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Relationship: 908
Title
N/A, Mitochondrial dysfunction 1 leads to Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway
Upstream event
Downstream event
AOPs Referencing Relationship
| AOP Name | Adjacency | Weight of Evidence | Quantitative Understanding | Point of Contact | Author Status | OECD Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inhibition of the mitochondrial complex I of nigro-striatal neurons leads to parkinsonian motor deficits | non-adjacent | Moderate | Low | Cataia Ives (send email) | Open for citation & comment | WPHA/WNT Endorsed |
Taxonomic Applicability
Sex Applicability
Life Stage Applicability
Neurons are characterized by the presence of neurites, the formation of action potentials, and the release and re-uptake of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. The presence of long extensions implies a significant enlargement of total cell surface. In combination with the transmission of action potentials that require a continuous maintenance of active transport processes across the membrane, the steady state energy demand of these neurons is significantly higher compared with non-neuronal cells. Dopaminergic (DA) neurons located in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) that project into the striatum are unique with respect of the total length of their neurites and the number of synapses that are significantly higher compared with other neuronal cell types (Bolam et al., 2012). Besides this complex morphology DA neurons have a distinctive physiological phenotype that could contribute to their vulnerability (Surmeier et al., 2010). Other features such as high energy demand, high calcium flux, dopamine autoxidation process as well as high content of iron and high content of microglia makes these DA neurons at vulnerable population of cells to oxidative stress produced by mitochondrial dysfunction. These architectural features of SNpc DA neurons render this cell type as particularly vulnerable to impairments in energy supply. Mitochondrial dysfunction, either evoked by environmental toxins such as the complex I inhibitor rotenone or MPTP, by oxidative modifications of components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, or by genetic impairments of mitochondrial ATP generation hence have direct influence on the function and integrity of SNpc DA neurons.
| ID | Experimental Design | Species | Upstream Observation | Downstream Observation | Citation (first author, year) | Notes |
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| Title | First Author | Biological Plausibility |
Dose Concordance |
Temporal Concordance |
Incidence Concordance |
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Biological Plausibility
Dose Concordance Evidence
Temporal Concordance Evidence
Incidence Concordance Evidence
Uncertainties and Inconsistencies
- Several in vitro studies applying rotenone to evoke mitochondrial dysfunction came to the conclusion that rotenone-dependent ROS formation, and not the rotenone-evoked drop in ATP is the primary cause for cell degeneration. These observations are largely based on experimental systems employing the rotenone insensitive NADH dehydrogenase NDI 1. Expression of NDI 1 protected rotenone exposed cells from degeneration. The presence of NDI 1 however results in a substitution of ATP. Endogenously expressed complex I is still present in these models and it can be assumed that rotenone exposure would still lead to a complex I-dependent formation of ROS that precludes the modeling of a precise cause-consequence relationship between either ATP depletion or elevated ROS levels with the demise of DA neurons.
- Several studies indicate a dominant role of ROS in the degeneration of DA neurons, based on models in which rotenone/MPP+ mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and cell degeneration was protected by the presence of exogenously added antioxidants. Maintenance of the endogenous redox potential however is a highly ATP-dependent process. Clear-cut separations between the respective contribution of ROS or the role of an inhibited mitochondrial ATP synthesis on the degeneration of DA neurons is hence difficult to postulate.
- Studies with chronic partial GSH depletions indicated that an experimental reduction of GSH/GSSG by ca. 50 % has no influence on cell viability. Reports involving rotenone and MPP+ however regularly observe degeneration of DA neurons under conditions of GSH depletion around 50 %. These observations indicate a more prominent role of the intracellular drop of ATP evoked by the complex I inhibitors in the process of cell degeneration.
