Mitochondria as Targets of Apoptosis Regulation by Nitric Oxide

Helena Vieira, Guido Kroemer

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    56 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In addition to their vital role as the cell's power stations, mitochondria exert an important function in apoptosis. In response to most if not all apoptosis inducers, mitochondrial membranes are permeabilized, leading to the release of potentially toxic proteins, mostly from the intermembrane space to the rest of the cells. Such pro-apoptotic intermembrane proteins include the caspase-independent death effector AIF, as well as cytochrome c, which can trigger the activation of caspases, once it has reached the cytosol. The mitochondrial permeabilization process can be induced by a variety of different xenobiotics, via a direct effect on mitochondrial membranes. Alternatively, mitochondrial permeabilization can be induced by endogenous second messengers, which are elicited in response to stress. The permeabilization process is controlled by the mitochondrial permeability transition pore complex (PTPC), by proteins of the Bcl-2/Bax family, as well as by lipids and metabolites. Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the second messengers that can trigger apoptosis by inducing mitochondrial membrane permeabilization. This effect may involve a direct effect on the PTPC and/or indirect effects secondary to the NO-mediated inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. This has far-reaching implications for the pathophysiology of NO.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)613-616
    Number of pages4
    JournalIUBMB Life
    Volume55
    Issue number10-11
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2003

    Keywords

    • Adenine nucleotide translocase
    • Bcl-2
    • Permeability transition
    • Programmed cell death

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