Cell Cycle/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chalcone/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects* ; Neuronal Outgrowth/drug effects* ; Okadaic Acid/toxicity* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Tretinoin/pharmacology* ; tau Proteins/metabolism*

The organosulfur compound sulforaphane (SFN; C₆H₁₁NOS₂) is a potent cytoprotective agent promoting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiglycative, and antimicrobial effects in in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Mitochondria are the major site of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production due to the work of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. They are also the main site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in nucleated human cells. Mitochondrial impairment is central in several human diseases, including neurodegeneration and metabolic disorders. In this paper, we describe and discuss the effects and mechanisms of action by which SFN modulates mitochondrial function and dynamics in mammalian cells. Mitochondria-related pro-apoptotic effects promoted by SFN in tumor cells are also discussed. SFN may be considered a cytoprotective agent, at least in part, because of the effects this organosulfur agent induces in mitochondria. Nonetheless, there are certain points that should be addressed in further experiments, indicated here as future directions, which may help researchers in this field of research.
Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Brain/ultrastructure* ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/metabolism* ; Cytoprotection ; Humans ; Isothiocyanates/pharmacology* ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Sulfoxides

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between necroptosis and apoptosis in MCET3-E1 cell death induced by glucocorticoids. METHODS: MC3T3-E1 cells were incubated with 10-6 mol/L dexamethasone followed by treatment with the apoptosis inhibitor z-VAD-fmk (40 μmol/L) or the necroptosis inhibitor necrostatin-1 (40 μmol/L) for 2 h. At 72 h after incubation with dexamethasone, the cells were harvested to determine the cell viability using WST-1 assay and the rate of necrotic cells using annexin V/PI double staining; the percentage of apoptotic cells was determined using Hoechst staining. The mitochondrial membrane potential and the level of ATP in the cells were also evaluated. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the microstructural changes of the cells. The expressions of RIP-1 and RIP-3 in the cells were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: At a concentration of 10-6 mol/L, dexamethasone induced both apoptosis and necroptosis in MC3T3- E1 cells. Annexin V/PI double staining showed that inhibition of cell apoptosis caused an increase in cell necrosis manifested by such changes as mitochondrial swelling and plasma membrane disruption, as shown by electron microscopy; Hoechst staining showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly reduced. When necroptosis was inhibited by necrostatin-1, MC3T3-E1 cells showed significantly increased apoptosis as shown by both AV/PI and Hoechst staining, and such changes were accompanied by changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP level in the cells. CONCLUSIONS In the process of dexamethasone-induced cell death, necroptosis and apoptosis can transform reciprocally accompanied by functional changes of the mitochondria.
3T3 Cells ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Dexamethasone ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitochondria ; ultrastructure ; Necrosis

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of resveratrol in the cryopreservation medium on the quality and function of post-thaw sperm.

METHODSSemen samples were obtained from 50 normozoospermic and 50 oligoasthenozoospermic men, liquefied and then cryopreserved in the glycerol-egg yolk-citrate (GEYC) medium with or without 30 μmol/L resveratrol. Sperm motility, viability and acrosome reaction (AR) were examined before and after thawing. Sperm lipid peroxidation and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using commercial malondialdehyde (MDA) and the ROS assay kit. Sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and DNA damage were determined by Rhodamine 123 staining and TUNEL.

RESULTSThe percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS), total sperm motility, sperm viability, MMP and AR were significantly decreased (P <0.05) while the levels of sperm ROS, MDA and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) remarkably increased in both the normozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia groups after cryopreservation as compared with those in the fresh ejaculate (P <0.05). In comparison with the non-resveratrol control, the post-thaw sperm cryopreserved with 30 μmol/L resveratrol showed markedly higher PMS (［32.7 ± 4.8］ vs ［43.1 ± 6.3］ %, P <0.05), total motility (［44.8 ± 6.9］ vs ［56.9 ± 7.4］ %, P <0.05), viability (［52.3 ± 6.1］ vs ［67.5 ± 5.6］ %, P <0.05), MMP (［56.5 ± 7.0］ vs ［63.4 ± 7.5］ %, P <0.05) and AR (［16.6 ± 3.8］ vs ［26.3 ± 4.7］ %, P <0.05) but lower ROS, MDA and DFI (all P <0.05) in the normozoospermia group, and so did the post-thaw sperm in the oligoasthenozoospermia group, with a particularly lower DFI (［28.5 ± 4.8］ vs ［36.3 ± 5.7］%, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSResveratrol in the cryopreservation medium can improve the quality and function of post-thaw human sperm by reducing cryopreservation-induced sperm injury and the level of ROS.

Acrosome ; drug effects ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; analysis ; Resveratrol ; pharmacology ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; adverse effects ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in mediating the protective effect of gastrodin against oxidative stress damage in H9c2 cardiac myocytes. METHODS: H9c2 cardiac myocytes were treated with HO, gastrodin, gastrodin+HO, cyclosporin A (CsA), or CsA+gas+HO group. MTT assay was used to detect the survival ratio of H9c2 cells, and flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining was used to analyze the early apoptosis rate after the treatments. The concentration of ATP and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells were detected using commercial kits. The mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells was detected with laser confocal microscopy. The expression of cytochrome C was detected with Western blotting, and the activity of caspase-3 was also assessed in the cells. RESULTS: Gastrodin pretreatment could prevent oxidative stress-induced reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, and this effect was inhibited by the application of CsA. Gastrodin significantly lowered the levels of ROS and apoptosis-related factors in HO-exposed cells, and such effects were reversed by CsA. CsA significantly antagonized the protective effect of gastrodin against apoptosis in HO-exposed cells. CONCLUSIONS Gastrodin prevents oxidative stress-induced injury in H9c2 cells by inhibiting mPTP opening to reduce the cell apoptosis.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; analysis ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzyl Alcohols ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; analysis ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Cytochromes c ; analysis ; Glucosides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; analysis

OBJECTIVE: This paper applied a transcriptomic approach to investigate the mechanisms of adriamycin (ADR) in treating proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) using ARPE-19 cells. METHODS: The growth inhibitory effects of ADR on ARPE-19 cells were assessed by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay and propidium iodide (PI) staining using flow cytometry. The differentially expressed genes between ADR-treated ARPE-19 cells and normal ARPE-19 cells and the signaling pathways involved were investigated by microarray analysis. Mitochondrial function was detected by JC-1 staining using flow cytometry and the Bcl-2/Bax protein family. The phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), phosphorylated checkpoint kinase 1 (p-CHK1), and phosphorylated checkpoint kinase 2 (p-CHK2) were assessed to detect DNA damage and repair. RESULTS: ADR could significantly inhibit ARPE-19 cell proliferation and induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in vitro. In total, 4479 differentially expressed genes were found, and gene ontology items and the p53 signaling pathway were enriched. A protein-protein interaction analysis indicated that the TP53 protein molecules regulated by ADR were related to DNA damage and oxidative stress. ADR reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. p53-knockdown restored the activation of c-caspase-3 activity induced by ADR by regulating Bax expression, and it inhibited ADR-induced ARPE-19 cell apoptosis. Finally, the levels of the γ-H2AX, p-CHK1, and p-CHK2 proteins were up-regulated after ADR exposure. CONCLUSIONS The mechanism of ARPE-19 cell death induced by ADR may be caspase-dependent apoptosis, and it may be regulated by the p53-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction, activating the p53 signaling pathway through DNA damage.
Apoptosis ; Caspases/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival/drug effects* ; Doxorubicin/pharmacology* ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Phosphorylation ; Propidium/chemistry* ; RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism* ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium/metabolism* ; Rhodamines/chemistry* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Transcriptome ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVEScorpion (Hemiscorpius lepturus) stings are a public health concern in Iran, particularly in south and southwestern regions of Iran. The gold standard for the treatment of a scorpion sting is anti-venom therapy. However, immunotherapy can have serious side effects, such as anaphylactic shock (which can sometimes even lead to death). The aim of the current study was to demonstrate the protective effect of ozone against toxicity induced by Hemiscorpius lepturus (H. lepturus) venom in mice.

METHODSEight hours after the injection of ozone to the experimental design groups, the male mice were decapitated and mitochondria were isolated from five different tissues (liver, kidney, heart, brain, and spinal cord) using differential ultracentrifugation. Then, assessment of mitochondrial parameters including mitochondrial reactive oxidative species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP level, and the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria was performed.

RESULTSOur results showed that H. lepturus venom-induced oxidative stress is related to ROS production and MMP collapse, which is correlated with cytochrome c release and ATP depletion, indicating the predisposition to the cell death signaling.

