Membrane Potential Of Intact Cells Research Articles

Unbiased Millivolts Assay of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Intact Cells.

The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔψM) is the major component of the bioenergetic driving force responsible for most cellular ATP produced, and it controls a host of biological processes. In intact cells, assay readouts with commonly used fluorescence ΔψM probes are distorted by factors other than ΔψM. Here, we describe a protocol to calculate both ΔψM and plasma membrane potential (ΔψP) in absolute millivolts in intact single cells, or in populations of adherent, cultured cells. Our approach generates unbiased data that allows comparison of ΔψM between cell types with different geometry and ΔψP, and to follow ΔψM in time when ΔψP fluctuates. The experimental paradigm results in fluorescence microscopy time courses using a pair of cationic and anionic probes with internal calibration points that are subsequently computationally converted to millivolts on an absolute scale. The assay is compatible with wide field, confocal or two-photon microscopy. The method given here is optimized for a multiplexed, partial 96-well microplate format to record ΔψP and ΔψM responses for three consecutive treatment additions.

Carvacrol induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 promyelocytic and Jurkat T lymphoma cells

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of carvacrol, a phenolic monoterpenoid on the induction of apoptosis in HL-60 (Human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells) and Jurkat (human T lymphocyte cells) cells. Carvacrol showed a potent cytotoxic effect on both cells with dose-dependent increase in the level of free radical formation as measured by an oxidation sensitive fluorescent dye, 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) levels. The reduction in the level of antioxidants such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P<0.05) was observed in carvacrol-treated cells. The major cytotoxic effect appears to be intervened by the induction of apoptotic cell death as assessed by annexin-V labeling assay using flow cytometry. Western blot analysis showed that Bax expression was increased, whereas Bcl-2 expression was significantly decreased in carvacrol exposed HL-60 cells and Jurkat cells. Further studies revealed that the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential of intact cells was accompanied by the activation of caspase-3. Our results found that the potential mechanism of cellular apoptosis induced by carvacrol is mediated by caspase-3 and is associated with the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, generation of free radicals, and depletion of the intracellular antioxidant pool.

Effect of Remifentanil on Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption of Cultured Human Hepatocytes

During sepsis, liver dysfunction is common, and failure of mitochondria to effectively couple oxygen consumption with energy production has been described. In addition to sepsis, pharmacological agents used to treat septic patients may contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction. This study addressed the hypothesis that remifentanil interacts with hepatic mitochondrial oxygen consumption. The human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and their isolated mitochondria were exposed to remifentanil, with or without further exposure to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Mitochondrial oxygen consumption was measured by high-resolution respirometry, Caspase-3 protein levels by Western blotting, and cytokine levels by ELISA. Inhibitory κBα (IκBα) phosphorylation, measurement of the cellular ATP content and mitochondrial membrane potential in intact cells were analysed using commercial ELISA kits. Maximal cellular respiration increased after one hour of incubation with remifentanil, and phosphorylation of IκBα occurred, denoting stimulation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). The effect on cellular respiration was not present at 2, 4, 8 or 16 hours of incubation. Remifentanil increased the isolated mitochondrial respiratory control ratio of complex-I-dependent respiration without interfering with maximal respiration. Preincubation with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone prevented a remifentanil-induced increase in cellular respiration. Remifentanil at 10× higher concentrations than therapeutic reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP content without uncoupling oxygen consumption and basal respiration levels. TNF-α exposure reduced respiration of complex-I, -II and -IV, an effect which was prevented by prior remifentanil incubation. Furthermore, prior remifentanil incubation prevented TNF-α-induced IL-6 release of HepG2 cells, and attenuated fragmentation of pro-caspase-3 into cleaved active caspase 3 (an early marker of apoptosis). Our data suggest that remifentanil increases cellular respiration of human hepatocytes and prevents TNF-α-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. The results were not explained by uncoupling of mitochondrial respiration.

