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How mitochondria reconcile roles in functionally divergent cell death pathways of apoptosis and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis remains elusive, as is their precise role in NLRP3 activation and the evolutionarily conserved physiological function of NLRP3. Here, we have shown that when cells were challenged simultaneously, apoptosis was inhibited and NLRP3 activation prevailed. Apoptosis inhibition by structurally diverse NLRP3 activators, including nigericin, imiquimod, extracellular ATP, particles, and viruses, was not a consequence of inflammasome activation but rather of their effects on mitochondria. NLRP3 activators turned out as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) inhibitors, which we found to disrupt mitochondrial cristae architecture, leading to trapping of cytochrome c. Although this effect was alone not sufficient for NLRP3 activation, OXPHOS inhibitors became triggers of NLRP3 when combined with resiquimod or Yoda-1, suggesting that NLRP3 activation requires two simultaneous cellular signals, one of mitochondrial origin. Therefore, OXPHOS and apoptosis inhibition by NLRP3 activators provide stringency in cell death decisions., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests E.N. and O. Groß are coinventors on patent applications for immunomodulators and co-founders of EMUNO Therapeutics, a company developing drugs that control immunity to address unmet clinical needs. None of the drug candidates in patenting or development were used in this study., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Impaired cardiac efficiency is a hallmark of diabetic cardiomyopathy in models of type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) deficiency impairs cardiac efficiency in non-diabetic mice, suggesting that hypoadiponectinemia in type 2 diabetes may contribute to impaired cardiac efficiency due to compromised AdipoR1 signaling. Thus, we investigated whether targeting cardiac adiponectin receptors may improve cardiac function and energetics, and attenuate diabetic cardiomyopathy in type 2 diabetic mice., Methods: A non-selective adiponectin receptor agonist, AdipoRon, and vehicle were injected intraperitoneally into Eight-week-old db/db or C57BLKS/J mice for 10 days. Cardiac morphology and function were evaluated by echocardiography and working heart perfusions., Results: Based on echocardiography, AdipoRon treatment did not alter ejection fraction, left ventricular diameters or left ventricular wall thickness in db/db mice compared to vehicle-treated mice. In isolated working hearts, an impairment in cardiac output and efficiency in db/db mice was not improved by AdipoRon. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity, respiration in the presence of oligomycin, and 4-hydroxynonenal levels were similar among all groups. However, AdipoRon induced a marked shift in the substrate oxidation pattern in db/db mice towards increased reliance on glucose utilization. In parallel, the diabetes-associated increase in serum triglyceride levels in vehicle-treated db/db mice was blunted by AdipoRon treatment, while an increase in myocardial triglycerides in vehicle-treated db/db mice was not altered by AdipoRon treatment., Conclusion: AdipoRon treatment shifts myocardial substrate preference towards increased glucose utilization, likely by decreasing fatty acid delivery to the heart, but was not sufficient to improve cardiac output and efficiency in db/db mice., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: H.B. is an editor of Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis; however, he was not involved in the peer reviewer selection, evaluation, or decision process of this article. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2022 The Korean Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis.)

MicroRNAs are key regulators of the cardiac response to injury. MiR-100 has recently been suggested to be involved in different forms of heart failure, but functional studies are lacking. In the present study, we examined the impact of transgenic miR-100 overexpression on cardiac structure and function during physiological aging and pathological pressure-overload-induced heart failure in mice after transverse aortic constriction surgery. MiR-100 was moderately upregulated after induction of pressure overload in mice. While in our transgenic model the cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of miR-100 did not result in an obvious cardiac phenotype in unchallenged mice, the transgenic mouse strain exhibited less left ventricular dilatation and a higher ejection fraction than wildtype animals, demonstrating an attenuation of maladaptive cardiac remodeling by miR-100. Cardiac transcriptome analysis identified a repression of several regulatory genes related to cardiac metabolism, lipid peroxidation, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by miR-100 overexpression, possibly mediating the observed functional effects. While the modulation of ROS-production seemed to be indirectly affected by miR-100 via Alox5-and Nox4-downregulation, we demonstrated that miR-100 induced a direct repression of the scavenger protein CD36 in murine hearts resulting in a decreased uptake of long-chain fatty acids and an alteration of mitochondrial respiratory function with an enhanced glycolytic state. In summary, we identified miR-100 as a modulator of cardiac metabolism and ROS production without an apparent cardiac phenotype at baseline but a protective effect under conditions of pressure-overload-induced cardiac stress, providing new insight into the mechanisms of heart failure., (© 2021 The Authors. The FASEB Journal published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.)