- Studies in which oxidative stress is generated e.g. by the application of DA or 6-OHDA not only observed a challenge of the cellular redox potential, but also reversible and irreversible inhibitory mechanisms of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes (nitration, S-nitrosation) that are accompanied by an inhibition of the respiratory chain in the absence of pharmacological complex I inhibitors. These observations illustrate the close mutual interaction between oxidative stress and the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and point to a profound role of direct mitochondrial inhibition also under oxidative stress conditions.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is generally associated with conditions of oxidative stress. Dysfunctional mitochondria can act as potent source of superoxide. Oxidative stress associated with PD however not only originates from mitochondrial ROS, but also from DA autoxidation and the Fenton reaction, as well as from inflammatory activated adjacent glia. Interpretations on the role of oxidative stress in DA neurons and its role in DA neurodegeneration is hence hampered by the fact that the respective origin of the reactive oxygen species formed (mitochondria, DA autoxidation, inflammation of glia cells) is rather difficult to identify and often shows overlappings (Murphy et al., 2009; Starkov et al., 2008, Cebrian et al., 2015).
- In PD patients, a reduction in complex I activity in the SNpc, but also in peripheral tissue and cells such as platelets, was reported. Studies with isolated mitochondria indicated that for efficient inhibition of mitochondrial ATP formation, an inhibition of complex I by ca. 70 % is necessary (Davey et al., 1996). Reports on the reduction of complex I activity in PD patients however repeatedly indicated an inhibition of only 25-30 % (Schapira et al., 1989; Schapira et al., 1990; Janetzky et al., 1994).
- Data available on the respective inhibition of the components of the respiratory chain are highly dependent on the experimental setup used. Analysis of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activities in mitochondrial homogenates provide results different from data obtained with intact, isolated mitochondria. These aspects need to be considered in the interpretation of such data (Mann et al., 1992; Parker et al., 2008; Mizuno et al., 1989; Schapira et al., 1990; Cardellach et al., 1993)
Quantitative understanding for this KE relationship mainly comes from in-vitro and engineered systems, using rotenone and MPTP as main chemical stressors. A clear response- response effect is evident as well as temporality was mainly supported by evidence that modulation of the KE up was attenuating or preventing the KE down. Evidence of dose relationship was limited, as most of the time a single, generally high, concentration was used.
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KE 2 upstream |
KE 4 downstream |
Comments |
Reference |
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Rotenone experiments |
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Mitochondrial membrane potential reduced by 50 % upon rotenone treatment. Back to 80 % compared to controls in the presence of the flavonoid rutin. Intracellular Ca2+ elevated by a factor of 3 by rotenone, reduction to an increase of 1.5 in the presence of rutin. ROS increased by a factor of 6.5; increase of ROS by a factor of 2 in the presence of rutin. |
Rotenone (10 µM) resulted in a reduction of cell viability by 50 %. In the presence of rutin, cell viability was only reduced by 10 % upon rotenone treatment |
SH-SY5Y cells exposed to rotenone (10 µM) for 24 h. When applied alone, rutin displayed no toxic effects, up to 100 µM. Rutin was added to the cells 30 min prior rotenone at concentrations from 0-10 µM |
Park et al., 2014 |
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Mitochondrial membrane potential reduced by ca. 66 % upon rotenone treatment; in the presence of celastrol, reduction by ca. 55 %. ROS formation increased by a factor of 2 in the presence of rotenone; ROS increase by a factor of 1.5 in the presence of celastrol. |
Cell viability was reduced by 50 % by rotenone; In the presence of the triterpene celastrol, cell viability was only reduced by ca. 10 % |
SH-SY5Y + rotenone (10 µM). Celastrol (2.5 nM) was applied 90 min prior to rotenone. Cells were incubated with the two compounds for a period of 24 h. |
Choi et al., 2014 |
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TH staining in the SNpc in arbitrary units: Control (25) Rotenone (14) Rotenone + NDI 1(22) TH staining in the striatum Control (70) Rotenone (40) Rotenone + NDI 1 (65) DA levels in the striatum: Control (2.5) Rotenone (1.3) Rotenone + NDI 1 (2.2) |