CONCLUSIONIn general, ozone therapy in moderate dose can be considered as clinically effective for the treatment of H. lepturus sting as a protective and antioxidant agent.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Heart ; drug effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Ozone ; pharmacology ; Scorpion Venoms ; toxicity ; Scorpions ; physiology ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective: To observe the effect of Huangjing Zanyu Capsule (HZC) on sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in asthenozoospermia patients. METHODS: We assigned 70 asthenozoospermia patients to a treatment group (n = 39) and a control group (n = 31), the former treated with oral HZC at the dose of 4 capsules tid for 3 months while the latter left untreated. We obtained semen parameters from the patients and detected their sperm mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMP) by JC-1 staining and flow cytometry before and after medication, followed by comparison between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate was 71.05% in the treatment group and natural pregnancy was achieved in 3 cases during the medication. A total of 35 patients in the treatment group and 30 controls completed all the laboratory examinations after a 3-month observation. Compared with the controls, the patients treated with HZC exhibited significant improvement after medication in MMP (variation value: ［1.19 ± 10.36］% vs ［20.28 ± 14.21］%, P <0.01), total sperm motility (variation value: ［3.46 ± 8.67］% vs ［20.68 ± 14.12］%, P <0.01), the percentage of progressively motile sperm (variation value: ［2.26 ± 8.29］% vs ［17.58 ± 12.73］%, P <0.01), and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (variation value: ［0.23 ± 3.48］% vs ［3.37 ± 3.99］%, P <0.01). MMP was significantly correlated with total sperm motility (r = 0.69, P <0.01), progressive sperm motility (r = 0.75, P <0.01) and normal sperm morphology (r = 0.26, P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Huangjing Zanyu Capsule can enhance sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm mitochondrial function, thus improving total sperm motility, progressive sperm motility and normal sperm morphology. It is safe and effective for the treatment of asthenospermia.
Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Capsules ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Semen ; drug effects ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and the potential mechanism of Senegenin (Sen) against injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in highly differentiated PC12 cells.

METHODSThe cultured PC12 cells were treated with H/R in the presence or absence of Sen (60 μmol/L). Four groups were included in the experiment: control group, H/R group, H/R+Sen group and Sen group. Cell viability of each group and the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in culture medium were detected for the pharmacological effect of Sen. Hoechst 33258 staining and annexin V/propidium iodide double staining were used to analyze the apoptosis rate. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ψm), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular free calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) were measured by fluorescent staining and flow cytometry. Cleaved caspase-3 and activity of NADPH oxidase (NOX) were determined by colorimetric protease assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

RESULTSSen significantly elevated cell viability (P<0.05), decreased the leakage of LDH (P<0.05) and apoptosis rate (P<0.05) in H/R-injured PC12 cells. Sen maintained the value of △Ψm (P<0.05) and suppressed the activity of caspase-3 (P<0.05). Moreover, Sen reduced ROS accumulation P<0.05) and [Ca(2+)]i increment (P<0.05) by inhibiting the activity of NOX (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSen may exert cytoprotection against H/R injury by decreasing the levels of intracellular ROS and [Ca(2+)]i, thereby suppressing the mitochondrial pathway of cellular apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescence ; Intracellular Space ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Oxygen ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) inhibits the high-glucose (HG)-induced injury by modulating leptin/leptin receptor (LEPR) signal pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODSHUVECs were treated with 40 mmol/L glucose for 3-24 h, and the cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay. The changes of cell morphology and the number of apoptotic cells were assessed by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining followed by photofluorography. The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by DCFH-DA staining followed by photofluorography. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was determined by Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) staining and photofluorography. The expression levels of leptin and LEPR protein were measured by Western blotting.

RESULTSs The expression of leptin and LERP in HUVECs began to significantly increase at 3 h after HG exposure and reached the peak levels at 9 h (P<0.01). Pretreatment of HUVECs with 400 µmol/L sodium hydrosulfide (H2S donor) for 30 min inhibited HG-induced increase in leptin and leptin receptor expressions in HUVECs (P<0.01). Pretreatment of HUVECs with 400 µmol/L NaHS for 30 min or 50 ng/mL leptin antagonists (LA) for 1 h obviously alleviated HG-induced injury by increasing cell viability, decreasing cell apoptosis and lowering accumulation of intracellular ROS and MMP loss (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONExogenous H2S protects against HG-induced injury by inhibiting leptin/LEPR pathway in HUVECs.

Apoptosis ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; adverse effects ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Leptin ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Receptors, Leptin ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction