Mitochondrial DNA damage and altered membrane potential (ΔΨ) in pancreatic acinar cells induced by reactive oxygen species

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the induction of acute pancreatitis. Mitochondria possess a distinct genome (mtDNA) that is more susceptible to ROS-induced damage than nuclear DNA (nDNA). The purpose of our study was to determine the effect of ROS on mitochondrial function and membrane potential (ΔΨ mt), to identify signal transduction mechanisms activated by ROS, and to quantify damage to mtDNA in an in vitro pancreatitis model. Methods: Pancreatic acinar cells, AR4-2J, were treated with saline solution (control) or hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2), a representative ROS. Mitochondrial function was assessed with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay; to determine ΔΨ mt, rhodamine-123 uptake was measured. Intracellular calcium levels and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity was determined; gel mobility shift assays were performed to assess induction of the transcription factor NF-κB. To quantitate DNA damage, a novel polymerase chain reaction–based procedure was performed. Results: Mitochondrial function and ΔΨ mt were significantly decreased with oxidative damage. H 2O 2 treatment resulted in increased intracellular calcium levels, activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and induction of NF-κB DNA binding. Treatment of AR4-2J cells with H 2O 2 resulted in selective mtDNA damage; nDNA was not affected. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that pancreatic mtDNA is more susceptible to oxidative damage than nDNA; this damage is associated with decreases in mitochondrial function and ΔΨ mt and activation of downstream signal transduction pathways. Mitochondrial damage mediated by ROS may play a central role in pancreatic cell injury associated with acute pancreatitis. (Surgery 1999:126:148-55.)