Mitochondrial Dynamics in Adult Cardiomyocytes and Heart Diseases

Anqi Li; Meng Gao; Wenting Jiang; Yuan Qin; Guohua Gong

doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.584800

Mitochondrial Dynamics in Adult Cardiomyocytes and Heart Diseases

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020 Dec 17:8:584800. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.584800. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Anqi Li¹, Meng Gao¹, Wenting Jiang¹, Yuan Qin^{1

2}, Guohua Gong¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Mitochondria are the powerhouse organelles of cells; they participate in ATP generation, calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress response, and apoptosis. Thus, maintenance of mitochondrial function is critical for cellular functions. As highly dynamic organelles, the function of mitochondria is dynamically regulated by their fusion and fission in many cell types, which regulate mitochondrial morphology, number, distribution, metabolism, and biogenesis in cells. Mature rod-shaped cardiomyocytes contain thousands of end-to-end contacted spheroid mitochondria. The movement of mitochondria in these cells is limited, which hinders the impetus for research into mitochondrial dynamics in adult cardiomyocytes. In this review, we discuss the most recent progress in mitochondrial dynamics in mature (adult) cardiomyocytes and the relationship thereof with heart diseases.

Keywords: dynamics; heart; mature cardiomyocytes; mitochondrial fission; mitochondrial fusion.

Publication types

Review