Mitochondria, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases

About this Research Topic

Background

This is a Research Topic initiated by NAVBO, the North American Vascular Biology Organization.

Mitochondria are intracellular organelle playing central roles in intracellular energy metabolism. Recently, much attention has been focused on the role of mitochondria in the mechanisms of atherosclerosis and cardiometabolic syndromes. ATP production via β-oxidation, TCA cycle, and mitochondrial electron transport chain is essential for cell survival and activity. At the same time, reactive oxygen species generated in these processes promote cardiovascular diseases. Mitophagy is induced in cells under stress, e.g., starvation or hypoxia, as a maintenance system of mitochondrial quality. Emerging evidence suggests that the impairment of these processes also promotes the pathology of cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondrial dynamics are also gathering attention due to their role in physiological and pathological conditions.

This research topic aims to demonstrate the latest data of mitochondria research and deepen the understandings of their role in the mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases, especially atherosclerosis and cardiometabolic syndromes. The development of imaging techniques accelerated multidisciplinary research combined with conventional methods, revealing that mitochondrial morphological changes in vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and inflammatory cells are involved in the regulatory mechanisms of cellular functions. Detailed mechanisms of how these mitochondrial dynamics promote the disease process are obscure. Mitochondria-associated ER membrane (MAM) is where lipid synthesis, Ca release, and autophagosome formation occurs, but its role in atherosclerosis has not been clarified.

In terms of clinical translation, research on mitochondria-targeting drug delivery systems and drug developments that target mitochondria are also the subject of this topic. Especially due to the diverse role of mitochondria, breakthroughs to avoid undesired side effects are necessary for the development of mitochondria-targeting therapeutics.

Research themes of interest include but are not limited to:
1) Mitochondrial metabolism and cardiovascular diseases.
2) Redox signaling and mitochondria.
3) Mitochondria in innate immunity.
4) Mitochondria in endothelial and vascular dysfunction.
5) Mitochondria in cellular senescence, ferroptosis, and other cell fate determination.
6) Mitochondria in inter-organelle communication.
7) Therapeutics targeting mitochondria and their related molecules.

Keywords: Mitochondria, Cardiometabolic syndromes, Redox homeostasis, Immune response, Vascular endothelium, Cellular senescence, Cell death, Non-coding RNAs, Society affiliation RT

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