Besides being powerhouses of the cell, mitochondria released into extracellular space act as intercellular signaling. Mitochondria and their components mediate cell-to-cell communication in free form or embedded in a carrier. The pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease is complex, which shows close relationship with inflammation and metabolic abnormalities. Since mitochondria sustain optimal function of the heart, extracellular mitochondria are emerging as a key regulator in the development of cardiovascular disease. In this review, we provide recent findings in the presence and forms of mitochondria transfer between cells, as well as the effects of these mitochondria on vascular inflammation and ischemic myocardium. Mitochondrial transplantation is a novel treatment paradigm for patients suffering from acute cardiovascular accident and challenges the traditional methods of mitochondria isolation.
Keywords: extracellular vesicles; free circulating mitochondria DNA; inflammation; mitochondria; mitochondrial transplantation.