Cardiac Troponin I R193H Mutation Is Associated with Mitochondrial Damage in Cardiomyocytes

Malfunction of myocardial mitochondria plays a crucial role in the development of cardiovascular disorders, especially hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is an important structural protein and essential to contraction and relaxation of cardiomyocytes. Recent studies suggest that mutated cTnIR193H could function as a regulatory molecule for other cell functions. This study was to determine whether mutated cTnI could contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction of cardiomyocytes. Primary cardiomyocytes were transfected with cTnIR193H adenovirus with empty vector as control. Mitochondrial structure and function were evaluated in the cells 72 h after transfection. Transmission electron microscopy examination showed mitochondria in the cardiomyocytes with R193H mutation displayed broken cristae, vacuolation, and mitophagy. Mitochondrial function studies revealed a significant decrease in complex I activity, ATP and reactive oxygen species levels, and oxygen consumption rate compared with controls. Western blot analysis demonstrated that expressions of mitochondria-related genes, including ND5 (ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 5), LRPPRC (a leucine-rich protein of pentatricopeptide repeat family), and PGC-1α (PPARG co-activator 1 alpha), were significantly downregulated in R193H mutation cardiomyocytes compared with the control. Swelling and broken cristae were observed in the mitochondria of cardiomyocytes from cTnIR193H mutation transgenic mice with decreased mitochondrial function, not from the littermate control mice. The data from the present study demonstrated that mitochondrial structure and function were significantly impaired in cardiomyocytes with cTnIR193H mutation, suggesting that cTnI might be critically involved in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of myocardial mitochondria.