea. In addition, it increased the neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) level, which could affect the synaptic connections between hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons in the noise-exposed cochlea, and also promoted the conservation of both efferent and afferent nerve terminals on the outer and inner hair cells. These findings suggest that the amelioration of impaired mitochondrial electron transport and the potentiation of NT-3 expression by treatment with MB have a significant therapeutic value in preventing ROS-mediated sensorineural hearing loss.

Liquiritigenin Restores Osteoblast Damage through Regulating Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction

We investigated the protective effect of liquiritigenin, one of the flavonoids present in Glycyrrhizae radix, against antimycin A-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells. Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were pre-incubated with liquiritigenin before treatment with antimycin A, and markers of mitochondrial function and oxidative damage were examined. In addition, the effects of liquiritigenin on the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) were examined in MC3T3-E1 cells. Liquiritigenin protected MC3T3-E1 cells from antimycin A-induced cell death. However, the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, significantly attenuated liquiritigenin-mediated cell survival, indicating the involvement of PI3K in the cytoprotective effect of liquiritigenin. Pretreatment with liquiritigenin prior to antimycin A exposure significantly reduced antimycin A-induced PI3K inactivation, mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation, complex IV inactivation, and ATP loss. Liquiritigenin also reduced mitochondrial superoxide generation, nitrotyrosine production, and cardiolipin peroxidation during mitochondrial complex inhibition with antimycin A. Taken together, the results of this study show that modulation of PI3K, antioxidant effects, and the attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction by liquiritigenin represent an important mechanism for its protection of osteoblasts against cytotoxicity resulting from mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Paeoniflorin isolated from Paeonia lactiflora attenuates osteoblast cytotoxicity induced by antimycin A

The protective effects of paeoniflorin isolated from Paeonia lactiflora against pharmacological inhibition of the respiratory chain were studied using osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Here we show that paeoniflorin decreases cell death induced by antimycin A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex III. Paeoniflorin restored antimycin A-induced inactivation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and thioredoxin reductase, suggesting that PI3K and thioredoxin reductase may be involved in paeoniflorin-induced cytoprotective responses. We also examined the effect of paeoniflorin on mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress induced by antimycin A. Paeoniflorin inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation, ATP loss, inactivation of complexes I and IV, cytochrome c release, and cardiolipin oxidation induced by antimycin A. In addition, paeoniflorin prevented antimycin A-induced ROS release and nitrotyrosine increase. These results imply that paeoniflorin protects osteoblasts from antimycin A-induced cell death via improved mitochondrial function.

Glabridin protects osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells against antimycin A induced cytotoxicity

Mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly respiratory chain disruption, is often responsible for aging-related bone diseases. In this study, the protective effects of glabridin, an isoflavan isolated from licorice root, against pharmacological inhibition of the respiratory chain were studied using osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells treated with antimycin A, which inhibits complex III of the electron transport system. Glabridin restored mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation, ATP loss, inactivation of complex IV, intracellular calcium elevation, and cytochrome c release that was induced by antimycin A treatment. This compound also prevented cell death. These results imply that glabridin protects osteoblasts from antimycin A-induced cell death via improved mitochondrial function. Glabridin scavenged ROS and mitochondrial superoxide anions generated by antimycin A. In addition, glabridin prevented antimycin A-induced nitrotyrosine increase and thioredoxin reductase inactivation, suggesting that glabridin may be useful for protecting mitochondria against a burst of oxidative stress. Since phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling is known to be pro-survival, we determined whether PI3K and CREB activation is associated with the cytoprotective effects of glabridin in the MC3T3-E1 cells. Glabridin restored antimycin A-induced inactivation of PI3K and CREB, suggesting that PI3K and CREB-dependent pathways may be involved in glabridin-induced cytoprotective responses. Our study demonstrates that glabridin reduces mitochondrial dysfunction induced during aging, and could significantly prevent osteoblast damage in osteoporotic patients.

Induction of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase by Nuclear Translocation and Activation of SIRT1 Promotes Cell Survival in Chronic Heart Failure

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in chronic heart failure. SIRT1, an NAD(+)-dependent histone/protein deacetylase, promotes cell survival under oxidative stress when it is expressed in the nucleus. However, adult cardiomyocytes predominantly express SIRT1 in the cytoplasm, and its function has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional role of SIRT1 in the heart and the potential use of SIRT1 in therapy for heart failure. We investigated the subcellular localization of SIRT1 in cardiomyocytes and its impact on cell survival. SIRT1 accumulated in the nucleus of cardiomyocytes in the failing hearts of TO-2 hamsters, postmyocardial infarction rats, and a dilated cardiomyopathy patient but not in control healthy hearts. Nuclear but not cytoplasmic SIRT1-induced manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), which was further enhanced by resveratrol, and increased the resistance of C2C12 myoblasts to oxidative stress. Resveratrol's enhancement of Mn-SOD levels depended on the level of nuclear SIRT1, and it suppressed the cell death induced by antimycin A or angiotensin II. The cell-protective effects of nuclear SIRT1 or resveratrol were canceled by the Mn-SOD small interfering RNA or SIRT1 small interfering RNA. The oral administration of resveratrol to TO-2 hamsters increased Mn-SOD levels in cardiomyocytes, suppressed fibrosis, preserved cardiac function, and significantly improved survival. Thus, Mn-SOD induced by resveratrol via nuclear SIRT1 reduced oxidative stress and participated in cardiomyocyte protection. SIRT1 activators such as resveratrol could be novel therapeutic tools for the treatment of chronic heart failure.

