Mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a conserved Ca(2+) transporter at mitochondrial in eukaryotic cells. However, the role of MCU protein in oxidative stress-induced cell death remains unclear. Here, we showed that ectopically expressed MCU is mitochondrial localized in both HeLa and primary cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Knockdown of endogenous MCU decreases mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake following histamine stimulation and attenuates cell death induced by oxidative stress in both HeLa cells and CGNs. We also found MCU interacts with VDAC1 and mediates VDAC1 overexpression-induced cell death in CGNs. This finding demonstrates that MCU-VDAC1 complex regulates mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, which might represent therapeutic targets for oxidative stress related diseases.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Biological Transport ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Cerebellum ; cytology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Voltage-Dependent Anion Channels ; metabolism

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is widely perceived as a contributor to numerous neurological diseases and mental disorders including depression. Discs large homolog 1 (Dlg1), an adaptor protein, regulates cell polarization and the function of K
Animals ; Depression/chemically induced* ; Inflammation ; Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Microglia ; NF-kappa B ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is widely perceived as a contributor to numerous neurological diseases and mental disorders including depression. Discs large homolog 1 (Dlg1), an adaptor protein, regulates cell polarization and the function of K