Mitochondria-targeted agents: Future perspectives of mitochondrial pharmaceutics in cardiovascular diseases

Mitochondria are one of the major sites for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as an undesirable side product of oxidative energy metabolism. Damaged mitochondria can augment the generation of ROS. Dysfunction of mitochondria increase the risk for a large number of human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Heart failure (HF) following ischemic heart disease, infantile cardiomyopathy and cardiac hypertrophy associated with left ventricular dilations are some of the CVDs in which the role of mitochondrial oxidative stress has been reported. Advances in mitochondrial research during the last decade focused on the preservation of its function in the myocardium, which is vital for the cellular energy production. Experimental and clinical trials have been conducted using mitochondria-targeted molecules like: MnSOD mimetics, such as EUK-8, EUK-134 and MitoSOD; choline esters of glutathione and N-acetyl-L-cysteine; triphenylphosphonium ligated vitamin E, lipoic acid, plastoquinone and mitoCoQ10; and Szeto-Schiller (SS)- peptides (SS-02 and SS-31). Although many results are inconclusive, some of the findings, especially on CoQ10, are worthwhile. This review summarizes the role of mitochondria-targeted delivery of agents and their consequences in the control of HF.