Antimycin A-induced cell death depends on AIF translocation through NO production and PARP activation and is not involved in ROS generation, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation in HL-60 cells

A respiratory inhibitor, antimycin A (AA), induced an apoptotic-like cell death characterized by nuclear and DNA fragmentation in human leukemia HL-60 cells. This cell death was significantly restricted by a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), and a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, 5-aminoisoquinoline (AIQ). Indeed, NO production and PARP overactivation were detected in the cells treated with AA. On the one hand, L-NMMA partly eliminated NO production and on the other, AIQ and L-NMMA also restricted PARP activation. Excessive signals related to PARP overactivation induce the translocation of an apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria to the nuclei, resulting in DNA fragmentation. In AA-treated cells, the nuclear translocation of AIF occurred. This translocation was restricted by pretreatment with AIQ and L-NMMA. Although pretreatment with ascorbic acid eliminated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation induced by the blockade of complex III by AA, the pretreatment did not protect the cells from AA-induced cell death. Furthermore, cytochrome c release or caspase-3 activation was not observed in the cells treated with AA. These results suggest that AA-induced cell death does not depend on respiratory inhibition and the succeeding cascades, but on NO production, PARP overactivation and AIF translocation.

Antimycin A induces apoptosis in As4.1 juxtaglomerular cells

Antimycin A, an inhibitor of electron transport in mitochondria, has been used as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generator in the biological system. Here, we investigated the in vitro effect of antimycin A on apoptosis in As4.1 juxtaglomerular cells. Antimycin A efficiently induced apoptosis in As4.1 cells as evidenced by flow cytometric detection of sub-G 1 DNA content, annexin V binding assay and DAPI staining. This apoptotic process was accompanied by loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δ Ψ m), Bcl-2 decrease, caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. All of caspase inhibitors tested in this experiment failed to rescue As4.1 cells from antimycin A-induced cell death at the time of 48 h in view of sub-G 1 cells and annexin V positive staining cells. However, with regard to the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ Ψ m), pan caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) and caspase-3 inhibitor (Z-DEVD-FMK) at the concentration of 25 μM noticeably decreased the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ Ψ m) in antimycin A-treated cells. Taken together, we have demonstrated that antimycin A as an inhibitor of electron transport in mitochondria potently induces apoptosis in As4.1 juxtaglomerular cells.

Endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) signaling and calpains mediate renal cell death.

The goal of the current study was to determine the roles of ATP content, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) stores, cytosolic free Ca(2+) (Ca(2+)(f)) and calpain activity in the signaling of rabbit renal proximal tubular (RPT) cell death (oncosis). Increasing concentrations (0.3-10 microM) of the mitochondrial inhibitor antimycin A produced rapid ATP depletion that correlated to a rapid and sustained increase in Ca(2+)(f), but not phospholipase C activation. The ER Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors thapsigargin (5 microM) or cyclopiazonic acid (100 microM) alone produced similar but transient increases in Ca(2+)(f). Pretreatment with thapsigargin prevented antimycin A-induced increases in Ca(2+)(f) and antimycin A pretreatment prevented thapsigargin-induced increases in Ca(2+)(f). Calpain activity increased in conjunction with ER Ca(2+) release. Pretreatment, but not post-treatment, with thapsigargin or cyclopiazonic acid prevented antimycin A-induced cell death. These data demonstrate that extensive ATP depletion signals oncosis through ER Ca(2+) release, a sustained increase in Ca(2+)(f) and calpain activation. Depletion of ER Ca(2+) stores prior to toxicant exposure prevents increases in Ca(2+)(f) and oncosis.

Calpains mediate acute renal cell death: role of autolysis and translocation.

The goals of this study were to determine 1) the expression of calpain isoforms in rabbit renal proximal tubules (RPT); 2) calpain autolysis and translocation, and calpastatin levels during RPT injury; and 3) the effect of a calpain inhibitor (PD-150606) on calpain levels, mitochondrial function, and ion transport during RPT injury. RT-PCR, immunoblot analysis, and FITC-casein zymography demonstrated the presence of only mu- and m-calpains in rabbit RPT. The mitochondrial inhibitor antimycin A decreased RPT mu- and m-calpain and calpastatin levels in conjunction with cell death and increased plasma membrane permeability. No increases in either mu- or m-calpain were observed in the membrane nor were increases observed in autolytic forms of either mu- or m-calpain in antimycin A-exposed RPT. PD-150606 blocked antimycin A-induced cell death, preserved calpain levels in antimycin A-exposed RPT, and promoted the recovery of mitochondrial function and active Na+ transport in RPT after hypoxia and reoxygenation. The present study suggests that calpains mediate RPT injury without undergoing autolysis or translocation, and ultimately they leak from cells subsequent to RPT injury/death. Furthermore, PD-150606 allows functional recovery after injury.