5 month old male Sprague-Dawley rats (ca. 500 g) received intracerebral injection of recombinant adeno-associated virus with the NADH dehydrogenase NDI 1 gene. 45 days after virus injection, rats were treated with rotenone-loaded microspheres (poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide). 100 mg rotenone /kg body weight s.c. With this method, HPLC analysis of plasma rotenone revealed levels of 2 µM 14 days after microsphere treatment, and 1 µM 60 days after microsphere treatment. Behavioral experiments and brain sample collection was conducted 30 days after rotenone treatment. |
Marella et al., 2008 |
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MPP+ experiments |
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Decline in mitochondrial transmembrane potential by MPP+; 50 % prevention from this decline by rosmarinic acid. NADH levels were reduced by ca. 50 % in the presence of MPP+; loss of NADH was completely prevented by the presence of rosmarinic acid. ROS levels increased by 50 % in the presence of MPP+. Rosmarinic acid lead to a reduced increase of ROS by only 20 % compared with the untreated control. |
Cell viability reduced by MPP+ by 30 %, complete protection by the presence of the antioxidant rosmarinic acid. Striatal DA content reduced by 40 % by MPP+ treatment, partially protected by rosmarinic acid back to a value of 25 % reduction compared with the untreated control. |
MES23.5 cells exposed to MPP+ (200 µM) for 24 h. Rosmarinic acid (1 nM) was applied 30 min prior to MPP+ treatment. |
Du et al. 2010 |
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Reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential by 60 % (MPP+), by 50 % (rotenone), complete recovery by the co-incubation with ISB, PHT, PHO |
SH-SY5Y + MPP+: Cell viability reduced by 66 %; ISB, PHT, PHO partially protected from cell death with a reduction in cell viability by ca. 20 % SH-SY5Y + rotenone: reduction in cell viability by 60 % Partial protection by ISB, PHT, PHO to a reduction in cell viability by 25-50 %. SH-SY5Y + BSO: Reduction in cell viability by 80 % ISB, PHT, PHO partially protected with a residual decline in cell viability by ca. 20 % |
SH-SY5Y + MPP+ (200 µM) or rotenone (150 nM) or BSO (150 µM) for 60 h and 72 h. Antioxidants tested: Iminostilbene (ISB) Phenothiazine (PHT) Phenoxazine (PHO) The antioxidants were applied 2 h prior to rotenone, MPP+, or BSO treatment |
Hajieva et al., 2009 |
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Circumvention of endogenous complex I |
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wt cells exposed to rotenone: increase in carbonyl content as marker of oxidative stress by 100 %; completely prevented in NDI 1 expressing cells. In midbrain slice cultures exposed to rotenone: increase in carbonyl content by 20 % Rats exposed to rotenone: increase in carbonyl content: 27 % in the striatum, increase by 41 % in the midbrain |
SK-N-MC cells: rotenone evoked cell death protected by ca. 90 % in NDI 1 expressing cells. Rotenone induced cell death prevented by 80 % by alpha-tocopherol (62.5 µM and 125 µM). |
SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells transfected with the rotenone insensitive NADH dehydrogenase NDI 1; Cells were treated with rotenone (100 nM) for 48 h or with BSO (10 µM) for 24 h. When both compound were used in a combined experiment, cells were first treated with BSO (10 µM) for 24 h, then rotenone (10 nM) was added for additional 36 h. |
Sherer et al., 2003 |
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Application of the complex I inhibitors: Rotenone Fenazaquin Fenpyroximate Pyridaben Tebufenpyrad Pyridaben |
Time and concentration-dependent cell death with rotenone and a series of other complex I inhibitors. NDI 1 expressing cells were resistant towards the different complex I inhibitors. |
SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells expressing the rotenone-insensitive NADH dehydrogenase NDI 1 from saccharomyces cerevisiae. All complex I inhibitors applied were added at the concentrations: 10 nM, 100 nM, 1 µM. Pyridaben was applied at 1 µM, 10 µM, 100 µM. Viability was assessed after 48 h, ATP was detected after 6 h. Carbonyl content was detected after 24 h. |
Sherer et al., 2007 |
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Oxygen consumption rate doubled by MB in the absence of complex I inhibitor. Oxygen consumption reduced by 50 % by rotenone; completely reversed to control levels by the presence of MB. Complex I-III activity reduced by 95 % by rotenone. Reversed to control levels by the presence of MB. |
