Mitophagy in neurodegeneration and aging

Elayne M Fivenson, Sofie Lautrup, Nuo Sun, Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, Tinna Stevnsner, Hilde Nilsen, Vilhelm A Bohr, Evandro Fei Fang

123 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to normal aging and a wide spectrum of age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. It is important to maintain a healthy mitochondrial population which is tightly regulated by proteolysis and mitophagy. Mitophagy is a specialized form of autophagy that regulates the turnover of damaged and dysfunctional mitochondria, organelles that function in producing energy for the cell in the form of ATP and regulating energy homeostasis. Mechanistic studies on mitophagy across species highlight a sophisticated and integrated cellular network that regulates the degradation of mitochondria. Strategies directed at maintaining a healthy mitophagy level in aged individuals might have beneficial effects. In this review, we provide an updated mechanistic overview of mitophagy pathways and discuss the role of reduced mitophagy in neurodegeneration. We also highlight potential translational applications of mitophagy-inducing compounds, such as NAD(+) precursors and urolithins.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNeurochemistry International
Volume109
Pages (from-to)202-209
ISSN0197-0186
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2017

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mitophagy in neurodegeneration and aging'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this