Disparate Central and Peripheral Effects of Circulating IGF-1 Deficiency on Tissue Mitochondrial Function

© 2019, The Author(s). Age-related decline in circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 is associated with reduced cognitive function, neuronal aging, and neurodegeneration. Decreased mitochondrial function along with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and accumulation of damaged macromolecules are hallmarks of cellular aging. Based on numerous studies indicating pleiotropic effects of IGF-1 during aging, we compared the central and peripheral effects of circulating IGF-1 deficiency on tissue mitochondrial function using an inducible liver IGF-1 knockout (LID). Circulating levels of IGF-1 (~ 75%) were depleted in adult male Igf1f/f mice via AAV-mediated knockdown of hepatic IGF-1 at 5 months of age. Cognitive function was evaluated at 18 months using the radial arm water maze and glucose and insulin tolerance assessed. Mitochondrial function was analyzed in hippocampus, muscle, and visceral fat tissues using high-resolution respirometry O2K as well as redox status and oxidative stress in the cortex. Peripherally, IGF-1 deficiency did not significantly impact muscle mass or mitochondrial function. Aged LID mice were insulin resistant and exhibited ~ 60% less adipose tissue but increased fat mitochondrial respiration (20%). The effects on fat metabolism were attributed to increases in growth hormone. Centrally, IGF-1 deficiency impaired hippocampal-dependent spatial acquisition as well as reversal learning in male mice. Hippocampal mitochondrial OXPHOS coupling efficiency and cortex ATP levels (~ 50%) were decreased and hippocampal oxidative stress (protein carbonylation and F2-isoprostanes) was increased. These data suggest that IGF-1 is critical for regulating mitochondrial function, redox status, and spatial learning in the central nervous system but has limited impact on peripheral (liver and muscle) metabolism with age. Therefore, IGF-1 deficiency with age may increase sensitivity to damage in the brain and propensity for cognitive deficits. Targeting mitochondrial function in the brain may be an avenue for therapy of age-related impairment of cognitive function. Regulation of mitochondrial function and redox status by IGF-1 is essential to maintain brain function and coordinate hippocampal-dependent spatial learning. While a decline in IGF-1 in the periphery may be beneficial to avert cancer progression, diminished central IGF-1 signaling may mediate, in part, age-related cognitive dysfunction and cognitive pathologies potentially by decreasing mitochondrial function

Neuron specific reduction in CuZnSOD is not sufficient to initiate a full sarcopenia phenotype

Our previous studies showed that adult (8 month) mice lacking CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, Sod1KO mice) have neuromuscular changes resulting in dramatic accelerated muscle atrophy and weakness that mimics age-related sarcopenia. We have further shown that loss of CuZnSOD targeted to skeletal muscle alone results in only mild weakness and no muscle atrophy. In this study we targeted deletion of CuZnSOD specifically to neurons (nSod1KO mice) and determined the effect on muscle mass and weakness. The nSod1KO mice show a significant loss of CuZnSOD activity and protein level in brain and spinal cord but not in muscle tissue. The masses of the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were not reduced in nSod1KO compared to wild type mice, even at 20 months of age, although the quadriceps and soleus muscles showed small but significant reductions in mass in the nSod1KO mice. Maximum isometric specific force was reduced 8% to 10% in the gastrocnemius and EDL muscle of nSod1KO mice, while soleus was not affected. Muscle mitochondrial ROS generation and oxidative stress measured by levels of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS) regulatory enzymes, protein nitration and F2-isoprostane levels were not increased in muscle from the nSod1KO mice. Although we did not find evidence of denervation in the nSOD1KO mice, neuromuscular junction morphology was altered and the expression of genes associated with denervation (acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha (AChRα) and the transcription factors Runx1 and GADD45α) was increased, supporting a role for neuronal loss of CuZnSOD initiating alterations at the neuromuscular junction. These results and our previous studies support the concept that deficits in either the motor neuron or muscle alone are not sufficient to initiate a full sarcopenic phenotype and that deficits in both tissues are required to recapitulate the loss of muscle observed in Sod1KO mice

