Mitochondria and Critical Illness

Gerald S. Supinski, Elizabeth A. Schroder, Leigh Ann Callahan

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

136 Scopus citations

Abstract

Classically, mitochondria have largely been believed to influence the development of illness by modulating cell metabolism and determining the rate of production of high-energy phosphate compounds (eg, adenosine triphosphate). It is now recognized that this view is simplistic and that mitochondria play key roles in many other processes, including cell signaling, regulating gene expression, modulating cellular calcium levels, and influencing the activation of cell death pathways (eg, caspase activation). Moreover, these multiple mitochondrial functional characteristics are now known to influence the evolution of cellular and organ function in many disease states, including sepsis, ICU-acquired skeletal muscle dysfunction, acute lung injury, acute renal failure, and critical illness-related immune function dysregulation. In addition, diseased mitochondria generate toxic compounds, most notably released mitochondrial DNA, which can act as danger-associated molecular patterns to induce systemic toxicity and damage multiple organs throughout the body. This article reviews these evolving concepts relating mitochondrial function and acute illness. The discussion is organized into four sections: (1) basics of mitochondrial physiology; (2) cellular mechanisms of mitochondrial pathophysiology; (3) critical care disease processes whose initiation and evolution are shaped by mitochondrial pathophysiology; and (4) emerging treatments for mitochondrial dysfunction in critical illness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)310-322
Number of pages13
JournalChest
Volume157
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American College of Chest Physicians

Keywords

  • critical illness
  • lung injury
  • mitochondria
  • muscle dysfunction
  • sepsis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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