HT22 cell viability reduced by 70 % by rotenone. In the presence of MB, reduction by only 10 % of cell viability was observed. In rats treated with rotenone, rotarod retention time was reduced by 50 % by rotenone. Completely reversed to control levels by the co-administration of MB. In rats, rotenone evoked a reduction of striatal DA by 50 %; completely reversed to control levels by MB Complex I-III activity in the striatum of rats was reduced by 50 %, residual inhibition of 10 % observed in rats that were additionally treated with MB |
The study included:
Test of methylene blue (MB) (10 and 100 ng/ml in isolated mitochondria; 1 and 10 µg/ml in HT 22 cells) to circumvent the complex I/III blockade |
Wen et al. 2011 |
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Cybrid cells with PD mtDNA display a reduction in complex I activity by 20 %. |
Cybrid cells: increase in basal formation of reactive oxygen species by 80%. 2-times higher sensitivity towards MPP+ as stressor |
SH-SY5Y cells devoid of mtDNA; fused with platelets from PD patients for mitochondria transfer: cybrid cells. Treatment with MPP+ (40 or 80 µM) for 24 h or 48 h |
Swedlow et al., 1996 |
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Oxidative stress causes mitochondrial dysfunction |
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Isolated mitochondria: Exposure to DA: loss of ca. 50 % membrane potential. Completely protected by GSH or N-acetyl-cystein (NAC) Decline of mitochondrial respiration capacity by 90 %. In the presence of NAC or GSH, only a reduction by 25-30 % was observed. PC12 cells exposed to DA, then isolation and analysis of mitochondria: inhibition of complex I activity by ca. 50 %, prevented by co-incubation with NAC. Inhibition of complex II and III; prevented by NAC. Intact PC12 exposed to DA: Mitochondrial transmembrane potential reduced by ca. 50 %; prevented by NAC Intracellular ATP reduced by ca. 50 %; Cell death increased by DA by ca. 30 %, caspase 3 activity increased by a factor of 3; all increases prevented by the presence of NAC. |
PC12 cells exposed to DA: Increase in intracellular ROS by a factor of 2; completely reversed by NAC Quinoprotein formation increased by a factor of 3; completely prevented by the presence of NAC or GSH. Cell death increased from 3 % (control) to 37 % (DA). Reduced to 10 % in the presence of NAC. |
PC12 cells and isolated rat brain mitochondria exposed to dopamine (100-400 µM). N-acetyl cysteine or GSH for protection were added at a concentration of 2.5 mM. In experiments including isolated mitochondria, NAC and GSH were added 2 h prior to DA. In experiments including PC12 cells, NAC and GSH were added 1 h prior DA. Isolated mitochondria were exposed to DA for 2 h; PC12 cells were expose to DA for 24 h. |
Jana et al., 2011 |
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Reduction of intracellular GSH by 50 % and of intramitochondrial GSH by 60 % leads to: Mitochondrial ROS increased by 30 % ATP levels reduced by 66 % Mitochondrial activity reduced by 66 % State 3 respiration reduced by 60 % Complex I activity inhibited by 60 % |
Whole cell ROS increased by 30 % |
PC12 cells with inducible knockdown of glutamyl cysteine synthetase (inhibition of GSH synthesis) by addition of 25 µg/ml doxycycline. Treatment for 24 h with doxycycline resulted in a GSH decline by ca. 50 %. |
Jha et al., 2000 |
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Reduction of GSH levels by ca. 50 % result in: Complex I inhibition by 40 %; completely reversed by DTT. |
No cell toxicity under the applied conditions |
N27 cells exposed to BSO (2.5 µM) for 7 days: Total glutathione was declined by ca. 50 % by this chronic treatment; absence of cell toxicity under these conditions. DTT for restoration of complex I activity was added at 1 mM. |
Chinta et al., 2006 |
Response-response Relationship
Time-scale
Known Feedforward/Feedback loops influencing this KER
There are no sex or age restiction for the applicability of this KEr and mitochondrial are essential for most of eukariotyc cells. Rotenone and MPTp have been tested successfully in primates and mice. The mouse C57BL/6 strain is the most frequently used strain in the reported experiments. A difference in vulnerability was observed, particularly for rats, depending on the strain and route of administration. The Lewis strain gives more consistency in terms of sensitivity when compared to the Sprague Dawley. In addition to rodents, the pesticide rotenone has been also studied in Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans), Drosophila, zebrafish and Lymnaea Stagnalis (L.stagnalis) (Johnson et al., 2015), indicating that the system is preseved across species.