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REVIEW article

Front. Physiol.
Sec. Mitochondrial Research
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1430230

Mitophagy in Fibrotic Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications

Provisionally accepted
Xinyan Cui Xinyan Cui 1Zekun Zhou Zekun Zhou 1*Hua Tu Hua Tu 1*Jianjun Wu Jianjun Wu 1*Jian Zhou Jian Zhou 2*Qiao Yi Qiao Yi 1*Ousheng Liu Ousheng Liu 1*
  • 1 Xiangya Stomatological Hospital & Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, China
  • 2 Capital Medical University, Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Mitophagy is a highly precise process of selective autophagy, primarily aimed at eliminating excess or damaged mitochondria to maintain the stability of both mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis. In recent years, with in-depth research into the association between mitophagy and fibrotic diseases, it has been discovered that this process may interact with crucial cellular biological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, cellular dynamics regulation, and energy metabolism, thereby influencing the occurrence and progression of fibrotic diseases. Consequently, modulating mitophagy holds promise as a therapeutic approach for fibrosis. Currently, various methods have been identified to regulate mitophagy to prevent fibrosis, categorized into three types: natural drug therapy, biological therapy, and physical therapy. This review comprehensively summarizes the current understanding of the mechanisms of mitophagy, delves into its biological roles in fibrotic diseases, and introduces mitophagy modulators effective in fibrosis, aiming to provide new targets and theoretical basis for the investigation of fibrosis-related mechanisms and disease prevention.

    Keywords: mitophagy, Fibrosis, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Energy Metabolism, Treatment

    Received: 09 May 2024; Accepted: 17 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Cui, Zhou, Tu, Wu, Zhou, Yi and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Zekun Zhou, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital & Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, China
    Hua Tu, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital & Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, China
    Jianjun Wu, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital & Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, China
    Jian Zhou, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, Beijing Municipality, China
    Qiao Yi, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital & Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, China
    Ousheng Liu, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital & Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.