The multifaceted mitochondrion: An attractive candidate for therapeutic strategies

Flavie Strappazzon; Francesco Cecconi

doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2015.03.007

The multifaceted mitochondrion: An attractive candidate for therapeutic strategies

Pharmacol Res. 2015 Sep:99:425-33. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.03.007. Epub 2015 Mar 24.

Authors

Flavie Strappazzon¹, Francesco Cecconi²

Affiliations

¹ IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: f.strappazzon@hsantalucia.it.
² IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; Unit of Cell Stress and Survival, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

PMID: 25818167
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.03.007

Abstract

Mitochondria are considered the powerhouse of the cell and disturbances in mitochondrial functions are involved in several disorders such as neurodegeneration and mitochondrial diseases. This review summarizes pharmacological strategies that aim at modifying the number of mitochondria, their dynamics or the mitochondrial quality-control mechanisms, in several pathological instances in which any of these mechanisms are impaired or abnormal. The interplay between different cellular pathways that involve mitochondria in order to respond to stress is highlighted. Such a high mitochondrial plasticity could be exploited for new treatments.

Keywords: Mitochondrial biogenesis; Mitochondrial plasticity; Mitochondrial quality control.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Humans
Mitochondria / physiology*
Mitochondrial Diseases / pathology*
Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology*
Signal Transduction / physiology

Grants and funding

GGP14202/TI_/Telethon/Italy