Role of caspases (ICE/CED 3 proteases) in DNA damage and cell death in response to a mitochondrial inhibitor, antimycin A Rapid Communication

Caspases (ICE/ Ced3 proteases) are a closely related family of cysteine proteases that play a key role in apoptotic cell death. We examined the role of caspases in DNA damage and cell death in response to the mitochondrial inhibitor, antimycin A. LLC-PK1 cells contain caspase activity that was markedly inhibited by cleavage site-based peptide inhibitors of caspases but not by inhibitors of serine, cysteine, aspartate or metalloproteinases. The caspase activity increased within five minutes of exposure to antimycin A, preceding any evidence of DNA damage and cell death. The specific caspase inhibitors. Ac-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-aldehyde (inhibitor I) and Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-aldehyde (inhibitor II) prevented, in a dose dependent manner, antimycin A-induced DNA strand breaks as determined by DNA unwinding assay (residual double stranded DNA in control, 94 +/- 2%; antimycin A alone, 48 +/- 3%; antimycin A + inhibitor I at 50 microM, 93 +/- 2%; antimycin A + inhibitor II at 50 microM, 89 +/- 5%; N = 3 to 4, P < 0.001). These inhibitors also prevented antimycin A-induced DNA fragmentation as determined by agarose gel electrophoresis and by in situ labeling of cell nuclei by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. The caspase inhibitors markedly prevented antimycin A-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner as measured by trypan blue exclusion (control 6 +/- 1%, antimycin A alone 40 +/- 1%, antimycin A + inhibitor I at 50 microM 16 +/- 1%, antimycin A + inhibitor II at 50 microM 16 +/- 1%; N = 4 to 7, P < 0.001). These data indicate that the caspase family of enzymes play an important role in DNA damage and cell death in response to the mitochondrial inhibitor, antimycin A.

PROTEINASES IN RENAL CELL DEATH

The role of proteinases in renal proximal tubule (RPT) cellular death was examined using specific inhibitors of proteinases. Rabbit RPT suspensions were incubated with antimycin A for 1 h or tetrafluoroethyl-L-cysteine (TFEC) for 4 h in the absence or presence of the specific cysteine proteinase inhibitor L-trans-epoxysuccinyl-leucylamido (4-guanidino)butane (E-64), the serine proteinase inhibitors N-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) or 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (DCS), the serine and cysteine proteinase inhibitors leupeptin or antipain, or the aspartic proteinase inhibitor pepstatin. E-64 and pepstatin decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, a marker of cell death, from RPT exposed either to antimycin A or TFEC. TLCK, DCS, leupeptin, or antipain did not decrease antimycin A- or TFEC-induced cell death. Bromohydroquinone- or t-butylhydroperoxide-induced cell death was not decreased by any of the proteinase inhibitors. Loss of lysosomal membrane potential, indicated by neutral red release, occurred prior to the onset of antimycin A-induced cell death. Extensive inhibition of lysosomal cathepsins B and L by E-64 was correlated with cytoprotection. However, E-64 was only protective after some cell death had occurred. These results suggest that lysosomal cysteine and aspartic proteinases, but not serine proteinases, play a role in RPT cell death induced by antimycin A or TFEC. The observation that E-64 was only protective after some cell death had occurred suggests that lysosomal cathepsins are released from dying cells and subsequently attack the remaining viable cells.

Tiron, a ROS scavenger, protects human lung cancer Calu-6 cells against antimycin A-induced cell death

Antimycin A (AMA) inhibits the mitochondrial electron transport between cytochromes b and c. However, the relationship between AMA and lung cancer cells is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) in AMA-treated lung cancer Calu-6 cell death. Treatment with AMA reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner for 72 h. The intracellular ROS levels were decreased in Calu-6 cells treated with low doses of AMA (10, 25 or 50 microM) at 72 h. However, the levels increased in cells treated with a high dose of 100 microM AMA. Levels of O2.- were significantly increased in AMA-treated cells at 72 h. The increases in ROS levels including O2.- in AMA-treated cells were observed within 10 min. Treatment with AMA reduced the intracellular GSH content. SOD activity was up-regulated in AMA-treated Calu-6 cells at 72 h. However, catalase activity was down-regulated by AMA. Treatment with tiron, a ROS scavenger, reduced the intracellular ROS levels, which were associated with a partial reduction of apoptosis. Treatment with exogenous SOD and catalase significantly inhibited loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim) in AMA-treated Calu-6 cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that the changes of intracellular ROS and GSH affect apoptosis in AMA-treated Calu-6 cells.