Mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism across skin cells: implications for skin homeostasis and aging

Ines Martic; Federica Papaccio; Barbara Bellei; Maria Cavinato

doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1284410

Mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism across skin cells: implications for skin homeostasis and aging

Front Physiol. 2023 Nov 15:14:1284410. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1284410. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ines Martic^#^{1

2}, Federica Papaccio^#³, Barbara Bellei^#³, Maria Cavinato^#^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Biochemical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
² Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Innsbruck, Austria.
³ Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center for Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Aging of human skin is a complex process leading to a decline in homeostasis and regenerative potential of this tissue. Mitochondria are important cell organelles that have a crucial role in several cellular mechanisms such as energy production and free radical maintenance. However, mitochondrial metabolism as well as processes of mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis, and degradation varies considerably among the different types of cells that populate the skin. Disturbed mitochondrial function is known to promote aging and inflammation of the skin, leading to impairment of physiological skin function and the onset of skin pathologies. In this review, we discuss the essential role of mitochondria in different skin cell types and how impairment of mitochondrial morphology, physiology, and metabolism in each of these cellular compartments of the skin contributes to the process of skin aging.

Keywords: aging; mitochondria; skin; skin cells; skin homeostasis.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The authors declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Austrian Science Funds (FWF) with funds from the “Fonds Zukunft Österreich” in the frame of the Research Group “Targeting cellular senescence based on inter-organelle communication, multi-level proteostasis and metabolic control” (SENIOPROM, project # FG 2400-B) and by the Italian Ministry of Health (RC2023). IM received funding from Tiroler Wissenschaftsförderung (F.33827/10-2021). Additionally, IM was financed by a scholarship from the University of Innsbruck for her stay abroad (Aurora).