Molecular mechanisms of mitophagy and its roles in neurodegenerative diseases
- Pharmacol Res. 2021 Jan:163:105240. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105240.
- 1. State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
- 2. Department of Neurology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing 102218, China.
- 3. China National Center for Biotechnology Development, Beijing 100039, China.
- 4. State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
- 5. State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
Neurodegenerative diseases are the most common diseases of the nervous system in elderly people, which are currently incurable and cause great burden to families and societies. Mitochondria are the energy factory of the cell and have extremely important effects on neuronal function. The elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria is essential for the mitochondrial metabolic homeostasis, energy supply, and neuronal survival. Recent studies suggest that the impaired Mitophagy may lead to the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and therefore contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. This review mainly focuses on Mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics, and their abnormal changes in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the therapeutic strategies targeting Mitophagy that have shown promise in recent preclinical and clinical studies.