tert-Butylhydroperoxide induces peroxynitrite-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition leading PC12 cells to necrosis

J Neurosci Res. 2001 Sep 1;65(5):387-95. doi: 10.1002/jnr.1165.

Abstract

A short-term exposure of PC12 cells to tert-butylhydroperoxide, followed by recovery in fresh culture medium, causes cell death and the extent of this response progressively increases during the 120 min of post-treatment incubation. Morphological and biochemical analyses of these cells revealed that the mode of cell death was necrosis. Cell killing induced by the hydroperoxide seems to be in part mediated by peroxynitrite because the lethal response was markedly and similarly reduced by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methylester and by scavengers of nitric oxide or peroxynitrite. This peroxynitrite-dependent mechanism of cytotoxicity was blunted by antioxidants and inhibitors of mitochondrial permeability transition and the onset of cell death was preceded by mitochondrial depolarization and loss of cellular ATP. We conclude that tert-butylhydroperoxide promotes peroxynitrite-dependent PC12 cell necrosis causally linked to peroxidation of membrane lipids and mitochondrial permeability transition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Death / drug effects*
  • Cell Death / physiology
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane Permeability / drug effects*
  • Cell Membrane Permeability / physiology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Lipid Peroxidation / physiology
  • Lipid Peroxides / metabolism
  • Membrane Lipids / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Necrosis
  • Nerve Degeneration / metabolism
  • Nerve Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Neurotoxins / metabolism
  • Neurotoxins / pharmacology
  • Nitrates / pharmacology*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology
  • PC12 Cells / drug effects*
  • PC12 Cells / metabolism
  • PC12 Cells / pathology
  • Rats
  • tert-Butylhydroperoxide / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Lipid Peroxides
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Neurotoxins
  • Nitrates
  • peroxynitric acid
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • tert-Butylhydroperoxide

Grants and funding