Acetyl-L-carnitine activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivators PGC-1α/PGC-1β-dependent signaling cascade of mitochondrial biogenesis and decreases the oxidized peroxiredoxins content in old rat liver

Rejuvenation Res. 2012 Apr;15(2):136-9. doi: 10.1089/rej.2011.1255.

Abstract

The behavior of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivators PGC-1α/PGC-β-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis signaling pathway, as well as the level of some antioxidant enzymes and proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics in the liver of old rats before and after 2 months of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) supplementation, was tested. The results reveal that ALCAR treatment is able to reverse the age-associated decline of PGC-1α, PGC-1β, nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1), and cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV (COX IV) protein levels, of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content, and of citrate synthase activity. Moreover, it partially reverses the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) decline and reduces the cellular content of oxidized peroxiredoxins. These data demonstrate that ALCAR treatment is able to promote in the old rat liver a new mitochondrial population that can contribute to the cellular oxidative stress reduction. Furthermore, a remarkable decline of Drp1 and of Mfn2 proteins is reported here for the first time, suggesting a reduced mitochondrial dynamics in aging liver with no effect of ALCAR treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcarnitine / metabolism*
  • Aging*
  • Animals
  • Autophagy
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Oxidative Stress
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism*
  • Peroxiredoxins / metabolism*
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • PPAR gamma
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
  • Ppargc1a protein, rat
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Acetylcarnitine
  • Peroxiredoxins
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • superoxide dismutase 2