The effects of idebenone on mitochondrial bioenergetics

We have studied the effects of idebenone on mitochondrial function in cybrids derived from one normal donor (HQB17) and one patient harboring the G3460A/MT-ND1 mutation of Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (RJ206); and in XTC.UC1 cells bearing a premature stop codon at aminoacid 101 of MT-ND1 that hampers complex I assembly. Addition of idebenone to HQB17 cells caused mitochondrial depolarization and NADH depletion, which were inhibited by cyclosporin (Cs) A and decylubiquinone, suggesting an involvement of the permeability transition pore (PTP). On the other hand, addition of dithiothreitol together with idebenone did not cause PTP opening and allowed maintenance of the mitochondrial membrane potential even in the presence of rotenone. Addition of dithiothreitol plus idebenone, or of idebenol, to HQB17, RJ206 and XTC.UC1 cells sustained membrane potential in intact cells and ATP synthesis in permeabilized cells even in the presence of rotenone and malonate, and restored a good level of coupled respiration in complex I-deficient XTC.UC1 cells. These findings demonstrate that idebenol can feed electrons at complex III. If the quinone is maintained in the reduced state, a task that in some cell types appears to be performed by dicoumarol-sensitive NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 [Haefeli et al. (2011) PLoS One 6, e17963], electron transfer to complex III may allow reoxidation of NADH in complex I deficiencies.

Induction of Apoptosis in Human Promyelocytic Leukemia HL60 Cells by an Extract From Erythrina suberosa Stem Bark

In this study, the apoptosis-inducing effect of an alcoholic extract from Erythrina suberosa stem bark (ESB) was investigated using human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells. Cell viability was estimated by MTT assay. We found that the ESB inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. A series of well-documented morphological changes, such as cell shrinkage, condensation of nuclear chromatin, and nuclear fragmentation, were observed by fluorescence microscopy. The gold standard scanning electron micrographs showed apoptotic bodies and formation of blebs. Cell cycle analysis showed a significant increase in Sub G0 population of cells above 50 μg/ml. ESB treatment resulted in a dose-dependent increase in annexin V positive cells. Increase in intracellular ROS production up to sixfold was detected in ESB-treated HL60 cells by DCFH-DA assay. Dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential of intact cells accompanied by increase in cytosolic cytochrome c was observed, which was followed by activation of caspase-9 and -3 but not caspase-8. DNA fragmentation analysis revealed typical ladders as early as 18 h indicative of caspase-3 role in the apoptotic pathway. The overall results suggest that ESB induces mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptotic pathway in HL60 cells and might have therapeutic value against human leukemia.

Mitochondrial Targeted Coenzyme Q, Superoxide, and Fuel Selectivity in Endothelial Cells

BackgroundPreviously, we reported that the “antioxidant” compound “mitoQ” (mitochondrial-targeted ubiquinol/ubiquinone) actually increased superoxide production by bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cell mitochondria incubated with complex I but not complex II substrates.Methods and ResultsTo further define the site of action of the targeted coenzyme Q compound, we extended these studies to include different substrate and inhibitor conditions. In addition, we assessed the effects of mitoquinone on mitochondrial respiration, measured respiration and mitochondrial membrane potential in intact cells, and tested the intriguing hypothesis that mitoquinone might impart fuel selectivity in intact BAE cells. In mitochondria respiring on differing concentrations of complex I substrates, mitoquinone and rotenone had interactive effects on ROS consistent with redox cycling at multiple sites within complex I. Mitoquinone increased respiration in isolated mitochondria respiring on complex I but not complex II substrates. Mitoquinone also increased oxygen consumption by intact BAE cells. Moreover, when added to intact cells at 50 to 1000 nM, mitoquinone increased glucose oxidation and reduced fat oxidation, at doses that did not alter membrane potential or induce cell toxicity. Although high dose mitoquinone reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, the positively charged mitochondrial-targeted cation, decyltriphenylphosphonium (mitoquinone without the coenzyme Q moiety), decreased membrane potential more than mitoquinone, but did not alter fuel selectivity. Therefore, non-specific effects of the positive charge were not responsible and the quinone moiety is required for altered nutrient selectivity.ConclusionsIn summary, the interactive effects of mitoquinone and rotenone are consistent with redox cycling at more than one site within complex I. In addition, mitoquinone has substrate dependent effects on mitochondrial respiration, increases repiration by intact cells, and alters fuel selectivity favoring glucose over fatty acid oxidation at the intact cell level.

Mechanism of mahanine-induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells (HL-60)

Mahanine, a carbazole alkaloid occurs in the edible part of Micromelum minutum, Murraya koenigii and related species has been found to induce apoptosis in human myeloid cancer cell (HL-60). Concentration of 10 μM mahanine caused a complete inhibition of cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis in a time dependent manner. Mahanine-induced cell death was characterized with the changes in nuclear morphology, DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase like activities, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, release of cytochrome c into cytosol and stimulation of reactive oxygen species generation. The cell death was completely prevented by a pancaspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl- l-aspart-1-yl-[(2,6-dichlorobenzoyl)oxy]methane (Z-Asp-CH 2-DCB). Mahanine activated various caspases such as caspase-3, -6, -8 and -9 (like) activities but not caspase-1 like activity. More than 70% cell survival was observed in the presence of a caspase-3 inhibitor. In addition, co-treatment of cyclosporin A markedly increased the survival of mahanine-treated HL-60 cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that mahanine decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential of intact cells, and disrupted cell cycle progression by increasing the number of cells in sub-diploid region, concomitantly with the decrease of cells in diploid phases, particularly at late hours of apoptosis. The overall results suggest that mahanine down regulates cell survival factors by activation of caspase-3 through mitochondrial dependent pathway, and disrupts cell cycle progression.

Quantitative assay by flow cytometry of the mitochondrial membrane potential in intact cells

Mitochondrial membrane potential, in situ, is an important indicator of mitochondrial function and dysfunction. Because of recent interest in the role of mitochondria in signaling, cell injury and cell death, there is a need for a convenient, sensitive and accurate method for the measurement of the mitochondrial membrane potential, Δψ m, in situ, in a heterogeneous cell population. We have adapted a flow cytometry method for the quantitative measurement of ΔΨ m which utilizes the lipophilic, cationic, fluorescent probe 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC 6(3)). We developed a new protocol in which cells are equilibrated with very low dye concentrations (<1 nM). Only under these condition, the cell fluorescence appears to be correlated with the magnitude of ΔΨ m, as evident from the sensitivity of the fluorescence to low concentrations of uncouplers, ionophores and inhibitors of the mitochondrial proton pumps. The magnitude of the plasma membrane potential, ΔΨ p, also affects cell fluorescence, and a procedure that corrects for this effect is outlined. This method offers a distinct advantage over existing methods for estimation of Δψ m by flow cytometry.

The role of a H(+)-ATPase in the regulation of cytoplasmic pH in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes.

Cytoplasmic pH (pHi) regulation was studied in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes using fluorescent probes. Steady-state pHi was maintained even in the absence of extracellular Na+ or K+, but was significantly decreased in the absence of Cl-. Acid-loaded epimastigotes regained normal pHi by a process that was ATP-dependent and sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide, dicyclohexyl-carbodi-imide and diethylstiboestrol, suggesting involvement of a H(+)-pumping ATPase. Recovery from an acid load was independent of extracellular Na+ or K+ and insensitive to omeprazole, vanadate and low concentrations of bafilomycin A1. Using the fluorescent probe bisoxonol to measure the membrane potential of intact cells, acid loading of epimastigotes was shown to result in a dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide-sensitive hyperpolarization, which suggests electrogenic pumping of protons across the plasma membrane. Addition of glucose, but not of 6-deoxyglucose, produced a transient cellular acidification of possible metabolic origin, and increased the rate of recovery from an acid load. Taken together, these results are consistent with an important role of a H(+)-ATPase in the regulation of pHi homoeostasis in T. cruzi.

Mitochondrial Modifications during Rat Thymocyte Apoptosis: A Study at the Single Cell Level

Apoptosis is an active type of cell death, occurring under several physiological and pathological conditions. The role of cellular organelles such as mitochondria in this process is still an open question. We recently described a new method to measure mitochondrial membrane potential in intact cells using flow cytometry. Using this method we studied alterations of mitochondrial membrane potential in a classical model of apoptosis, i.e., dexamethasone-treated rat thymocytes. Moreover, apoptosis induced by heat shock was also studied in the same cells. Mitochondria are functionally intact during the early phases of apoptosis, when DNA fragmentation occurs, whereas early alteration in their potential and mass takes place after DNA damage. According to flow-cytometric analysis, the presence of a hypodiploid peak, an index of nuclear DNA loss, predates depolarization of mitochondrial membrane and decrease of mitochondrial mass. Loss of plasma membrane integrity, which indicates cell death and is revealed by the permeability to propidium iodide, eventually follows. All these phenomena are more evident in dexamethasone-treated cells than in heat-shocked cells. Thus, in these types of apoptosis the involvement of mitochondria is apparently not a primary event.

