title: Mitochondrial dynamics: an emerging paradigm in ischemia-reperfusion injury.
abstract: Cardiomyocytes and neurons are highly susceptible to ischemia-reperfusion injury; accordingly, considerable effort has been devoted to elucidating the cellular mechanisms responsible for ischemia-reperfusion-induced cell death and developing novel strategies to minimize ischemia-reperfusion injury. Maintenance of mitochondrial integrity is, without question, a critical determinant of cell fate. However, there is emerging evidence of a novel and intriguing extension to this paradigm: mitochondrial dynamics (that is, changes in mitochondrial morphology achieved by fission and fusion) may play an important but as-yet poorly understood role as a determinant of cell viability. Focusing on heart and brain, our aims in this review are to provide a synopsis of the molecular mechanisms of fission and fusion, summarize our current understanding of the complex relationships between mitochondrial dynamics and the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury, and speculate on the possibility that targeted manipulation of mitochondrial dynamics may be exploited for the design of novel therapeutic strategies for cardio- and neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Elliman Building, Room 1107, 421 E Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201 USA. kprzykle@med.wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calo
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Przyklenk
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Sanderson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*