Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Aging and Metabolic Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Mitochondria are crucial for cellular bioenergetics and play a major role in multiple cellular processes that dictate the fate of a cell. Mitochondrial dysfunction is characterized by a reduced efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation, generation of free radicals, and reductions in the synthesis of adenosine-5′-triphosphate. Accumulating evidences have suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of aging and age-related metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondria undergo periodical cycles of fission, fusion, and mitophagy as a quality control process. Defects in such a process cause accumulation of damaged mitochondria, which in turn decreases oxidative phosphorylation and increases the production of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations increase in frequency with age, and increased levels of mtDNA mutations also contribute to the onset of aging and age-related diseases. In addition, mitochondrial phospholipids, including cardiolipin (CL) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG), play a pivotal role in maintain mitochondrial integrity and function. It has been shown that mitochondrial membrane lipid composition is linked to metabolic rate and life span in a wide variety of animal species. Oxidized CL activates several innate immune pathways, and causes chronic inflammation and cellular senescence in aging and age-related metabolic diseases.  Although the underlying molecular pathways in regulating mitochondrial function is complex, it is crucial to understand the nexus of mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and age‐related metabolic diseases.

The current Special Issue will accept original studies, reviews, and technical reports in the field of mitochondrial biology and dysfunction, including mitochondrial quality control, oxidative stress, mtDNA integrity, synthesis and remodelling of mitochondrial phospholipids in aging and age-related metabolic diseases, written by scientists active in the field.

Prof. Yuguang Shi
Guest Editor
Dr. Jun Zhang
Assistant Guest Editor

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