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A Flow Cytometry-based Assay for Measuring Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Cardiac Myocytes After Hypoxia/Reoxygenation
Published on: July 13, 2018
Mitochondria as a target for exercise-induced cardioprotection
António Ascensão1, José Lumini-Oliveira, Paulo J Oliveira
1Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Portugal. aascensao@fade.up.pt
Current Drug Targets
|January 29, 2011
Summary
Regular exercise protects the heart from damage by improving mitochondrial function. This review explores how physical activity enhances cardiac tolerance against conditions like aging, diabetes, and drug toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Mitochondrial Biology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Cardiac damage contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality, especially in coronary artery disease.
- Metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes) and drug treatments can also lead to cardiac injury.
- Regular exercise is a recognized strategy for preventing cardiac damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms underlying exercise-induced cardioprotection.
- To analyze the role of physical exercise in preserving heart mitochondrial function under various detrimental conditions.
- To highlight the cross-tolerance effect of exercise against cardiac 'mitotoxicity'.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing biochemical, functional, and morphological data.
- Analysis of studies on exercise effects in aging, diabetes, Doxorubicin treatment, and ischemia-reperfusion models.
- Examination of proposed molecular mechanisms, including redox changes and mitochondrial protection.
Main Results:
- Life-long physical activity and endurance exercise training offer cardioprotection in animal models.
- Mitochondria are identified as preferential target organelles for exercise's beneficial effects.
- Exercise may enhance antioxidant capacity, up-regulate mitochondrial chaperones, and modulate mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening.
Conclusions:
- Physical exercise confers tolerance to cardiac mitochondria against various insults.
- Mechanisms involve improved antioxidant defense, chaperone function, and reduced susceptibility to mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the regulatory pathways of exercise-mediated mitochondrial protection in the heart.
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