Effects of diazoxide, benzothiadiazine and benzopyrane derivatives on mitochondrial proton and electron leaks of cardiomyocytes (H9C2 cell line).

Background: Mitochondria are double membrane- organelles that play a central role in cellular metabolism, calcium homeostasis and redox signaling. They have been also considered as main producers of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In many cancer cells those organelles become dysfunctional leading to a shift of energy metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to active glycolysis and an increase of ROS generation. According to Warberg’ theory, cancer damage might occur at the mitochondrial level, affecting tiny structures within each cell implicated in the energy production through ATP. New insight is that mitochondria might be a good therapeutic target for metabolic syndromes, ischemia/reperfusion injury and organs transplantation. Therefore, search for novel molecules able to keep mitochondria functional are of relevant interest. Methodology: Cardiomyocytes (H9C2 cells) were from ATCC (USA) and grown till confluence. The basal cellular respiratory rate, proton and electron leaks as well as ATP production were measured with the High Resolution Oxygraphy (Oroboros, Austria). All compounds: diazoxide (DIAZ), diazoxide –related analogs (1: BPDZ-259, 2: BPDZ-444), and benzopyran derivatives (3: BPDZ-490, 4: BPDZ-711) were tested at final concentration of 10-5 M, except when specified and compared to control samples (cells with or without DMSO). Results and conclusion: The basal respiratory rate of H9C2 cells (5x106/mL) was changed depending on the chemical structure of the tested compounds: e.g. compound 3 strongly enhanced the routine respiration, while 4 displayed a marked lowering effect. In contrast, the addition of similar concentration of benzothiadiazin derivatives (1, 2) had no effect on routine respiration but also on the other respiratory parameters such as oligomycin-induced leak and ATP production. Similar profile was obtained with the reference molecule: diazoxide.
Overall, our findings indicate that both diazoxide-like analogues (1 and 2) and diazoxide were without significant effect on basal respiration, ATP production, even on maximal respiration. Interestingly, two derivatives show opposite effects: compound 3 behaves as a uncoupling agent and the other one (4) exhibits a real lowering effect on respiration but that was reversible. The latter effect might be of interest if this kind of molecules could be used for further use as an agent for organ conservation during transplantation. Our results also demonstrate that diazoxide, a well-known Mito-KATP opener, did not exert its effect beside of clinical situation like ischemia/reperfusion injury.