Dinuclear nitrido-bridged osmium complexes inhibit the mitochondrial calcium uniporter and protect cortical neurons against lethal oxygen–glucose deprivation

Dysregulation of mitochondrial calcium uptake mediated by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is implicated in several pathophysiological conditions. Dinuclear ruthenium complexes are effective inhibitors of the MCU and have been leveraged as both tools to study mitochondrial calcium dynamics and potential therapeutic agents. In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of Os245 ([Os(2)(μ-N)(NH(3))(8)Cl(2)](3+)) which is the osmium-containing analogue of our previously reported ruthenium-based inhibitor Ru265. This complex and its aqua-capped analogue Os245′ ([Os(2)(μ-N)(NH(3))(8)(OH(2))(2)](5+)) are both effective inhibitors of the MCU in permeabilized and intact cells. In comparison to the ruthenium-based inhibitor Ru265 (k(obs) = 4.92 × 10(−3) s(−1)), the axial ligand exchange kinetics of Os245 are two orders of magnitude slower (k(obs) = 1.63 × 10(−5) s(−1)) at 37 °C. The MCU-inhibitory properties of Os245 and Os245′ are different (Os245 IC(50) for MCU inhibition = 103 nM; Os245′ IC(50) for MCU inhibition = 2.3 nM), indicating that the axial ligands play an important role in their interactions with this channel. We further show that inhibition of the MCU by these complexes protects primary cortical neurons against lethal oxygen–glucose deprivation. When administered in vivo to mice (10 mg kg(−1)), Os245 and Os245′ induce seizure-like behaviors in a manner similar to the ruthenium-based inhibitors. However, the onset of these seizures is delayed, a possible consequence of the slower ligand substitution kinetics for these osmium complexes. These findings support previous studies that demonstrate inhibition of the MCU is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemic stroke, but also highlight the need for improved drug delivery strategies to mitigate the pro-convulsant effects of this class of complexes before they can be implemented as therapeutic agents. Furthermore, the slower ligand substitution kinetics of the osmium analogues may afford new strategies for the development and modification of this class of MCU inhibitors.