The hyperglycemic complications in diabetes and obesity are causally associated with overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A major source of ROS generation in hyperglycemic conditions is thought to be the mitochondrial electron transport chain. This proposal is to define the role of mitochondrial fission in regulating ROS production in hyperglycemic conditions. We have found that mitochondria undergo rapid fragmentation and recovery within an hour of exposure of cells to a high glucose concentration, which occurs concomitantly with an increase and decrease of ROS levels. In prolonged incubation in high glucose conditions, the ROS level increased again after the initial short burst and remained high for an extended period. We observed increased cell death through apoptosis after the prolonged incubation in high glucose, indicating that a continuous high level of ROS is the cause of hyperglycemic damage. Importantly, we found that blocking mitochondrial fragmentation by inhibiting mitochondrial fission prevents the high glucose-induced ROS overproduction. Although ROS-mediated damages in hyperglycemia have been studied extensively, how mitochondria overproduce ROS in hyperglycemic conditions is not well understood. Our findings indicate that mitochondrial dynamics are an important factor that regulates ROS generation in high glucose conditions. In this proposal, we will study how mitochondrial fission participates in the upstream and downstream processes of hyperglycemia-induced ROS production. Therefore, the Central Hypothesis of this proposal is that signals elicited from high glucose stimulation alter mitochondrial dynamics and structure, resulting in ROS production and cell injury. We will, first, investigate high glucose-mediated signaling pathways that regulate mitochondrial fission, second, study how altered mitochondrial morphology causes ROS overproduction in high glucose conditions, and third, test the proof-of-principle for mitochondrial fission as a potential target to reduce the hyperglycemia-induced oxidative damages.

Public Health Relevance

Information from these studies will expand the potential targets for controlling the hyperglycemia-induced damages in diabetes and obesity, and greatly increase our understanding of how mitochondrial dynamics contribute to the regulation of mitochondrial function and cell physiology in health and disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK078618-02
Application #
7587242
Study Section
Integrative Physiology of Obesity and Diabetes Study Section (IPOD)
Program Officer
Jones, Teresa L Z
Project Start
2008-04-01
Project End
2012-01-31
Budget Start
2009-02-01
Budget End
2010-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$327,250
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Rochester
Department
Anesthesiology
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
041294109
City
Rochester
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14627
Yu, Tianzheng; Wang, Li; Yoon, Yisang (2015) Morphological control of mitochondrial bioenergetics. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 20:229-46
Lee, Hakjoo; Yoon, Yisang (2014) Transient contraction of mitochondria induces depolarization through the inner membrane dynamin OPA1 protein. J Biol Chem 289:11862-72
Lee, Hakjoo; Yoon, Yisang (2014) Mitochondrial fission: regulation and ER connection. Mol Cells 37:89-94
Galloway, Chad A; Lee, Hakjoo; Brookes, Paul S et al. (2014) Decreasing mitochondrial fission alleviates hepatic steatosis in a murine model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 307:G632-41
Galloway, Chad A; Yoon, Yisang (2013) Mitochondrial morphology in metabolic diseases. Antioxid Redox Signal 19:415-30
Jhun, Bong Sook; Lee, Hakjoo; Jin, Zheng-Gen et al. (2013) Glucose stimulation induces dynamic change of mitochondrial morphology to promote insulin secretion in the insulinoma cell line INS-1E. PLoS One 8:e60810
Galloway, Chad A; Lee, Hakjoo; Yoon, Yisang (2012) Mitochondrial morphology-emerging role in bioenergetics. Free Radic Biol Med 53:2218-28
Galloway, Chad A; Lee, Hakjoo; Nejjar, Souad et al. (2012) Transgenic control of mitochondrial fission induces mitochondrial uncoupling and relieves diabetic oxidative stress. Diabetes 61:2093-104
Galloway, Chad A; Yoon, Yisang (2012) Perspectives on: SGP symposium on mitochondrial physiology and medicine: what comes first, misshape or dysfunction? The view from metabolic excess. J Gen Physiol 139:455-63
Yoon, Yisang; Galloway, Chad A; Jhun, Bong Sook et al. (2011) Mitochondrial dynamics in diabetes. Antioxid Redox Signal 14:439-57

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