CART Peptide Is a Potential Endogenous Antioxidant and Preferentially Localized in Mitochondria

The multifunctional neuropeptide Cocaine and Amphetamine Regulated Transcript (CART) is secreted from hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal gland and pancreas. It also can be found in circulatory system. This feature suggests a general role for CART in different cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that CART protects mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), cellular proteins and lipids against the oxidative action of hydrogen peroxide, a widely used oxidant. Using cis-parinaric acid as a sensitive reporting probe for peroxidation in membranes, and a lipid-soluble azo initiator of peroxyl radicals, 2,2′-Azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) we found that CART is an antioxidant. Furthermore, we found that CART localized to mitochondria in cultured cells and mouse brain neuronal cells. More importantly, pretreatment with CART by systemic injection protects against a mouse oxidative stress model, which mimics the main features of Parkinson's disease. Given the unique molecular structure and biological features of CART, we conclude that CART is an antioxidant peptide (or antioxidant hormone). We further propose that it may have strong therapeutic properties for human diseases in which oxidative stress is strongly involved such as Parkinson's disease

Mitochondrial complex II participates in normoxic and hypoxic regulation of alpha-keto acids in the murine heart.

Item does not contain fulltextalpha-Keto acids (alpha-KAs) are not just metabolic intermediates but are also powerful modulators of different cellular pathways. Here, we tested the hypothesis that alpha-KA concentrations are regulated by complex II (succinate dehydrogenase=SDH), which represents an intersection between the mitochondrial respiratory chain for which an important function in cardiopulmonary oxygen sensing has been demonstrated, and the Krebs cycle, a central element of alpha-KA metabolism. SDH subunit D heterozygous (SDHD(+/-)) and wild-type (WT) mice were housed at normoxia or hypoxia (10% O(2)) for 4 days or 3 weeks, and right ventricular pressure, right ventricle/(left ventricle+septum) ratio, cardiomyocyte ultrastructure, pulmonary vascular remodelling, ventricular complex II subunit expression, SDH activity and alpha-KA concentrations were analysed. In both strains, hypoxia induced increases in right ventricular pressure and enhanced muscularization of distal pulmonary arteries. Right ventricular hypertrophy was less severe in SDHD(+/-) mice although the cardiomyocyte ultrastructure and mitochondrial morphometric parameters were unchanged. Protein amounts of SDHA, SDHB and SDHC, and SDH activity were distinctly reduced in SDHD(+/-) mice. In normoxic SDHD(+/-) mice, alpha-ketoisocaproate concentration was lowered to 50% as compared to WT animals. Right/left ventricular concentration differences and the hypoxia-induced decline in individual alpha-KAs were less pronounced in SDHD(+/-) animals indicating that mitochondrial complex II participates in the adjustment of cardiac alpha-KA concentrations both under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. These characteristics are not related to the hemodynamic consequences of hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodelling, since its extent and right ventricular pressure were not affected in SDHD(+/-) mice albeit right ventricular hypertrophy was attenuated.1 december 201

Intermedin/adrenomedullin-2 is a hypoxia-induced endothelial peptide that stabilizes pulmonary microvascular permeability

Accumulating evidence suggests a pivotal role of the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) signaling pathway in preventing damage of the lung by stabilizing pulmonary barrier function. Intermedin (IMD), also termed adrenomedullin-2, is the most recently identified peptide targeting this receptor. Here we investigated the effect of hypoxia on the expression of IMD in the murine lung and cultured murine pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMEC) as well as the role of IMD in regulating vascular permeability. Monoclonal IMD antibodies were generated, and transcript levels were assayed by quantitative RT-PCR. The promoter region of IMD gene was analyzed, and the effect of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α on IMD expression was investigated in HEK293T cells. Isolated murine lungs and a human lung microvascular endothelial cell monolayer model were used to study the effect of IMD on vascular permeability. IMD was identified as a pulmonary endothelial peptide by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Hypoxia caused an upregulation of IMD mRNA in the murine lung and PMEC. As shown by these results, HIF-1α enhances IMD promoter activity. Our functional studies showed that IMD abolished the increase in pressure-induced endothelial permeability. Moreover, IMD decreased basal and thrombin-induced hyperpermeability of an endothelial cell monolayer in a receptor-dependent manner and activated PKA in these cells. In conclusion, IMD is a novel hypoxia-induced gene and a potential interventional agent for the improvement of endothelial barrier function in systemic inflammatory responses and hypoxia-induced vascular leakage