Objective: The accumulation of inflammatory leukocytes is a prerequisite of adipose tissue inflammation during cardiometabolic disease. We previously reported that a genetic deficiency of the intracellular signaling adaptor TRAF5 (TNF [tumor necrosis factor] receptor-associated factor 5) accelerates atherosclerosis in mice by increasing inflammatory cell recruitment. Here, we tested the hypothesis that an impairment of TRAF5 signaling modulates adipose tissue inflammation and its metabolic complications in a model of diet-induced obesity in mice. Approach and Results: To induce diet-induced obesity and adipose tissue inflammation, wild-type or Traf5-/- mice consumed a high-fat diet for 18 weeks. Traf5-/- mice showed an increased weight gain, impaired insulin tolerance, and increased fasting blood glucose. Weight of livers and peripheral fat pads was increased in Traf5-/- mice, whereas lean tissue weight and growth were not affected. Flow cytometry of the stromal vascular fraction of visceral adipose tissue from Traf5-/- mice revealed an increase in cytotoxic T cells, CD11c+ macrophages, and increased gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. At the level of cell types, expression of TNF[alpha], MIP (macrophage inflammatory protein)-1[alpha], MCP (monocyte chemoattractant protein)-1, and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) was significantly upregulated in Traf5-deficient adipocytes but not in Traf5-deficient leukocytes from visceral adipose tissue. Finally, Traf5 expression was lower in adipocytes from obese patients and mice and recovered in adipose tissue of obese patients one year after bariatric surgery. Conclusions: We show that a genetic deficiency of TRAF5 in mice aggravates diet-induced obesity and its metabolic derangements by a proinflammatory response in adipocytes. Our data indicate that TRAF5 may promote anti-inflammatory and obesity-preventing signaling events in adipose tissue.

Decreased serum adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetes has been linked to the onset of mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic complications by impairing AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1α signaling via impaired adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) signaling. Here, we aimed to characterize the previously undefined role of disrupted AdipoR1 signaling on the mitochondrial protein composition of cardiac, renal, and hepatic tissues as three organs principally associated with diabetic complications. Comparative proteomics were performed in mitochondria isolated from the heart, kidneys and liver of Adipor1 -/- mice. A total of 790, 1,573, and 1,833 proteins were identified in cardiac, renal and hepatic mitochondria, respectively. While 121, 98, and 78 proteins were differentially regulated in cardiac, renal, and hepatic tissue of Adipor 1 -/- mice, respectively; only 15 proteins were regulated in the same direction across all investigated tissues. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins revealed disproportionate representation of proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation conserved across tissue types. Curated pathway analysis identified HNF4, NRF1, LONP, RICTOR, SURF1, insulin receptor, and PGC-1α as candidate upstream regulators. In high fat-fed non-transgenic mice with obesity and insulin resistance, AdipoR1 gene expression was markedly reduced in heart (-70%), kidney (-80%), and liver (-90%) (all P < 0.05) as compared to low fat-fed mice. NRF1 was the only upstream regulator downregulated both in Adipor 1 -/- mice and in high fat-fed mice, suggesting common mechanisms of regulation. Thus, AdipoR1 signaling regulates mitochondrial protein composition across all investigated tissues in a functionally conserved, yet molecularly distinct, manner. The biological significance and potential implications of impaired AdipoR1 signaling are discussed., (Copyright © 2019 Pepin, Koentges, Pfeil, Gollmer, Kersting, Wiese, Hoffmann, Odening, Mühlen, Diehl, Stachon, Wolf, Wende, Bode, Zirlik and Bugger.)

