Mitochondrial Ribosome Dysfunction in Human Alveolar Type II Cells in Emphysema

Abstract

Pulmonary emphysema is characterized by airspace enlargement and the destruction of alveoli. Alveolar type II (ATII) cells are very abundant in mitochondria. OXPHOS complexes are composed of proteins encoded by the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNAs are required to assemble the small and large subunits of the mitoribosome, respectively. We aimed to determine the mechanism of mitoribosome dysfunction in ATII cells in emphysema. ATII cells were isolated from control nonsmokers and smokers, and emphysema patients. Mitochondrial transcription and translation were analyzed. We also determined the miRNA expression. Decreases in ND1 and UQCRC2 expression levels were found in ATII cells in emphysema. Moreover, nuclear NDUFS1 and SDHB levels increased, and mitochondrial transcribed ND1 protein expression decreased. These results suggest an impairment of the nuclear and mitochondrial stoichiometry in this disease. We also detected low levels of the mitoribosome structural protein MRPL48 in ATII cells in emphysema. Decreased 16S rRNA expression and increased 12S rRNA levels were observed. Moreover, we analyzed miR4485-3p levels in this disease. Our results suggest a negative feedback loop between miR-4485-3p and 16S rRNA. The obtained results provide molecular mechanisms of mitoribosome dysfunction in ATII cells in emphysema.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jun 24, 2022
Source ID
10.3390/biomedicines10071497

Entities

People

  • Beata Kosmider
  • Chih-ru Lin
  • Gerard Criner
  • Karim Bahmed
  • Loukmane Karim
  • Nathaniel Marchetti
  • Russell Bowler
  • Sudhir Bolla

Organizations

  • American Lung Association
  • National Institutes of Health
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Immunology and Pathology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology

Technology Areas

  • Space