Mice lacking TR4 nuclear receptor develop mitochondrial myopathy with deficiency in complex I

Mol Endocrinol. 2011 Aug;25(8):1301-10. doi: 10.1210/me.2010-0455. Epub 2011 May 26.

Abstract

The estimated incidence of mitochondrial diseases in humans is approximately 1:5000 to 1:10,000, whereas the molecular mechanisms for more than 50% of human mitochondrial disease cases still remain unclear. Here we report that mice lacking testicular nuclear receptor 4 (TR4(-/-)) suffered mitochondrial myopathy, and histological examination of TR4(-/-) soleus muscle revealed abnormal mitochondrial accumulation. In addition, increased serum lactate levels, decreased mitochondrial ATP production, and decreased electron transport chain complex I activity were found in TR4(-/-) mice. Restoration of TR4 into TR4(-/-) myoblasts rescued mitochondrial ATP generation capacity and complex I activity. Further real-time PCR quantification and promoter studies found TR4 could modulate complex I activity via transcriptionally regulating the complex I assembly factor NDUFAF1, and restoration of NDUFAF1 level in TR4(-/-) myoblasts increased mitochondrial ATP generation capacity and complex I activity. Together, these results suggest that TR4 plays vital roles in mitochondrial function, which may help us to better understand the pathogenesis of mitochondrial myopathy, and targeting TR4 via its ligands/activators may allow us to develop better therapeutic approaches.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / biosynthesis
  • Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / analogs & derivatives
  • Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electron Transport Complex I / deficiency*
  • Electron Transport Complex I / genetics
  • Electron Transport Complex I / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lactic Acid / blood
  • Metformin / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure
  • Mitochondrial Myopathies / blood
  • Mitochondrial Myopathies / complications
  • Mitochondrial Myopathies / metabolism*
  • Mitochondrial Myopathies / pathology
  • Muscle Weakness / blood
  • Muscle Weakness / complications
  • Muscle Weakness / metabolism
  • Muscle Weakness / pathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / ultrastructure
  • Myoblasts / drug effects
  • Myoblasts / metabolism
  • Myoblasts / pathology
  • NADH Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • NADH Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Receptors, Steroid / deficiency*
  • Receptors, Steroid / metabolism
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / deficiency*
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / metabolism
  • Ribonucleotides / pharmacology

Substances

  • Nr2c2 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Steroid
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone
  • Ribonucleotides
  • Lactic Acid
  • Aminoimidazole Carboxamide
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Metformin
  • NADH Dehydrogenase
  • Electron Transport Complex I
  • AICA ribonucleotide