Abstract 13768: Pim-1 Preserves Mitochondrial Morphology by Inhibiting Drp1 Translocation

Rationale: Mitochondrial morphologic dynamics affect cardiac ischemic injury. Dynamin Related Protein 1 (Drp1) mediates mitochondrial fission with mitochondrial localization during pathological challenge sensitizing cardiomyocytes to apoptosis. Therefore, Drp1 inhibition promotes reticular mitochondrial networks that may contribute to cardioprotection, but mechanisms regulating Drp1 are poorly understood. Since Pim1 kinase maintains mitochondrial integrity, the relationship between Pim1 and Drp1 was assessed as a novel mechanism to prevent Drp1 mediated mitochondrial fission. Objective: Demonstrate Pim1 inhibits mitochondrial Drp1 translocation. Methods and Results: Simulated ischemia (sI) and sI/reperfusion (sI/R) induced mitochondrial fragmentation with Drp1 translocation to mitochondria in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM). Pharmacologic inhibition of Drp1 by mdivi1 preserved mitochondrial reticular morphology and inhibited apoptosis. Mice subjected to sI/R injury displayed Drp1 mitochondrial localiza...