Mitochondria and Cardiovascular Disease: A Brief Account

Abstract

Mitochondria represent the heart unit of the cardiac cell because they are involved in ATP production and in the transfer to the contractile apparatus. Furthermore, mitochondria modulate Ca2+ homeostasis, manage redox status, and regulate response to cellular and environmental stresses. Abnormalities in mitochondrial organelle structure and function have been observed in many cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and stroke, and in drug-induced cardiomyopathies. This review summarizes the recent literature in this field.