SK channel activation is neuroprotective in conditions of enhanced ER-mitochondrial coupling

Birgit Honrath*, Inge E. Krabbendam, Carmen IJsebaart, Valentina Pegoretti, Nadia Bendridi, Jennifer Rieusset, Martina Schmidt, Carsten Culmsee, Amalia M. Dolga

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)
344 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Alterations in the strength and interface area of contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria contribute to calcium (Ca2+) dysregulation and neuronal cell death, and have been implicated in the pathology of several neurodegenerative diseases. Weakening this physical linkage may reduce Ca2+ uptake into mitochondria, while fortifying these organelle contact sites may promote mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and cell death. Small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels regulate mitochondrial respiration, and their activation attenuates mitochondrial damage in paradigms of oxidative stress. In the present study, we enhanced ER-mitochondrial coupling and investigated the impact of SK channels on survival of neuronal HT22 cells in conditions of oxidative stress. Using genetically encoded linkers, we show that mitochondrial respiration and the vulnerability of neuronal cells to oxidative stress was inversely linked to the strength of ER-mitochondrial contact points and the increase in mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Pharmacological activation of SK channels provided protection against glutamate-induced cell death and also in conditions of increased ER-mitochondrial coupling. Together, this study revealed that SK channel activation provided persistent neuroprotection in the paradigm of glutamate-induced oxytosis even in conditions where an increase in ER-mitochondrial coupling potentiated mitochondrial Ca2+ influx and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number593
Number of pages11
JournalCell death & disease
Volume9
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22-May-2018

Keywords

  • ENDOPLASMIC-RETICULUM
  • NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
  • MOLECULAR-MECHANISMS
  • CALCIUM-UPTAKE
  • CA2+
  • STRESS
  • BIOENERGETICS
  • RESPIRATION
  • INTERFACE
  • CONTACTS

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'SK channel activation is neuroprotective in conditions of enhanced ER-mitochondrial coupling'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this