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Mitochondrial Transplantation: A Critical Analysis

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Abstract

“Mitochondrial transplantation” refers to a procedure for introducing isolated mitochondria into a damaged area of a heart or other organ. A considerable amount of data has been accumulated on the therapeutic effects of “mitochondrial transplantation” in animals with ischemic heart damage. In 2017, the first attempts were made to apply this procedure in a clinic. The authors of the method suggest that exogenous mitochondria penetrate into cardiomyocytes, retaining functional activity, and compensate for impaired energy output of endogenous mitochondria. This hypothesis contradicts the well-known fact of loss of mitochondrial functions in the presence of high concentrations of Ca2+, which are characteristic of the extracellular medium. This review critically considers the possible mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of “mitochondrial transplantation”.

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Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to R. A. Zinovkin (A.N. Belozersky Institute, Lomonosov Moscow State University) for a valuable discussion of the work.

Funding

The study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 17-00-00088).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Russia

    B. V. Chernyak

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Correspondence to B. V. Chernyak.

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This article does not describe the studies performed by the author with the participation of humans or the use of animals as objects. The author declares no conflict of interest.

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Chernyak, B. Mitochondrial Transplantation: A Critical Analysis. Biochemistry Moscow 85, 636–641 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297920050132

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