A New Method for the Cytofluorometric Analysis of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Using the J-Aggregate Forming Lipophilic Cation 5,5′,6,6′-Tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine Iodide (JC-1)

A new method for the cytofluorimetric analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential in intact cells has been developed by using the lipophilic cationic probe 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1), whose monomer emits at 527 nm after excitation at 490 nm. Depending on the membrane potential, JC-1 is able of forming J-aggregates that are associated with a large shift in emission (590 nm). The color of the dye changes reversibly from green to greenish orange as the mitochondrial membrane becomes more polarized. In two human cell lines (K562 and U937), we have studied by flow cytometry the changes in membrane potential provoked by the K+ ionophor valinomycin, a drug known to affect mitochondrial membrane potential, while the K+/H+ ionophor nigericin, known to affect intracellular pH but not mitochondrial membrane potential, was used as control. The incubation with valinomycin for 10 min. at 37°C in a low K+ medium provoked a marked and dose-dependent reduction in JC-1 greenish orange fluorescence, while nigericin had no effect.

A vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase regulates cytoplasmic pH in murine macrophages.

An Na(+)- and HCO3(-)-independent mechanism of cytoplasmic pH (pHi) recovery was previously demonstrated in acid-loaded macrophages (Swallow, C. J., Grinstein, S., and Rotstein, O. D. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 19558-19563). Acid extrusion was found to be ATP-dependent and sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, suggesting involvement of an H(+)-pumping ATPase. In this report, the properties and mode of activation of this putative pump were studied in detail. In acid-loaded cells, pHi recovery, measured using a fluorescent probe, was found to be insensitive to azide or oligomycin, which are inhibitors of F0F1 (mitochondrial) H(+)-ATPases, and to vanadate, an inhibitor of E1E2-type ATPases. Instead, the recovery was sensitive to the vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase inhibitors 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole, p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid, and bafilomycin A1. Using the fluorescent probes bisoxonol and 3,3'-dipropylthiodicarbocyanide iodide to measure the membrane potential of intact cells, acid loading of macrophages was shown to result in an N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-sensitive hyperpolarization of approximately 15 mV. This hyperpolarization was not inhibited by charybdotoxin, suggesting that it was not due to efflux of K+ through Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels, but may instead be due to electrogenic pumping of protons across the plasma membrane. This was consistent with the partial dependence of the Na(+)- and HCO3(-)-independent pHi recovery on the presence of intracellular Cl-. As in vacuolar membranes, Cl- appears to act as a counterion to H+, preserving electroneutrality and thus facilitating pHi recovery. In acid-loaded urinary epithelial cells, activation of H+ pumping occurs by exocytic insertion of intracellular (vacuolar) H(+)-ATPases into the plasma membrane. In this system, exocytosis is triggered by an associated increase in the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration and is microtubule-dependent. We determined whether an analogous process exists in macrophages. Acid loading of macrophages induced an approximately 120 nM increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration due to mobilization of Ca2+ from an intracellular source. However, preventing this increase by preloading macrophages with bis(O-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid did not inhibit the Na+ and HCO3(-)-independent pHi recovery, neither was the recovery inhibited by microtubular disruption using 0.1 mM colchicine. Furthermore, cytoplasmic acid loading did not cause a detectable release of secretory granular, endosomal, or lysosomal contents, suggesting that activation of H+ pumping at the cell surface is not mediated by exocytic fusion of these compartments with the plasma membrane. Taken together, these data suggest that H(+)-ATPases are constitutively present in the macrophage plasma membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Measurements of electrical potential differences across yeast plasma membranes with microelectrodes are consistent with values from steady-state distribution of tetraphenylphosphonium inPichia humboldtii

