This Research Topic is part of the Mitochondria in Renal Health and Disease series:
Mitochondria in Renal Health and Disease, Volume IIMitochondria is a unique signaling hub, which carries a variety of roles in addition to the main function of providing energy to the cell. Mitochondria provide ATP to cell metabolism during aerobic respiration, which is a key process for highly energy-consuming tissues, including nephron cells. Impairments in energy production in the renal epithelium immediately lead to kidney dysfunction. However, many other mitochondrial functions are critical to the organism and in particular to the kidneys. Mitochondria synthesize a number of metabolites, such as steroids, heme, and FeS-containing proteins. One of the most important functions of mitochondria is the regulation of redox balance in the cell, which violation leads to oxidative stress; many renal pathologies are associated with the increased production of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, the participation of mitochondria in cell differentiation and dedifferentiation was shown, which is critical for the kidney, whose regenerative potential is based in particular on the dedifferentiation of the tubular epithelium. Number of signaling pathways that determine cell death/survival are associated with mitochondria, so the study of their structure and function in normal and pathological kidney physiology is critical for the development of new strategies for the therapy of renal failure.
In this Research Topic, we would like to assemble cutting-edge views on the role of mitochondria in the acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, to analyze the participation of the organelles in nephrogenesis and kidney regeneration after damage, to assess the possibility of approaches targeted to mitochondria for the renal pathologies treatment. We aim to review the latest advances in the molecular biology of mitochondria, their genetics, and the analysis of their functions using electronic and fluorescent microscopy, or functional approaches.
Original research, reviews, mini-reviews, study protocols, and hypotheses papers are welcome covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
- Molecular and genetic patterns that regulate function of mitochondria in different kidney cells
in vivo and
in vitro- The role of oxidative, nitrosative and reductive stress in renal pathologies
- Mitochondria-targeted approaches including but not limited to antioxidants
- Mitochondria-associated pathways of kidney regeneration, including mitochondria function in dedifferentiation and renal progenitor cell biology