Neuroinflammation occurs in both acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders and contributes to neural injury. Microglial cells are activated in the inflammatory response, releasing cytokines, nitric oxide (NO), and superoxide which target neighboring neurons. The overwhelming majority of studies investigating neurodegenerative disease mechanisms in vitro are conducted at atmospheric O2 despite the fact that this pO2 (21%, 160 mm Hg) far exceeds physiological brain pO2 (~3%, 23 mm Hg). We propose that pO2 fundamentally influences the mechanisms of neuronal injury and impacts the success of therapeutic strategies. We found that at 3% O2, NO-mediated inhibition of cortical neuron respiration is over 10-fold more potent than at atmospheric O2, and, in contrast to current dogma, occurs without inhibition of complex IV but with inhibition of complex II. This study will test the central hypothesis that at brain physiological O2, NO derived from microglial inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) causes cortical neuron injury by S-nitrosylation-mediated inactivation of succinate dehydrogenase upstream of complex III rather than by NO or peroxynitrite-mediated inhibition of complex IV. Clinically safe idebenone, a short chain Coenzyme Q analogue which upon reduction by NQO1 enzyme can shuttle electrons from cytoplasmic NAD(P)H directly to complex III, will be tested for the ability to bypass an upstream respiratory impairment, rescue ATP levels, and improve neuronal survival at either 3% or 21% O2. We predict that drugs that induce the Nrf2/antioxidant response element pathway will potently synergize with idebenone by 1) upregulating NQO1 and by 2) increasing the pool of the endogenous antioxidant glutathione which can prevent cysteine S-nitrosothiol modifications.
In aim 1 we will determine how pO2 influences the mechanism of neurotoxicity exerted by activated microglia.
In aim 2 we will determine whether exogenous NO impairs mitochondrial function in cortical neurons at physiological (3%) O2 by reversible S-nitrosylation-mediated inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase (complex II).
In aim 3 we will determine whether idebenone, when combined with an inducer of the Nrf2/antioxidant response element pathway, sulforaphane, can bypass NO-mediated respiratory inhibition and prevent microglial toxicity. We will for the first time perform neuronal respiration measurements at physiological 3% O2 using the Seahorse XF24 and also adapt this technology for examining neuronal respiratory impairments caused by co-cultured, activated microglia. Our long-term goals are to elucidate mitochondrial mechanisms of neural injury and identify new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Here, we will take important steps toward these goals by 1) determining how pO2 influences neuronal injury, with the potential for a paradigm-shifting change in the way in vitro neurodegenerative research is conducted, and by 2) providing proof-of-principle on whether bypass of respiratory inhibition is a viable strategy to reduce microglial neurotoxicity.

Public Health Relevance

Activation of microglial cells, the innate immune cells of the brain, is a common feature of neurodegenerative disorders that afflicts millions of individuals, contributing to injury. The physiological oxygen level in the brain (2-5%) is far less than the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere (21%). In this proposal we will determine how the level of oxygen in cell culture influences the neurotoxicity of activated microglia and test a novel therapeutic strategy designed to bypass a mechanism of impairment unique to physiological O2.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NS085165-01
Application #
8612571
Study Section
Neural Oxidative Metabolism and Death Study Section (NOMD)
Program Officer
Morris, Jill A
Project Start
2013-09-30
Project End
2018-07-31
Budget Start
2013-09-30
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$335,781
Indirect Cost
$117,031
Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Anesthesiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
188435911
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
Jaber, Sausan M; Bordt, Evan A; Bhatt, Niraj M et al. (2018) Sex differences in the mitochondrial bioenergetics of astrocytes but not microglia at a physiologically relevant brain oxygen tension. Neurochem Int 117:82-90
Aubrecht, Taryn G; Faden, Alan I; Sabirzhanov, Boris et al. (2018) Comparing effects of CDK inhibition and E2F1/2 ablation on neuronal cell death pathways in vitro and after traumatic brain injury. Cell Death Dis 9:1121
Bordt, Evan A; Clerc, Pascaline; Roelofs, Brian A et al. (2017) The Putative Drp1 Inhibitor mdivi-1 Is a Reversible Mitochondrial Complex I Inhibitor that Modulates Reactive Oxygen Species. Dev Cell 40:583-594.e6
Jaber, Sausan M; Polster, Brian M (2017) An in vitro model yields 'importin' new insights into chronic traumatic encephalopathy: damaged astrocytes stop 'thrombospondin' to the injury: An Editorial Highlight for 'Defective synthesis and release of astrocytic thrombospondin-1 mediates the neurona J Neurochem 140:531-535
Xu, Shan; Cherok, Edward; Das, Shweta et al. (2016) Mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH5 controls mitochondrial fission and cell sensitivity to stress-induced apoptosis through regulation of MiD49 protein. Mol Biol Cell 27:349-59
Roelofs, Brian A; Ge, Shealinna X; Studlack, Paige E et al. (2015) Low micromolar concentrations of the superoxide probe MitoSOX uncouple neural mitochondria and inhibit complex IV. Free Radic Biol Med 86:250-8
Kahraman, Sibel; Siegel, Alex; Polster, Brian M et al. (2015) Permeability transition pore-dependent and PARP-mediated depletion of neuronal pyridine nucleotides during anoxia and glucose deprivation. J Bioenerg Biomembr 47:53-61
Jaber, Sausan; Polster, Brian M (2015) Idebenone and neuroprotection: antioxidant, pro-oxidant, or electron carrier? J Bioenerg Biomembr 47:111-8
Bordt, Evan A; Polster, Brian M (2014) NADPH oxidase- and mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species in proinflammatory microglial activation: a bipartisan affair? Free Radic Biol Med 76:34-46
Polster, Brian M; Nicholls, David G; Ge, Shealinna X et al. (2014) Use of potentiometric fluorophores in the measurement of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Methods Enzymol 547:225-50