Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 17, Issue 20, 2011

Mitochondria have been in the focus of intense biomedical research over the last 10 years. The complex participation of these organelles in cellular pathophysiology arises from their versatile function which includes bioenergetics, ROS generation and redox balance, Ca2+ homeostasis maintainance, thermogenesis, essential anabolic pathways as well as active regulation of several cell survival/death pathways. Importan Read More

Diabetes is a severe, heterogeneous, multifactorial, chronic disease. Diabetes and oxidative stress are related to continuous and acute overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS are released principally from mitochondria, but also have other sources. Oxidative stress seems to play an important role in mitochondria-mediated disease processes, though the exact molecular mechanisms responsibl Read More

Mitochondria are involved in different physiological and pathological processes that are crucial for tumor cell physiology, growth and survival. Since cancer cells have frequently disrupted different cell death pathways that promote their survival, mitochondria may be key organelles to promote cell death in cancer cells. The present review is focused on the different experimental and therapeutic cancer strategies addressed to ei Read More

Mitochondria represent approximately one-third of the mass of the heart and play a critical role in maintaining cellular function- however, they are also a potent source of free radicals and pro-apoptotic factors. As such, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis is essential to cell survival. As the dominant source of ATP, continuous quality control is mandatory to ensure their ongoing optimal function. Mitochondrial quality control i Read More

Aging is a physiologic state in which a progressive decline of organ functions may be accompanied by developing age-related diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. The causes of such conditions remain unknown, being probably related to a multifactor process. To date, the Free Radical and Mitochondrial theories seem to be the two most prominent that could explain both how and why aged people develop certai Read More

The process of intracellular macromolecular degradation known as macroautophagy has long been associated with the degradation of mitochondria. Recent studies have provided evidence that the process of mitochondria degradation via autophagy, now referred to as mitophagy, appears to be specifically targeted to mitochondria and highly regulated under both physiologic and pathologic conditions. This article pr Read More

Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas' disease, which affects some 8 - 10 million people in the Americas. The only two drugs approved for the etiological treatment of the disease in humans were launched more than 40 years ago and have serious drawbacks. In the present work, we revisit the unique characteristics of T. cruzi mitochondria and mitochondrial metabolism. The possibility of taking adva Read More

Drug-induced mitochondrial toxicity is rapidly gaining recognition within the pharmaceutical industry as a contributor to compound attrition and post-market drug withdrawals. This article describes the mechanisms which lead to drug-induced mitochondrial toxicity, discusses high-throughput in vitro assays which are currently being used to identify mitochondrial dysfunction, and provides an overview on some of the drugs whi Read More

Mitochondria have long been involved in several cellular processes beyond its role in energy production. The importance of this organelle for cardiac tissue homeostasis has been greatly investigated and its impairment can lead to cell death and consequent organ failure. Several compounds have been described in the literature as having direct effects on cardiac mitochondria which can provide a mechanistic expl Read More

The combined antiretroviral therapeutic approach currently employed for the treatment of HIV infection, known as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), has dramatically reduced AIDS-related morbidity and mortality. However, the adverse reactions associated with the long term use of this therapy have now become a major issue and researchers have focused on understanding the cellular mechanisms underlyin Read More