title: Mitochondrial dysfunction: different routes to Alzheimer's disease therapy.
abstract: Mitochondria are dynamic ATP-generating organelle which contribute to many cellular functions including bioenergetics processes, intracellular calcium regulation, alteration of reduction-oxidation potential of cells, free radical scavenging, and activation of caspase mediated cell death. Mitochondrial functions can be negatively affected by amyloid β peptide (Aβ), an important component in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, and Aβ can interact with mitochondria and cause mitochondrial dysfunction. One of the most accepted hypotheses for AD onset implicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are one of the primary events in the insurgence of the pathology. Here, we examine structural and functional mitochondrial changes in presence of Aβ. In particular we review data concerning Aβ import into mitochondrion and its involvement in mitochondrial oxidative stress, bioenergetics, biogenesis, trafficking, mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) formation, and mitochondrial protein interaction. Moreover, the development of AD therapy targeting mitochondria is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biomedicina ed Immunologia Molecolare (IBIM) "Alberto Monroy," CNR, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Picone
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biomedicina ed Immunologia Molecolare (IBIM) "Alberto Monroy," CNR, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nuzzo
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biomedicina ed Immunologia Molecolare (IBIM) "Alberto Monroy," CNR, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caruana
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biomedicina ed Immunologia Molecolare (IBIM) "Alberto Monroy," CNR, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scafidi
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biomedicina ed Immunologia Molecolare (IBIM) "Alberto Monroy," CNR, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000378:metabolism; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D000975:Antioxidants; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases