Mitochondria: Biological Targets for Fighting Disease

Dear Colleagues,

In the battle against many pathological conditions, one of the fundamental objectives is the identification of specific molecular mechanisms that can be exploited by cellular targets of molecules with therapeutic action.

Mitochondria are an established emerging drug target. As the powerhouse of the cell, mitochondria are also the fulcrum of numerous catabolic, anabolic or signalling pathways, regulate calcium homeostasis, and are also indispensable in proliferation and cell death. Therefore, their dysfunction could be crucial for the development of many diseases.

Mitochondrial dysfunctions (MDs), mainly characterized by alterations in the impairment of oxidative phosphorylation can induce alteration of the central metabolism of carbon, the production of oxygen free radicals and the biosynthesis of intermediates for cell growth. Consistently, MDs might give rise to mitochondrial diseases, mainly induced by mutations in nuclear or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes. However, mitochondria participate in nearly all aspects of cellular function, influencing processes not traditionally related to the organelle, including signal transduction, cell transformation, cell fate, and cell death.

Cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative or muscle disorders, and cancer are some examples of conditions sustained or caused by MDs. Moreover, mitochondrial diseases can arise if MDs are an effect downstream of the disease process. Mitochondria, therefore, represent an important pharmacological target for these highly widespread diseases.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to identify specific molecular pathways involving mitochondria to be able to exploit them as promising targets for the treatment of a series of conventional and not conventional diseases, which can be exploited as specific targets of molecules with therapeutic action.

Dr. Salvatore Nesci
Dr. Cristina Algieri
Guest Editors

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• mitochondria
• mitochondria isolation
• oxidative phosphorylation
• mitochondrial diseases
• apoptosis
• bioenergetics
• mitochondrial dynamics
• ATP
• oxidative stress
• mitochondrial bioenergetics
• mitochondrial dysfunction
• mitochondrial biology
• respiratory chain
• heart mitochondria
• mitochondrial function
• liver mitochondria
• muscle mitochondria
• mitochondrial disorders
• mitochondrial proteins
• energy metabolism
• electron transport chain
• mitochondrial respiration