Aims: Oxidative stress is involved in the development of cardiovascular disease. There is a growing body of evidence for a crosstalk between different enzymatic sources of oxidative stress. With the present study, we sought to determine the underlying crosstalk mechanisms, the role of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), and its link to endothelial dysfunction. Results: NADPH oxidase (Nox) activation (oxidative burst and translocation of cytosolic Nox subunits) was observed in response to mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) formation in human leukocytes. In vitro, mtROS-induced Nox activation was prevented by inhibitors of the mPTP, protein kinase C, tyrosine kinase cSrc, Nox itself, or an intracellular calcium chelator and was absent in leukocytes with p47phox deficiency (regulates Nox2) or with cyclophilin D deficiency (regulates mPTP). In contrast, the crosstalk in leukocytes was amplified by mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (type 2) (MnSOD +/ -) deficiency. In vivo, increases in blood pressure, degree of endothelial dysfunction, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) dysregulation/uncoupling (e.g., eNOS S-glutathionylation) or Nox activity, p47phox phosphorylation in response to angiotensin-II (AT-II) in vivo treatment, or the aging process were more pronounced in MnSOD +/ -mice as compared with untreated controls and improved by mPTP inhibition by cyclophilin D deficiency or sanglifehrin A therapy. Innovation: These results provide new mechanistic insights into what extent mtROS trigger Nox activation in phagocytes and cardiovascular tissue, leading to endothelial dysfunction. Conclusions: Our data show that mtROS trigger the activation of phagocytic and cardiovascular NADPH oxidases, which may have fundamental implications for immune cell activation and development of AT-II-induced hypertension. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 20, 247-266.

Proper activation of macrophages (Mφ) in the inflammatory phase of acute wound healing is essential for physiological tissue repair. However, there is a strong indication that robust Mφ inflammatory responses may be causal for the fibrotic response always accompanying adult wound healing. Using a complementary approach of in vitro and in vivo studies, we here addressed the question of whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-due to their anti-inflammatory properties-would control Mφ activation and tissue fibrosis in a murine model of full-thickness skin wounds. We have shown that the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated protein 6 (TSG-6) released from MSCs in co-culture with activated Mφ or following injection into wound margins suppressed the release of TNF-α from activated Mφ and concomitantly induced a switch from a high to an anti-fibrotic low transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/TGF-β3 ratio. This study provides insight into what we believe to be a previously undescribed multifaceted role of MSC-released TSG-6 in wound healing. MSC-released TSG-6 was identified to improve wound healing by limiting Mφ activation, inflammation, and fibrosis. TSG-6 and MSC-based therapies may thus qualify as promising strategies to enhance tissue repair and to prevent excessive tissue fibrosis.

The correlation between mtROS formation and acetylcholine-dependent relaxation revealed that mitochondrial radical formation significantly contributes to age-dependent endothelial dysfunction.

SummaryThe free radical theory of aging postulates that the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species is the major determinant of aging and lifespan. Its role in aging of the connective tissue has not yet been established, even though the incidence of aging-related disorders in connective tissue-rich organs is high, causing major disability in the elderly. We have now addressed this question experimentally by creating mice with conditional deficiency of the mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase in fibroblasts and other mesenchymederived cells of connective tissues in all organs. Here, we have shown for the first time that the connective tissuespecific lack of superoxide anion detoxification in the mitochondria results in reduced lifespan and premature onset of aging-related phenotypes such as weight loss, skin atrophy, kyphosis (curvature of the spine), osteoporosis and muscle degeneration in mutant mice. Increase in p16 INK4a , a robust in vivo marker for fibroblast aging, may contribute to the observed phenotype. This novel model is particularly suited to decipher the underlying mechanisms and to develop hopefully novel connective tissuespecific anti-aging strategies.

Nitroglycerin (GTN)-induced tolerance was reported to be associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria. In the present study, we further investigated the role of ROS for the development of nitrate tolerance by using heterozygous manganese superoxide dismutase knockout mice (Mn-SOD ϩ/Ϫ ). Mn-SOD is acknowledged as a major sink for mitochondrial superoxide. Vasodilator potency of mouse aorta in response to acetylcholine and GTN was assessed by isometric tension studies. Mitochondrial ROS formation was detected by 8-amino-5-chloro-7-phenylpyrido[3,4-d]pyridazine-1,4-(2H,3H)dione sodium salt (L-012)-enhanced chemiluminescence and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2) activity was determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography-based assay. Aortic rings from Mn-SOD ϩ/Ϫ mice showed normal endothelial function and vasodilator responses to GTN. In contrast, preincubation of aorta with GTN or long-term GTN infusion caused a marked higher degree of tolerance as well as endothelial dysfunction in Mn-SOD ϩ/Ϫ compared with wild type. Basal as well as GTN-stimulated ROS formation was significantly increased in isolated heart mitochondria from Mn-SOD ϩ/Ϫ mice, correlating well with a marked decrease in ALDH-2 activity in response to in vitro and in vivo GTN treatment. The data presented indicate that deficiency in Mn-SOD leads to a higher degree of tolerance and endothelial dysfunction associated with increased mitochondrial ROS production in response to in vitro and in vivo GTN challenges. These data further point to a crucial role of ALDH-2 in mediating GTN bioactivation as well as development of GTN tolerance and underline the important contribution of ROS to these processes.Although organic nitrates such as nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate, GTN) have been used for over a century in the therapy of cardiovascular diseases such as stable and unstable angina (Abrams, 1995) the underlying mechanisms of nitrate bioactivation and development of nitrate tolerance remain elusive. The anti-ischemic effects of organic nitrates are due largely to venous and coronary artery dilation as well as improvement of collateral blood flow, which all decrease myocardial oxygen consumption and are mediated by nitric oxide or a related species. However, the use of organic nitrates is limited because of the rapid development of tolerance and cross-tolerance to endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators. Impairment of the NO-signaling pathway by increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Munzel et al., 1995b) as well as an impaired biotransformation of organic nitrates may contribute to the development of tolerance and cross-tolerance. The mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2), which is subjected to an ABBREVIATIONS: GTN, glyceryl trinitrate (nitroglycerin); ROS, reactive oxygen species; ALDH-2, aldehyde dehydrogenase; Mn-SOD, manganese superoxide dismutase (mitochondrial isoform); Cu,Zn-SOD, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (cytosolic and extracellular isoform...