title: Mitochondrial biogenesis and healthy aging.
abstract: Aging is associated with an overall loss of function at the level of the whole organism that has origins in cellular deterioration. Most cellular components, including mitochondria, require continuous recycling and regeneration throughout the lifespan. Mitochondria are particularly susceptive to damage over time as they are the major bioenergetic machinery and source of oxidative stress in cells. Effective control of mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover, therefore, becomes critical for the maintenance of energy production, the prevention of endogenous oxidative stress and the promotion of healthy aging. Multiple endogenous and exogenous factors regulate mitochondrial biogenesis through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha). Activators of PGC-1alpha include nitric oxide, CREB and AMPK. Calorie restriction (CR) and resveratrol, a proposed CR mimetic, also increase mitochondrial biogenesis through activation of PGC-1alpha. Moderate exercise also mimics CR by inducing mitochondrial biogenesis. Negative regulators of PGC-1alpha such as RIP140 and 160MBP suppress mitochondrial biogenesis. Another mechanism involved in mitochondrial maintenance is mitochondrial fission/fusion and this process also involves an increasing number of regulatory proteins. Dysfunction of either biogenesis or fission/fusion of mitochondria is associated with diseases of the neuromuscular system and aging, and a greater understanding of the regulation of these processes should help us to ultimately control the aging process.
authors.affiliation: Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide-CSIC, Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López-Lluch
authors.forename: Pablo M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Irusta
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navas
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Cabo
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D006728:Hormones; C486497:PPARGC1A protein, human; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D014157:Transcription Factors