Background: Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy contributes to the high mortality of septic shock in critically ill patients. Since the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood, we hypothesized that sepsis-induced impairment of sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) activity contributes to the development of septic cardiomyopathy., Methods and Results: Treatment of mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 6 h resulted in myocardial NAD + depletion and increased mitochondrial protein acetylation, indicating impaired myocardial SIRT3 activity due to NAD + depletion. LPS treatment also resulted in impaired cardiac output in isolated working hearts, indicating endotoxemia-induced cardiomyopathy. Maintaining normal myocardial NAD + levels in LPS-treated mice by Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase 1 (PARP1) deletion prevented cardiac dysfunction, whereas additional SIRT3 deficiency blunted this beneficial effect, indicating that impaired SIRT3 activity contributes to cardiac dysfunction in endotoxemia. Measurements of mitochondrial ATP synthesis suggest that LPS-induced contractile dysfunction may result from cardiac energy depletion due to impaired SIRT3 activity. Pharmacological inhibition of mitochondrial calpains using MDL28170 normalized LPS-induced cleavage of the ATP5A1 subunit of ATP synthase and normalized contractile dysfunction, suggesting that cardiac energy depletion may result from calpain-mediated cleavage of ATP5A1. These beneficial effects were completely blunted by SIRT3 deficiency. Finally, a gene set enrichment analysis of hearts of patients with septic, ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy revealed a sepsis-specific suppression of SIRT3 deacetylation targets, including ATP5A1, indicating a functional relevance of SIRT3-dependent pathways in human sepsis., Conclusions: Impaired SIRT3 activity may mediate cardiac dysfunction in endotoxemia by facilitating calpain-mediated disruption of ATP synthesis, suggesting SIRT3 activation as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat septic cardiomyopathy., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Platelets store large amounts of serotonin that they release during thrombus formation or acute inflammation. This facilitates hemostasis and modulates the inflammatory response., Methods: Infarct size, heart function, and inflammatory cell composition were analyzed in mouse models of myocardial reperfusion injury with genetic and pharmacological depletion of platelet serotonin. These studies were complemented by in vitro serotonin stimulation assays of platelets and leukocytes in mice and men, and by measuring plasma serotonin levels and leukocyte activation in patients with acute coronary syndrome., Results: Platelet-derived serotonin induced neutrophil degranulation with release of myeloperoxidase and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and increased expression of membrane-bound leukocyte adhesion molecule CD11b, leading to enhanced inflammation in the infarct area and reduced myocardial salvage. In patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome, plasmatic serotonin levels correlated with CD11b expression on neutrophils and myeloperoxidase plasma levels. Long-term serotonin reuptake inhibition-reported to protect patients with depression from cardiovascular events-resulted in the depletion of platelet serotonin stores in mice. These mice displayed a reduction in neutrophil degranulation and preserved cardiac function. In line, patients with depression using serotonin reuptake inhibition, presented with suppressed levels of CD11b surface expression on neutrophils and lower myeloperoxidase levels in blood., Conclusions: Taken together, we identify serotonin as a potent therapeutic target in neutrophil-dependent thromboinflammation during myocardial reperfusion injury.

Purpose of Review: In light of the apparent symptomatic resemblance of separation anxiety disorder (SAD) symptoms on the one hand and abandonment fears, anxiousness, and separation insecurity central to borderline personality disorder (BPD) on the other hand, a comprehensive overview of separation anxiety and related traits in BPD is provided., Recent Findings: Epidemiological, environmental, psychological, and neurobiological data connecting BPD to separation events, feelings of loneliness, insecure attachment styles, dimensional separation anxiety as well as SAD per se suggest a partly shared etiological pathway model underlying BPD and SAD. Differential diagnostic aspects and implications for treatment are discussed, highlighting separation anxiety as a promising transdiagnostic target for specific psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatment approaches in BPD. This innovative angle on cross-disorder symptomatology might carry potential for novel preventive and therapeutic avenues in clinical practice by guiding the development of interventions specifically targeting separation anxiety and attachment-related issues in BPD.

