Cardiology Letters 2020, 29(2):106-112

Cardiac mitochondria in the role of cardioprotective strategies

Andelová N, Jašová M, Kancirová I, Ferko M

Centrum experimentálnej medicíny Slovenskej akadémie vied, Ústav pre výskum srdca, Bratislava, Slovenská republika

In recent years, the view of cardiac mitochondria as an energy source providing the ATP supply needed to maintain contractile function, basal metabolic processes and ionic homeostasis has changed significantly. It is currently known that dysfunction of these organelles results in the development of a large number of diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondria are currently considered a promising target and end effector of endogenous strategies necessary to protect the myocardium from acute ischemia/ reperfusion injury. The present review offers an overview of survival cascades involved in the endogenous protective mechanisms and adaptability of cardiac mitochondria. Regulation at the level of mitochondrial permeability transition pores is an important part of the cardioprotective compensatory mechanisms. The involvement of mitochondria in endogenous protective processes is also associated with the signaling role of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The described mechanisms are part of an innovative strategy to compensating for myocardial pathological stimuli associated with energy deficiency, prolonged calcium transient, and massive ROS formation.

Keywords: cardiac mitochondria; mitochondrial permeability transition pores; heart energetics; cardioprotection

Published: February 1, 2020  Show citation