Lab Invest. 2023 Dec 15. pii: S0023-6837(23)00250-7. [Epub ahead of print] 100307
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare use worldwide with heterogeneous pathogenesis. Mitochondria, the powerhouses in cells responsible for oxidative phosphorylation and energy production, play essential roles in intracellular material metabolism, natural immunity, and cell death regulation. Therefore, it is crucial to address the urgent need for fine-tuning the regulation of mitochondrial quality to combat COPD effectively. Mitochondrial quality control (MQC) mainly refers to the selective removal of damaged or aging mitochondria and the generation of new mitochondria, which involves mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, etc. Mounting evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction is a crucial contributor to the development and progression of COPD. This article mainly reviews the effects of MQC on COPD as well as their specific regulatory mechanisms. Finally, the therapeutic approaches of COPD via MQC are also illustrated.
Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; mitochondrial biogenesis; mitochondrial dynamics; mitochondrial quality control; mitophagy