title: Mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone induces apoptosis through enhancing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production.
abstract: Inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I by rotenone had been found to induce cell death in a variety of cells. However, the mechanism is still elusive. Because reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in apoptosis and inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I by rotenone was thought to be able to elevate mitochondrial ROS production, we investigated the relationship between rotenone-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Rotenone was able to induce mitochondrial complex I substrate-supported mitochondrial ROS production both in isolated mitochondria from HL-60 cells as well as in cultured cells. Rotenone-induced apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation, cytochrome c release, and caspase 3 activity. A quantitative correlation between rotenone-induced apoptosis and rotenone-induced mitochondrial ROS production was identified. Rotenone-induced apoptosis was inhibited by treatment with antioxidants (glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, and vitamin C). The role of rotenone-induced mitochondrial ROS in apoptosis was also confirmed by the finding that HT1080 cells overexpressing magnesium superoxide dismutase were more resistant to rotenone-induced apoptosis than control cells. These results suggest that rotenone is able to induce apoptosis via enhancing the amount of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production.
authors.affiliation: Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Nianyu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ragheb
authors.forename: Gretchen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lawler
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sturgis
authors.forename: Bartek
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rajwa
authors.forename: J Andres
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Melendez
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012402:Rotenone / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012402:Rotenone; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase