Mitochondria in Skeletal Muscle Health, Aging and Diseases

About this Research Topic

Background

Mitochondria are fascinating organelles regulating many critical cellular processes for skeletal muscle physiology. Indeed, they play central roles in muscle cell metabolism, energy supply, the regulation of energy-sensitive signaling pathways, reactive oxygen species production/signaling, calcium homeostasis and the regulation of apoptosis. It is therefore not surprising that mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in a large number of adverse events/conditions affecting skeletal muscle health. These include the aging-related deterioration of muscle function, disuse-induced skeletal muscle atrophy, sepsis-induced muscle wasting, cachexia, obesity-induced insulin-resistance and pathology-specific muscle atrophy and dysfunction occurring in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for instance, and much more. While the importance of normal mitochondrial function is well recognized for muscle physiology, there are important aspects of mitochondrial biology that are still poorly understood/investigated in the highly specialized muscle tissue. These include mitochondrial dynamics (fusion and fission processes), morphology and processes involved in mitochondrial quality control (mitophagy). Defining the mechanisms regulating these different aspects of mitochondrial biology, their importance for muscle physiology, as well as the interrelationships existing between mitochondrial function, morphology, dynamics and mitophagy will be critical to further increase our understanding of the role played by mitochondria in skeletal muscle physiology and pathophysiology. The aim of the present research topic is therefore to bring together key experiments, advances, knowledge and new findings related to all aspects of mitochondrial biology in healthy and/or diseased muscle cells. Contributors are encouraged to submit reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, research articles and short communications.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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