title: Mutant Pink1 induces mitochondrial dysfunction in a neuronal cell model of Parkinson's disease by disturbing calcium flux.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by accumulation of alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) and degeneration of neuronal populations in cortical and subcortical regions. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been considered a potential unifying factor in the pathogenesis of the disease. Mutations in genes linked to familial forms of PD, including SNCA encoding alpha-syn and Pten-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), have been shown to disrupt mitochondrial activity. We investigated the mechanisms through which mutant Pink1 might disrupt mitochondrial function in neuronal cells with alpha-syn accumulation. For this purpose, a neuronal cell model of PD was infected with virally-delivered Pink1, and was analyzed for cell survival, mitochondrial activity and calcium flux. Mitochondrial morphology was analyzed by confocal and electron microscopy. These studies showed that mutant (W437X) but not wildtype Pink1 exacerbated the alterations in mitochondrial function promoted by mutant (A53T) alpha-syn. This effect was associated with increased intracellular calcium levels. Co-expression of both mutant Pink1 and alpha-syn led to alterations in mitochondrial structure and neurite outgrowth that were partially ameliorated by treatment with cyclosporine A, and completely restored by treatment with the mitochondrial calcium influx blocker Ruthenium Red, but not with other cellular calcium flux blockers. Our data suggest a role for mitochondrial calcium influx in the mechanisms of mitochondrial and neuronal dysfunction in PD. Moreover, these studies support an important function for Pink1 in regulating mitochondrial activity under stress conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marongiu
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crews
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adame
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trejo
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dallapiccola
authors.forename: Enza Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Eliezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Masliah
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000409:Alanine / Q000235:genetics; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003035:Cobalt / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005439:Flufenamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D013912:Threonine / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000235:genetics; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000409:Alanine; D002118:Calcium; D003035:Cobalt; D005439:Flufenamic Acid; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D013912:Threonine; D014364:Tryptophan; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase; C477012:MAP1LC3A protein, human; C018021:cobaltous chloride