Akt- and CREB-Mediated Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation Inhibition by Nexrutine, a Phellodendron amurense Extract

Evidence from epidemiological studies suggests that plant-based diets can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. However, very little information is available concerning the use of botanicals in preventing prostate cancer. As a first step toward developing botanicals as prostate cancer preventives, we examined the effect of Nexrutine on human prostate cancer cells. Nexrutine is a herbal extract developed from Phellodendron amurense. Phellodendron extracts have been used traditionally in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years as an antidiarrheal, astringent, and anti-inflammatory agent. The present study investigated its potential antitumor effect on human prostate cancer cells. Our results suggest that it inhibits tumor cell proliferation through apoptosis induction and inhibition of cell survival signaling. The results of the present study indicate that Nexrutine treatment 1) inhibits the proliferation of both androgenresponsive and androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells through induction of apoptosis; 2) reduces levels of pAkt, phosphorylated cAMP response-binding protein (pCREB), and CREB DNA-binding activity; and 3) induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells stably overexpressing Bcl-2. Further Akt kinase activity was reduced in cells treated with Nexrutine, and ectopic expression of myristoylated Akt protected from Nexrutine induced inhibition of proliferation, implicating a role for Akt signaling

Restoration of SERCA ATPase prevents oxidative stress-related muscle atrophy and weakness

Molecular targets to reduce muscle weakness and atrophy due to oxidative stress have been elusive. Here we show that activation of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum (SR) Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) with CDN1163, a novel small molecule allosteric SERCA activator, ameliorates the muscle impairment in the CuZnSOD deficient (Sod1-/-) mouse model of oxidative stress. Sod1-/- mice are characterized by reduced SERCA activity, muscle weakness and atrophy, increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Seven weeks of CDN1163 treatment completely restored SERCA activity and reversed the 23% reduction in gastrocnemius mass and 22% reduction in specific force in untreated Sod1-/- versus wild type mice. These changes were accompanied by restoration of autophagy protein markers to the levels found in wild-type mice. CDN1163 also reversed the increase in mitochondrial ROS generation and oxidative damage in muscle tissue from Sod1-/- mice. Taken together our findings suggest that the pharmacological restoration of SERCA is a promising therapeutic approach to counter oxidative stress-associated muscle impairment. Keywords: CDN1163, Skeletal muscle, CuZnSod1, SERCA, Oxidative stres

Oxidative stress‐induced dysregulation of excitation–contraction coupling contributes to muscle weakness

Abstract Background We have previously shown that the deletion of the superoxide scavenger, CuZn superoxide dismutase, in mice (Sod1−/− mice) results in increased oxidative stress and an accelerated loss of skeletal muscle mass and force that mirror the changes seen in old control mice. The goal of this study is to define the effect of oxidative stress and ageing on muscle weakness and the Excitation Contraction (EC) coupling machinery in age‐matched adult (8–10 months) wild‐type (WT) and Sod1−/− mice in comparison with old (25–28 months) WT mice. Methods In vitro contractile assays were used to measure muscle contractile parameters. The activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) pump was measured using an NADH‐linked enzyme assay. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence techniques were used to measure protein expression, and real‐time reverse transcription PCR was used to measure gene expression. Results The specific force generated by the extensor digitorum longus muscle was reduced in the Sod1−/− and old WT mice compared with young WT mice along with significant prolongation of time to peak force, increased half relaxation time, and disruption of intracellular calcium handling. The maximal activity of the SERCA calcium uptake pump was significantly reduced in gastrocnemius muscle from both old WT (≈14%) and adult Sod1−/− (≈33%) mice compared with young WT mice along with increased expression of sarcolipin, a known inhibitor of SERCA activity. Protein levels of the voltage sensor and calcium uptake channel proteins dihydropyridine receptor α1 and SERCA2 were significantly elevated (≈45% and ≈57%, respectively), while the ratio of calstabin, a channel stabilizing protein, to ryanodine receptor was significantly reduced (≈21%) in Sod1−/− mice compared with young WT mice. The changes in calcium handling were accompanied by substantially elevated levels of global protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation. Conclusions Our data suggest that the muscle weakness in Sod1−/− and old WT mice is in part driven by reactive oxygen species‐mediated EC uncoupling and supports a role for reduced SERCA pump activity in compromised muscle function. The novel quantitative mechanistic data provided here can lead to potential therapeutic interventions of SERCA dysfunction for sarcopenia and muscle diseases

Inhibition of ATR Reverses a Mitochondrial Respiratory Insufficiency

Diseases that affect the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) often manifest as threshold effect disorders, meaning patients only become symptomatic once a certain level of ETC dysfunction is reached. Cells can invoke mechanisms to circumvent reaching their critical ETC threshold, but it is an ongoing challenge to identify such processes. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, severe reduction of mitochondrial ETC activity shortens life, but mild reduction actually extends it, providing an opportunity to identify threshold circumvention mechanisms. Here, we show that removal of ATL-1, but not ATM-1, worm orthologs of ATR and ATM, respectively, key nuclear DNA damage checkpoint proteins in human cells, unexpectedly lessens the severity of ETC dysfunction. Multiple genetic and biochemical tests show no evidence for increased mutation or DNA breakage in animals exposed to ETC disruption. Reduced ETC function instead alters nucleotide ratios within both the ribo- and deoxyribo-nucleotide pools, and causes stalling of RNA polymerase, which is also known to activate ATR. Unexpectedly, atl-1 mutants confronted with mitochondrial ETC disruption maintain normal levels of oxygen consumption, and have an increased abundance of translating ribosomes. This suggests checkpoint signaling by ATL-1 normally dampens cytoplasmic translation. Taken together, our data suggest a model whereby ETC insufficiency in C. elegans results in nucleotide imbalances leading to the stalling of RNA polymerase, activation of ATL-1, dampening of global translation, and magnification of ETC dysfunction. The loss of ATL-1 effectively reverses the severity of ETC disruption so that animals become phenotypically closer to wild type

Mitochondrial oxidative stress impairs contractile function but paradoxically increases muscle mass via fibre branching

Abstract Background Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and muscle weakness occur in parallel in multiple pathological conditions. However, the causative role of skeletal muscle mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) on neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology and function and muscle weakness has not been directly investigated. Methods We generated mice lacking skeletal muscle‐specific manganese‐superoxide dismutase (mSod2KO) to increase mtROS using a cre‐Lox approach driven by human skeletal actin. We determined primary functional parameters of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function (respiration, ROS, and calcium retention capacity) using permeabilized muscle fibres and isolated muscle mitochondria. We assessed contractile properties of isolated skeletal muscle using in situ and in vitro preparations and whole lumbrical muscles to elucidate the mechanisms of contractile dysfunction. Results The mSod2KO mice, contrary to our prediction, exhibit a 10–15% increase in muscle mass associated with an ~50% increase in central nuclei and ~35% increase in branched fibres (P < 0.05). Despite the increase in muscle mass of gastrocnemius and quadriceps, in situ sciatic nerve‐stimulated isometric maximum‐specific force (N/cm2), force per cross‐sectional area, is impaired by ~60% and associated with increased NMJ fragmentation and size by ~40% (P < 0.05). Intrinsic alterations of components of the contractile machinery show elevated markers of oxidative stress, for example, lipid peroxidation is increased by ~100%, oxidized glutathione is elevated by ~50%, and oxidative modifications of myofibrillar proteins are increased by ~30% (P < 0.05). We also find an approximate 20% decrease in the intracellular calcium transient that is associated with specific force deficit. Excess superoxide generation from the mitochondrial complexes causes a deficiency of succinate dehydrogenase and reduced complex‐II‐mediated respiration and adenosine triphosphate generation rates leading to severe exercise intolerance (~10 min vs. ~2 h in wild type, P < 0.05). Conclusions Increased skeletal muscle mtROS is sufficient to elicit NMJ disruption and contractile abnormalities, but not muscle atrophy, suggesting new roles for mitochondrial oxidative stress in maintenance of muscle mass through increased fibre branching