Erythropoiesis ; physiology ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Mitochondrial Degradation

Remodeling of the mitochondrial network is an important process in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and is closely related to mitochondrial function. Interactions between the biogenesis of new mitochondria and the clearance of damaged mitochondria (mitophagy) is an important manifestation of mitochondrial network remodeling. Mitochondrial fission and fusion act as a bridge between biogenesis and mitophagy. In recent years, the importance of these processes has been described in a variety of tissues and cell types and under a variety of conditions. For example, robust remodeling of the mitochondrial network has been reported during the polarization and effector function of macrophages. Previous studies have also revealed the important role of mitochondrial morphological structure and metabolic changes in regulating the function of macrophages. Therefore, the processes that regulate remodeling of the mitochondrial network also play a crucial role in the immune response of macrophages. In this paper, we focus on the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial regeneration, fission, fusion, and mitophagy in the process of mitochondrial network remodeling, and integrate these mechanisms to investigate their biological roles in macrophage polarization, inflammasome activation, and efferocytosis.
Mitochondria ; Mitophagy ; Homeostasis/physiology* ; Phagocytosis ; Macrophages/metabolism*

It has been shown that mitochondria not only control their own Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]), but also exert an influence over Ca(2+) signaling of the entire cell, including the endoplasmic reticulum or the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the plasma membrane, and the nucleus. That is to say, mitochondria couple cellular metabolic state with Ca(2+) transport processes. This review focuses on the ways in which the mitochondrial Ca(2+) handling system provides integrity and modulation for the cell to cope with the complex actions throughout its life cycle, enumerates some indeterminate aspects about it, and finally, prospects directions of future research.
Biological Transport ; Calcium Signaling ; Cell Membrane ; physiology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; physiology ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; physiology

Qi in TCM is the most essential substance that makes up the body and maintains life activities. All vital substances in the body are transformed by constant motion and changes of qi. Qi in TCM mainly means full of functions. What is the basic material attribute of qi? We don't have a systematic study on it. Therefore, we combined the achievement of modern medicine, and explored further from the origin, functions, pathogeneses, and therapies of mitochondria and qi. Surprisingly, we found out that the origin of mitochondria was similar to that of qi. They are tiny substance constituting the human body. Secondly, the function of mitochondria is similar to that of qi. When the disorder of qi and mitochondria occurs, similar vital signs occur or the same reactions occur. These results suggested that the basic material attribute of qi might be mitochondria.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Qi

Cell-to-cell connections provide conduits for signal exchanges, and play important functional roles in physiological and pathological processes of multicellular organisms. Membrane nanotubes are common long-distance connections between cells, not only transfer molecule signals and mitochondria, but also cooperate with gap junction and other cell-to-cell communications to transfer signals. During the last decade, there are many studies about membrane nanotubes, which focus on the similarities and differences between membrane nanotubes and other cell-to-cell communications, as well as their biological functions. In the present review, we summarized the latest findings about the structural diversity, the similarities and differences in signal transmission with other types of cell-to-cell communications, and physiological and pathological roles of membrane nanotubes.
Cell Communication ; Cell Membrane ; physiology ; Gap Junctions ; physiology ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Nanotubes

Long-term endurance training or physical activity has been confirmed not only to improve physical performance, but to bring about an obvious beneficial effect on human health; however, the mechanism of this effect is not clear. The most studied health adaptations in skeletal muscle response to endurance exercise are increased muscle glycogen level and insulin sensitivity, fiber type transformation toward oxidative myofibers, and increased mitochondrial content/function. Mitochondria are dynamic organelles in eukaryotic cells critical in physical performance and disease occurrence. The mitochondrial life cycle spans biogenesis, maintenance, and clearance. Exercise training may promote each of these processes and confer positive impacts on skeletal muscle contractile and metabolic functions. This review focused on the regulation of these processes by endurance exercise and discussed its potential benefits in health and disease. We presented evidence suggesting that exercise training potentiates not only the biogenesis of mitochondria but also the removal of old and unhealthy mitochondria through mitochondrial quality control.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Exercise ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology

Tumorigenesis is a complex process that is regulated by a variety of network signals. With the continuous development of the process, tumor cells gradually exhibit lots of hallmarks.Tumor cells have the characteristics of unlimited proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, evading immune surveillance, among others. As a unique organelles, mitochondria play an important role in cellular energy metabolism, reactive oxygen species producing and apoptosis process. Particularly, mitochondria have a close relationship with tumor development. In this review, we focus on the essential role of mitochondria in tumor cells development.
Animals ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; physiology ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; physiology

Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) are the physical connection sites between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). As the compartments controlling substance and information communications between ER and mitochondria, MAMs were involved in the regulation of various pathophysiological processes, such as calcium homeostasis, mitochondrial morphology and function, lipid metabolism and autophagy. In the past decades, accumulating lines of evidence have revealed the pivotal role of MAMs in diverse cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Aging is one of the major independent risk factors for CVD, which causes progressive degeneration of the cardiovascular system, leading to increased morbidity and mortality of CVD. This review aims to summarize the research progress of MAMs in age-related CVD, and explore new targets for its prevention and treatment.
Humans ; Mitochondrial Membranes ; Cardiovascular Diseases/metabolism* ; Calcium Signaling/physiology* ; Mitochondria/physiology* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism*

Notch signaling pathway is a highly conserved signaling pathway in the process of evolution. It is composed of three parts: Notch receptor, ligand and effector molecules responsible for intracellular signal transduction. It plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, development, migration, apoptosis and other processes, and has a regulatory effect on tissue homeostasis and homeostasis. Mitochondria are the sites of oxidative metabolism in eukaryotes, where sugars, fats and proteins are finally oxidized to release energy. In recent years, the regulation of Notch signaling pathway on mitochondrial energy metabolism has attracted more and more attention. A large number of data have shown that Notch signaling pathway has a significant effect on mitochondrial energy metabolism, but the relationship between Notch signaling pathway and mitochondrial energy metabolism needs to be specifically and systematically discussed. In this paper, the relationship between Notch signaling pathway and mitochondrial energy metabolism is reviewed, in order to improve the understanding of them and provide new ideas for the treatment of related diseases.
Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Mitochondria ; Receptors, Notch/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation/physiology* ; Energy Metabolism

AIMTo analyze the relationship between sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm motility parameters by means of a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) and in-vitro fertilization rate(%FR).

METHODSSemen samples were obtained from 26 men undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Informed consent was obtained from all men prior to the study. Samples were prepared using wash and swim-up method in HEPES-HTF medium. The sperm motility (%MOT), progressive motility (%PMOT), average path velocity (VAP) microm/s), straight line velocity (VSL) (micro m/s), curvilinear velocity (VCL) (microm/s) and %hyperactivated sperm (%HA), and the %FR were assessed. The samples were incubated in the presence of 2.0 mciromol/L of 5,5',6,6'-tetra-chloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolyl-carbocyanine iodide (JC-1) for 30 min at 37 degrees C in air and washed in PBS before flow cytometry (FACSCalibur: Becton Dickinson) analysis. The mitochondrial probe JC-1 was used to identify the mitochondrial membrane potential. The sperm was divided into three populations according to the fluorescence pattern as follows: the high mitochondrial membrane potential group (n=8), the moderate group (n=5), and the low group (n=13). Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t-test.

RESULTSSignificant differences were found between the high and the low groups in %MOT (91.1+/-8.5 vs 63.0+/-32.7, mean+/-SD), VAP (73.0+/-14.2 vs 52.1+/-12.5), VCL (127.0+/-28.1 vs 87.0+/-22.6), %HA (27.3+/-23.6 vs 7.2+/-9.0) and %FR [73.2 (48/56) vs 59.0 (69/117)]. No significant differences were found in other CASA parameters.

CONCLUSIONWhen the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential increases, sperm motility parameters and fertility potential will also increase. The JC-1 dye method is useful to predict sperm fertility potential.

Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertility ; physiology ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Intracellular Membranes ; physiology ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; physiology ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Semen ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; physiology