TNF{alpha} decreases mitochondrial movement in human airway smooth muscle

We examined mitochondrial movement in human ASM cells and hypothesized that, at basal [Ca2+]cyt levels, mitochondrial movement is necessary to establish proximity of mitochondria to the SR and that, during the transient increase in [Ca2+]cyt induced by agonist stimulation, mitochondrial movement is reduced, thereby promoting transient mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. We further hypothesized that airway inflammation disrupts basal mitochondrial movement via a reduction in Miro and Milton expression, thereby disrupting the ability of mitochondria to establish proximity to the SR and, thus, reducing transient mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake during agonist activation. The reduced proximity of mitochondria to the SR may affect establishment of transient "hot spots" of higher [Ca2+]cyt at the sites of SR Ca2+ release that are necessary for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake via the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter.

Source: AJP: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology - July 1, 2017 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Delmotte, P., Zavaletta, V. A., Thompson, M. A., Prakash, Y. S., Sieck, G. C. Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research