Electrical potential differences across the plasma membrane (Δψ) of the yeastPichia humboldtii were measured with microelectrodes (filled with 0.1m KCl) inserted into cells immobilized in microfunnels. The registered Δψ signals were reproducible and stable for several minutes. On attainment of stable reading for Δψ the specific membrane resistanceRsp was determined by applying square-current pulses to the preparation. Both Δψ andRsp were pH dependent and displayed equal but opposite deflection, Δψ reaching its maximal value of −88±9 mV (n=13) andRsp its minimal value of 10 kΩ·cm2 (maximal conductance) at pH 6.5. Uncouplers and the polyene antibiotic nystatin depolarized the cells, decreasing Δψ to −21±15 mV (n=10) with concomitant decrease ofRsp. Comparison of Δψ values from microelectrode measurements with those calculated from the steady-state distribution of tetraphenylphosphonium ions agreed within 10 mV under all physiological conditions tested, except at pH values above 7.0. During microelectrode insertion transient voltage signals (a few msec long) were detected by means of an oscilloscope. These voltage signals were superimposed on the stable Δψ recordings described above. These short voltage signals disappeared in uncoupled cells. The closely related Δψ values obtained by two independent methods (direct measurements with microelectrodes and calculation from steady-state distribution of a lipophilic cation) provide evidence that these values reffect the true membrane potential of intact cells.

The Membrane Potential of Enzymatically IsolatedNitella expansaProtoplasts as Compared with their Intact Cells

Abe, S. and Takeda, J. 1986. The membrane potential of enzymatically isolated Nitella expansa protoplasts as compared with their intact cells.—J. exp. Bot. 37: 238-252. With the enzymatically isolated Nitella protoplasts, sufficient insertions of micro-electrodes to make a stable measurement of the membrane potential by the conventional method could not be made because of an 'elasticity' of the outer membrane. We developed an effective method in which a micro-electrode could be inserted after the outer membrane was punctured by passing an electrical impulse through the micro-electrode. In this method, Ca ions play a crucial role in the 'punching' and 'healing' processes of the protoplast membrane. The effects of the cations K+, Na+, Ca2+, and the anions Cl, NOJ, SO|~, on the membrane potentials of Nitella expansa protoplasts were compared with those of intact cells. The membrane potential of protoplasts was less negative than that of intact cells when concentrations of Na or K, in the presence of Ca, were below certain levels which increased with increasing Ca concentration; and it tended to become identical to that of intact cells when Na or K concentrations were beyond those levels. Beyond those levels for K the membrane potentials of both protoplasts and intact cells typically seemed to be the Nernst potentials in the presence of 01 to 30 mol m 3 Ca2+. However, forNa, the difference in potentials between intact cells and protoplasts decreased at much higher concentrations than for K. Increase of Ca always gave less negative protoplast potentials than those in intact cells. Replacement of Ca by Mg did not change the membrane potential of intact cells, although it was deleterious to protoplasts. The cell wall potential of intact cells was also measured by the micro-electrode technique and was revealed as a simple Donnan potential, assuming the fixed negative charge density of 0-8 equivalent per dm3. The membrane potential of intact cells seems to be a significant reflection of the plasmaiemma potential which is thought to be measured directly in their protoplasts in terms of ionic selectivity and concentration dependency of the ion species examined. In addition, increased sensitivity to calcium in protoplast potentials compared to intact cells is suggested, though the membrane potential of intact cells seems to be largely preserved in their enzymatically isolated protoplasts. Key words—Membrane potential, protoplasts, Nitella expansa, cell wall potential. Correspondence to: Institute of Agricultural Environment Control, College of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama 790, Japan.

The measurement of membrane potential during photosynthesis and during respiration in intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata by both electrochromism and by permeant ion redistribution.

1. The membrane potential in intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata during photosynthesis and during dark respiration has been measured by two independent methods. 2. The light-induced and O2-induced shifts in the carotenoid absorption spectrum were measured in the intact cells. The shift was calibrated with K+-diffusion potentials in chromatophores derived from those cells. The light-induced and O2-induced membrane potentials were -290 mV and -230 mV respectively. 3. The energized uptake of butyltriphenylphosphonium ions was measured in the same batch of cells. The light-induced and O2-induced membrane potentials calculated from the Nernst equation were -160 mV and -120 mV respectively. 4. It is concluded that the two kinds of probe measure the electric potentials across different domains of the cytoplasmic membrane, but it is difficult to reconcile the existence of such domains with simple electrical analogues of the membrane and aqueous phases.