Astaxanthin Reduces HO- and Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in H9c2 Cardiomyocyte Cells.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most challenging problems in clinical practice. Astaxanthin (AST) is a keto-carotenoid (xanthophyll) mainly of marine origin, which is able to penetrate the cell membrane, localize in mitochondria, and prevent mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study effect of astaxanthin on the death of H9c2 cardiomyocytes caused by the cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide (HO) and doxorubicin (DOX) was examined.

Mitochondrial F-ATP Synthase Co-Migrating Proteins and Ca-Dependent Formation of Large Channels.

Monomers, dimers, and individual FF-ATP synthase subunits are, presumably, involved in the formation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP), whose molecular structure, however, is still unknown. We hypothesized that, during the Ca-dependent assembly of a PTP complex, the F-ATP synthase (subunits) recruits mitochondrial proteins that do not interact or weakly interact with the F-ATP synthase under normal conditions. Therefore, we examined whether the PTP opening in mitochondria before the separation of supercomplexes via BN-PAGE will increase the channel stability and channel-forming capacity of isolated F-ATP synthase dimers and monomers in planar lipid membranes.

Melatonin Can Enhance the Effect of Drugs Used in the Treatment of Leukemia.

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, MEL), secreted by the pineal gland, plays an important role in regulation of various functions in the human body. There is evidence that MEL exhibits antitumor effect in various types of cancer. We studied the combined effect of MEL and drugs from different pharmacological groups, such as cytarabine (CYT) and navitoclax (ABT-737), on the state of the pool of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) tumor cell using the MV4-11 cell line as model.

Regulation of permeability transition pore opening in mitochondria by external NAD(H).

Background: The opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP) in mitochondria plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Mitochondrial matrix pyridine nucleotides are potent regulators of the PTP, but the role of extramitochondrial nucleotides is unclear.

Methods: The PTP opening was explored in isolated mitochondria and mitochondria in permeabilized differentiated and undifferentiated cells in the presence of added NAD(P)(H) in combination with Mg, adenine nucleotides (AN), and the inhibitors of AN translocase (ANT), voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), and cyclophilin D.