Morphine prevents the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening through NO/cGMP/PKG/Zn2+/GSK-3beta signal pathway in cardiomyocytes.

The aim of this study was to test whether morphine prevents the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening through Zn(2+) and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta). Fluorescence dyes including Newport Green Dichlorofluorescein (DCF), 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7'-difluorofluorescein (DAF-FM), and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) were used to image free Zn(2+), nitric oxide (NO), and mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)), respectively. Fluorescence images were obtained with confocal microscopy. Cardiomyocytes treated with morphine for 10 min showed a significant increase in Newport Green DCF fluorescence intensity, an effect that was reversed by the NO synthase inhibitor N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), indicating that morphine mobilizes Zn(2+) via NO. Morphine rapidly produced NO. ODQ and NS2028, the inhibitors of guanylyl cyclase, prevented Zn(2+) release by morphine, implying that cGMP is involved in the action of morphine. The effect of morphine on Zn(2+) release was also abolished by KT5823, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase G (PKG). Morphine prevented oxidant-induced loss of DeltaPsi(m), indicating that morphine can modulate the mPTP opening. The effect of morphine on the mPTP was reversed by KT5823 and the Zn(2+) chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis-(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN). The action of morphine on the mPTP was lost in cells transfected with the constitutively active GSK-3beta mutant, suggesting that morphine may prevent the mPTP opening by inactivating GSK-3beta. In support, morphine significantly enhanced phosphorylation of GSK-3beta at Ser(9), and this was blocked by TPEN. GSK-3beta small interfering RNA prevented the pore opening in the control cardiomyocytes but failed to enhance the effect of morphine on the mPTP opening. In conclusion, morphine mobilizes intracellular Zn(2+) through the NO/cGMP/PKG signaling pathway and prevents the mPTP opening by inactivating GSK-3beta through Zn(2+).