A novel mitochondrial complex I ROS inhibitor partially improves muscle regeneration in adult but not old mice.

It is unclear whether mitochondrial dysfunction and redox stress contribute to impaired age-related muscle regenerative capacity. Here we characterized a novel compound, BI4500, that inhibits the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the quinone site in mitochondrial complex I (site I). We tested the hypothesis that ROS release from site I contributes to impaired regenerative capacity in aging muscle. Electron transfer system site-specific ROS production was measured in adult and aged mouse isolated muscle mitochondria and permeabilized gastrocnemius fibers. BI4500 inhibited ROS production from site I in a concentration-dependent manner (IC = ∼985 nM) by inhibiting ROS release without impairing complex I-linked respiration. In vivo BI4500 treatment decreased ROS production from site I. Muscle injury and sham injury were induced using barium chloride or vehicle injection to the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle in adult and aged male mice. On the same day as injury, mice began a daily gavage of 30 mg/kg BI4500 (BI) or placebo (PLA). Muscle regeneration (H&E, Sirius Red, Pax7) was measured at 5 and 35 days after injury. Muscle injury increased centrally nucleated fibers (CNFs) and fibrosis with no treatment or age effect. There was a significant age by treatment interaction for CNFs at 5- and 35-days post injury with significantly more CNFs in BI adults compared to PLA adults. Muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) recovered significantly more in adult BI mice (-89 ± 365 μm) compared to old PLA (-599 ± 153 μm) and old BI (-535 ± 222 μm, mean ± SD). In situ TA force recovery was measured 35 days after injury and was not significantly different by age or treatment. Inhibition of site I ROS partially improves muscle regeneration in adult but not old muscle demonstrating a role for CI ROS in the response to muscle injury. Site I ROS does not contribute to impaired regenerative capacity in aging.