Altered expression of the adenine nucleotide translocase isoforms and decreased ATP synthase activity in skeletal muscle mitochondria in heart failure

Exercise intolerance is a component of heart failure (HF) syndrome. We aimed to identify the defects in skeletal muscle mitochondria which may contribute to the development of peripheral myopathy. Subsarcolemmal (SSM) and interfibrillar (IFM) mitochondria were isolated from gastrocnemius muscle of control dogs (N = 5) and dogs with pacing-induced HF (N = 5). The measurement of integrated mitochondrial function (oxidative phosphorylation) and of individual activities of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes was complemented with the assessment of the amount and activity of the components of the phosphorylation apparatus. Both populations of skeletal muscle mitochondria isolated from HF have significantly decreased ADP-stimulated (state 3) respiratory rates with complex I, II and III substrates. The decrease in respiratory rates of skeletal muscle SSM are neither relieved upon collapsing the mitochondrial potential with an uncoupler nor increased in the presence of maximal ADP concentrations showing a defect in the ETC, which needs further investigation. In contrast, respiratory rates of skeletal muscle IFM from HF were relieved with the uncoupler and partially improved in the presence of maximal ADP concentrations. In these IFM, alterations in the phosphorylation apparatus were detected with a decreased amount of ANT isoform 2 and increased amount of isoform 1. The IFM dysfunction may be explained by this shift in ANT isoforms. In conclusion, pacing-induced HF causes a decrease in the oxidative phosphorylation of skeletal muscle mitochondria due to defects in the ETC and phosphorylation apparatus.