Caffeine improves mitochondrial function in PINK1B9-null mutant Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Journal of bioenergetics and biomembranes Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 1 - 13
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, Débora F., Senger, Leahn R., Foletto, João V.P., Michelotti, Paula, Soares, Félix A. A., Dalla Corte, Cristiane L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adenosine; Adenosine receptors; Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; ATP; Biochemistry; Bioorganic Chemistry; Caffeine; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Drosophila melanogaster; Electron transfer; Electron transport chain; Flies; Fluctuations; Fruit flies; Histology; Insects; Medical treatment; Mitochondria; Morphology; Movement disorders; Mutants; Mutation; NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase; Neurodegenerative diseases; Organic Chemistry; Oxidative phosphorylation; Parkinson's disease; Phosphorylation; PTEN-induced putative kinase; Quality control; Respirometry; Rotenone; Signs and symptoms; Synthesis; Xenobiotics; PINK1; Complex I; High-resolution respirometry; Xanthine; Bioenergetics
• ISSN: 0145-479X; 1573-6881
• DOI: 10.1007/s10863-022-09952-5

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and can be triggered by xenobiotics and mutations in mitochondrial quality control genes, such as the PINK1 gene. Caffeine has been proposed as a secondary treatment to relieve PD symptoms mainly by its antagonistic effects on adenosine receptors (ARs). Nonetheless, the potential protective effects of caffeine on mitochondrial dysfunction could be a strategy in PD treatment but need further investigation. In this study, we used high-resolution respirometry (HRR) to test caffeine’s effects on mitochondrial dysfunction in PINK1 B9 -null mutants of Drosophila melanogaster . PINK1 loss-of-function induced mitochondrial dysfunction in PINK1 B9 -null flies observed by a decrease in O 2 flux related to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and electron transfer system (ETS), respiratory control ratio (RCR) and ATP synthesis compared to control flies. Caffeine treatment improved OXPHOS and ETS in PINK B9 -null mutant flies, increasing the mitochondrial O 2 flux compared to untreated PINK B9 -null mutant flies. Moreover, caffeine treatment increased O 2 flux coupled to ATP synthesis and mitochondrial respiratory control ratio (RCR) in PINK 1 B9 -null mutant flies. The effects of caffeine on respiratory parameters were abolished by rotenone co-treatment, suggesting that caffeine exerts its beneficial effects mainly by stimulating the mitochondrial complex I (CI). In conclusion, we demonstrate that caffeine may improve mitochondrial function by increasing mitochondrial OXPHOS and ETS respiration in the PD model using PINK1 loss-of-function mutant flies.