Advances in Mitochondrial Medicine
Mitochondria are far more than the “powerhouse” of the cell as they have classically been described. In fact, mitochondria biological activities have progressively expanded to include not only various bioenergetic processes but also important biosynthetic
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Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Editorial Board: IRUN R. COHEN, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel ABEL LAJTHA, N.S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA JOHN D. LAMBRIS, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA RODOLFO PAOLETTI, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/5584
Roberto Scatena • Patrizia Bottoni • Bruno Giardina Editors
Advances in Mitochondrial Medicine
Editors Roberto Scatena Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry School of Medicine, Catholic University Largo A. Gemelli 8 00168 Rome Italy
Patrizia Bottoni Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry School of Medicine, Catholic University Largo A. Gemelli 8 00168 Rome Italy
Bruno Giardina Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry School of Medicine, Catholic University Largo A. Gemelli 8 00168 Rome Italy
ISSN 0065-2598 ISBN 978-94-007-2868-4 e-ISBN 978-94-007-2869-1 DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-2869-1 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2011945106 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface
Mitochondria are far more than the “powerhouse” of the cell as they have classically been described. In fact, mitochondria biological activities have progressively expanded to include not only various bioenergetic processes but also important biosynthetic pathways, calcium homeostasis and thermogenesis, cell death by apoptosis, several different signal transduction pathways mainly related to redox control of gene expression and so on. This functional and structural complexity may undergo important derangements so to justify the definition of ‘mitochondrial medicine’, which should include all the clinical consequences of congenital or acquired mitochondrial dysfunctions. There are actually a growing number of studies which assign a significant pathogenic role to damaged mitochondria in different diseases: ischemia/reperfusion injury, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, hyperlipidemias, just to mention a few of the most important pathologies. In this context, a further aspect that should not be disregarded is the interaction of pharmacological agents with mitochondria, not only in regard of the toxicological aspects but, above all, of the potential therapeutic applications. In fact, it is interesting to note that, while the properties of different so-called “mitoxicants” are well-known from a physical, chemical and biochemical point of view, the often subtle
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