Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Autophagy in Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:183469. doi: 10.1155/2015/183469. Epub 2015 Dec 6.

Abstract

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a major complication of liver resection, transplantation, and hemorrhagic shock. Although the mechanisms that contribute to hepatic I/R are complex and diverse involving the interaction of cell injury in hepatocytes, immune cells, and endothelium, mitochondrial dysfunction is a cardinal event culminating in hepatic reperfusion injury. Mitochondrial autophagy, so-called mitophagy, is a key cellular process that regulates mitochondrial homeostasis and eliminates damaged mitochondria in a timely manner. Growing evidence accumulates that I/R injury is attributed to defective mitophagy. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of autophagy and its role in hepatic I/R injury and highlight the various therapeutic approaches that have been studied to ameliorate injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy*
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver Diseases / metabolism
  • Liver Diseases / pathology*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Mitophagy
  • Reperfusion Injury / metabolism
  • Reperfusion Injury / pathology*