Genetic factors are known to modulate cardiac susceptibility to ventricular hypertrophy and failure. To determine how strain influences the transcriptional response to pressure overload-induced heart failure (HF) and which of these changes accurately reflect the human disease, we analyzed the myocardial transcriptional profile of mouse strains with high (C57BL/6J) and low (129S1/SvImJ) susceptibility for HF development, which we compared to that of human failing hearts. Following transverse aortic constriction (TAC), C57BL/6J mice developed overt HF while 129S1/SvImJ did not. Despite a milder aortic constriction, impairment of ejection fraction and ventricular remodeling (dilation, fibrosis) was more pronounced in C57BL/6J mice. Similarly, changes in myocardial gene expression were more robust in C57BL/6J (461 genes) compared to 129S1/SvImJ mice (71 genes). When comparing these patterns to human dilated cardiomyopathy (1344 genes), C57BL/6J mice tightly grouped to human hearts. Overlay and bioinformatic analysis of the transcriptional profiles of C57BL/6J mice and human failing hearts identified six co-regulated genes (POSTN, CTGF, FN1, LOX, NOX4, TGFB2) with established link to HF development. Pathway enrichment analysis identified angiotensin and IGF-1 signaling as most enriched putative upstream regulator and pathway, respectively, shared between TAC-induced HF in C57BL/6J mice and in human failing hearts. TAC-induced heart failure in C57BL/6J mice more closely reflects the gene expression pattern of human dilated cardiomyopathy compared to 129S1/SvImJ mice. Unbiased as well as targeted gene expression and pathway analyses identified periostin, angiotensin signaling, and IGF-1 signaling as potential causes of increased HF susceptibility in C57BL/6J mice and as potentially useful drug targets for HF treatment.

Functional defects in mitochondrial biology causally contribute to various human diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Impairment in oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and increased opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore add to the underlying mechanisms of heart failure or myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Recent evidence demonstrated that the mitochondrial NAD + -dependent deacetylase sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) may regulate these mitochondrial functions by reversible protein lysine deacetylation. Loss of function studies demonstrated a role of impaired SIRT3 activity in the pathogenesis of myocardial IR injury as well as in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and the transition into heart failure. Gain of function studies and treatment approaches increasing mitochondrial NAD + availability that ameliorate these cardiac pathologies have led to the proposal that activation of SIRT3 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to improve mitochondrial derangements in various cardiac pathologies. In the current review, we will present and discuss the available literature on the role of SIRT3 in cardiac physiology and disease.

Lack of the mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) impairs mitochondrial function and increases the susceptibility to induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Because these alterations contribute to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, we hypothesized that SIRT3 deficiency may increase cardiac injury following myocardial IR. Hearts of 10-week-old mice were perfused in the isolated working mode and subjected to 17.5 min of global no-flow ischemia, followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Measurements before ischemia revealed a decrease in cardiac power (-20%) and rate pressure product (-15%) in SIRT3(-/-) mice. Mitochondrial state 3 respiration (-15%), ATP synthesis (-39%), and ATP/O ratios (-29%) were decreased in hearts of SIRT3(-/-) mice. However, percent recovery of cardiac power (WT 94% ± 9%; SIRT3(-/-) 89% ± 9%) and rate pressure product (WT 89% ± 16%; SIRT3(-/-) 96% ± 3%) following IR was similar in both groups. Myocardial infarct size was not increased in SIRT3(-/-) mice following permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Left ventricular pressure and dP/dtmax, and mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis were not different between groups following LAD ligation. Thus, despite pre-existing defects in cardiac function and mitochondrial respiratory capacity in SIRT3(-/-) mice, SIRT3 deficiency does not additionally impair cardiac function following IR or following myocardial infarction.

Adiponectin deficiency leads to increased myocardial infarct size following ischemia reperfusion and to exaggerated cardiac hypertrophy following pressure overload, entities that are causally linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. In skeletal muscle, lack of adiponectin results in impaired mitochondrial function. Thus, it was our objective to investigate whether adiponectin deficiency impairs mitochondrial energetics in the heart. At 8 weeks of age, heart weight-to-body weight ratios were not different between adiponectin knockout (ADQ-/-) mice and wildtypes (WT). In isolated working hearts, cardiac output, aortic developed pressure and cardiac power were preserved in ADQ-/- mice. Rates of fatty acid oxidation, glucose oxidation and glycolysis were unchanged between groups. While myocardial oxygen consumption was slightly reduced (-24%) in ADQ-/- mice in isolated working hearts, rates of maximal ADP-stimulated mitochondrial oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis in saponin-permeabilized cardiac fibers were preserved in ADQ-/- mice with glutamate, pyruvate or palmitoyl-carnitine as a substrate. In addition, enzymatic activity of respiratory complexes I and II was unchanged between groups. Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase and SIRT1 activity were not decreased, expression and acetylation of PGC-1α were unchanged, and mitochondrial content of OXPHOS subunits was not decreased in ADQ-/- mice. Finally, increasing energy demands due to prolonged subcutaneous infusion of isoproterenol did not differentially affect cardiac contractility or mitochondrial function in ADQ-/- mice compared to WT. Thus, mitochondrial and contractile function are preserved in hearts of mice lacking adiponectin, suggesting that adiponectin may be expendable in the regulation of mitochondrial energetics and contractile function in the heart under non-pathological conditions.

Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is a mitochondrial NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase that regulates energy metabolic enzymes by reversible protein lysine acetylation in various extracardiac tissues. The role of SIRT3 in myocardial energetics and in the development of mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiac pathologies, such as the failing heart, remains to be elucidated. To investigate the role of SIRT3 in the regulation of myocardial energetics and function SIRT3(-/-) mice developed progressive age-related deterioration of cardiac function, as evidenced by a decrease in ejection fraction and an increase in enddiastolic volume at 24 but not 8 weeks of age using echocardiography. Four weeks following transverse aortic constriction, ejection fraction was further decreased in SIRT3(-/-) mice compared to WT mice, accompanied by a greater degree of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. In isolated working hearts, a decrease in cardiac function in SIRT3(-/-) mice was accompanied by a decrease in palmitate oxidation, glucose oxidation, and oxygen consumption, whereas rates of glycolysis were increased. Respiratory capacity and ATP synthesis were decreased in cardiac mitochondria of SIRT3(-/-) mice. HPLC measurements revealed a decrease of the myocardial ATP/AMP ratio and of myocardial energy charge. Using LC-MS/MS, we identified increased acetylation of 84 mitochondrial proteins, including 6 enzymes of fatty acid import and oxidation, 50 subunits of the electron transport chain, and 3 enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Lack of SIRT3 impairs mitochondrial and contractile function in the heart, likely due to increased acetylation of various energy metabolic proteins and subsequent myocardial energy depletion.

Hypoadiponectinemia is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease, impairs mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle, and has been linked to the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes. In models of Type 2 diabetes, myocardial mitochondrial function is impaired, which is improved by increasing serum adiponectin levels. We aimed to define the roles of adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and 2 (AdipoR2) in adiponectin-evoked regulation of mitochondrial function in the heart. In isolated working hearts in mice lacking AdipoR1, myocardial oxygen consumption was increased without a concomitant increase in cardiac work, resulting in reduced cardiac efficiency. Activities of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes were reduced, accompanied by reduced OXPHOS protein levels, phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, sirtuin 1 activity, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) signaling. Decreased ATP/O ratios suggested myocardial mitochondrial uncoupling in AdipoR1-deficient mice, which was normalized by lowering increased mitochondrial 4-hydroxynonenal levels following treatment with the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant Mn (III) tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin. Lack of AdipoR2 did not impair mitochondrial function and coupling in the heart. Thus, lack of AdipoR1 impairs myocardial mitochondrial function and coupling, suggesting that impaired AdipoR1 signaling may contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial uncoupling in Type 2 diabetic hearts.

Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are upregulated in malignant gliomas and contribute to their chemoresistance. The nitric oxide (NO) donor PABA/NO (O(2) -{2,4-dinitro-5-[4-(N-methylamino)benzoyloxy]phenyl} 1-(N,N-dimethylamino)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate) generates NO upon selective enzymatic activation by GST-π-inducing selective biological effects in tumors. Tumor cell killing and chemosensitization were observed in a variety of tumors after exposure to GST-activated NO donor drugs. In our project, cytotoxic and chemosensitizing effects of PABA/NO in combination with carboplatin (CPT) and temozolomide (TMZ) were studied in human U87 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. U87 glioma cells were exposed to PABA/NO alone or in combination with CPT or TMZ for 24 hr. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay after 24-hr incubation and 48 hr after drug removal. The antiproliferative effect of PABA/NO was assessed in an intracranial U87 glioma nude rat model comparing subcutaneous administration and intratumoral delivery by convection-enhanced delivery. PABA/NO monotherapy showed a strong dose-dependent growth-inhibitory effect in U87 glioma cells in vitro, and a strong synergistic effect was observed after concomitant treatment with TMZ, but not with CPT. Systemic and intratumoral PABA/NO administration significantly reduced cell proliferation, but this did not result in prolonged survival in nude rats with intracranial U87 gliomas. PABA/NO has potent antiproliferative effects, sensitizes U87 glioma cells to TMZ in vitro and shows some in vivo efficacy. Further studies are still required to consolidate the role of NO donor therapy in glioma treatment., (Copyright © 2011 UICC.)