Molecular basis of cardioprotective mitophagy

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood CA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The central hypothesis is that autophagy is downregulated in the settings of advanced age and metabolic syndrome, leading to attenuation ofthe endogenous cardioprotective response and increased inflammation, which in turn results in pathologic remodeling of the heart in response to ischemic injury. In the heart, the predominant targets of autophagy are mitochondria. Impaired mitophagy results in inefficient ATP production and excessive production of reactive oxygen species, leading to cellular dysfunction and inflammatory signaling. Specific Aim One will examine the molecular basis of mitochondrial turnover in the heart. We have shown that Parkin mediates mitophagy and is required for ischemic preconditioning (IPC), and we now examine the effect of statins to trigger mitophagy and Parkin-dependent cardioprotection. We hypothesize that Parkin-dependent mitophagy is a prerequisite for biogenesis. We will examine the role of the ATP- sensitive potassium channel (mitoK[ATp]) and the permeability transition pore in Parkin translocation. Specific Aim Two will use organelle flow cytometry to isolate mitochondrial subpopulations based on the fluorescent protein. Timer, targeted to the mitochondrial matrix (MitoTimer), as well as on mitochondrial DNA synthesis (BrdU or EdU incorporation), membrane potential (Rhodamine123), and protein import (Tat-Ndi1-TexasRed). The sorted mitochondrial subpopulations will be used for proteomic studies of post-translational modifications (notably protein carbonylation and thiol modifications, phosphorylation, and acetylation), as well as protein composition. Impairing mitophagy may increase accumulation of posttranslational modifications arising from oxidative stress, while stimulating mitophagy will lead to replacement of dysfunctional mitochondria that have a low threshold for opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. The relative abundance of these molecular signatures of mitochondrial turnover identified in the mouse models will be used to quantify turnover in non-transgenic animals. Specific Aim Three will assess the effect of metabolic syndrome and advanced age on mitophagy and biogenesis, and will assess functional consequences of impaired mitochondrial turnover with respect to cardioprotection. We will also assess the effect of pharmacologic stimulation of autophagy (and mitophagy) with respect to mitochondrial function and cardioprotection. Flow cytometric analysis of autophagy in lymphocytes will be used to develop a surrogate marker of autophagy suitable for noninvasive studies in humans. These studies will identify molecular signatures of mitochondrial turnover in heart tissue. An understanding of the relationship between mitochondrial turnover and the heart's response to ischemic stress in the contest of metabolic syndrome and aging may lead to new therapeutic approaches for heart disease in patients with comorbid conditions.