Ischaemic accumulation of succinate controls reperfusion injury through mitochondrial ROS

Chouchani, E. T. et al. (2014) Ischaemic accumulation of succinate controls reperfusion injury through mitochondrial ROS. Nature, 515(7527), pp. 431-435. (doi: 10.1038/nature13909) (PMID:25383517) (PMCID:PMC4255242)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

Ischaemia-reperfusion injury occurs when the blood supply to an organ is disrupted and then restored, and underlies many disorders, notably heart attack and stroke. While reperfusion of ischaemic tissue is essential for survival, it also initiates oxidative damage, cell death and aberrant immune responses through the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS)1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Although mitochondrial ROS production in ischaemia reperfusion is established, it has generally been considered a nonspecific response to reperfusion1, 3. Here we develop a comparative in vivo metabolomic analysis, and unexpectedly identify widely conserved metabolic pathways responsible for mitochondrial ROS production during ischaemia reperfusion. We show that selective accumulation of the citric acid cycle intermediate succinate is a universal metabolic signature of ischaemia in a range of tissues and is responsible for mitochondrial ROS production during reperfusion. Ischaemic succinate accumulation arises from reversal of succinate dehydrogenase, which in turn is driven by fumarate overflow from purine nucleotide breakdown and partial reversal of the malate/aspartate shuttle. After reperfusion, the accumulated succinate is rapidly re-oxidized by succinate dehydrogenase, driving extensive ROS generation by reverse electron transport at mitochondrial complex I. Decreasing ischaemic succinate accumulation by pharmacological inhibition is sufficient to ameliorate in vivo ischaemia-reperfusion injury in murine models of heart attack and stroke. Thus, we have identified a conserved metabolic response of tissues to ischaemia and reperfusion that unifies many hitherto unconnected aspects of ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Furthermore, these findings reveal a new pathway for metabolic control of ROS production in vivo, while demonstrating that inhibition of ischaemic succinate accumulation and its oxidation after subsequent reperfusion is a potential therapeutic target to decrease ischaemia-reperfusion injury in a range of pathologies.

Item Type:Articles (Letter)
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ord, Dr Emily and Hartley, Professor Richard and Masson, Dr Rachel and Work, Dr Lorraine
Authors: Chouchani, E. T., Pell, V. R., Gaude, E., Aksentijević, D., Sundier, S. Y., Robb, E. L., Logan, A., Nadtochiy, S. M., Ord, E. N.J., Smith, A. C., Eyassu, F., Shirley, R., Hu, C.-H., Dare, A. J., James, A. M., Rogatti, S., Hartley, R. C., Eaton, S., Costa, A. S. H., Brookes, P. S., Davidson, S. M., Duchen, M. R., Saeb-Parsy, K., Shattock, M. J., Robinson, A. J., Work, L. M., Frezza, C., Krieg, T., and Murphy, M. P.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
Journal Name:Nature
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:0028-0836
ISSN (Online):1476-4687

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
571821Modulation of miRNA as a therapeutic strategy for strokeLorraine WorkMedical Research Council (MRC)G1100562RI CARDIOVASCULAR & MEDICAL SCIENCES