title: Mitochondrial physiology and pathology; concepts of programmed death of organelles, cells and organisms.
abstract: The review summarizes the present state of our knowledge concerning alternative functions of mitochondria, namely energy conservation in forms of protonic potential and ATP, thermoregulatory energy dissipation as heat, production of useful substances, decomposition of harmful substances, control of cellular processes. The recent progress in understanding of some mitochondrion-linked pathologies is described. The role of reactive oxygen species in these processes is stressed. Possible mechanisms of programmed death of mitochondrion (mitoptosis), cell (apoptosis) and organism (phenoptosis) are considered. A concept is put forward assuming that mitoptosis is involved in some types of apoptosis whereas apoptosis can be a part of a phenoptotic cascade. It is hypothesized that septic shock, as well as the stress-induced brain and heart ischemic diseases and cancer, exemplify mechanisms of phenoptosis purifying population, community of organisms or kin from dangerous or useless individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioenergetics, A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Russian Federation. skulach@head.genebee.msu.su
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Skulachev
mesh_terms: D000154:Aconitate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D015388:Organelles / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015424:Reperfusion; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000378:metabolism; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000154:Aconitate Hydratase; D002118:Calcium