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Simultaneous Measurement of Mitochondrial Calcium and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Live Cells by Fluorescent Microscopy
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The Influence of MicroRNAs on Mitochondrial Calcium

Carolina Jaquenod De Giusti1, Barbara Roman2, Samarjit Das2

  • 1Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares CIC-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.

Frontiers in Physiology
|October 10, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondrial calcium handling is crucial for cell function. This review highlights how microRNAs (miRNAs) inside and outside mitochondria can influence calcium levels, impacting cell fate.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Mitochondrial function
  • Calcium signaling

Background:

  • Abnormal mitochondrial calcium handling leads to cellular dysfunction and death.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can enter mitochondria and regulate mitochondrial functions, including calcium uptake.
  • Cytosolic miRNAs also target genes involved in maintaining cytoplasmic calcium levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of mitochondrial miRNAs (MitomiRs) in regulating mitochondrial calcium handling.
  • To discuss how other miRNAs affect cytoplasmic calcium levels.
  • To emphasize the importance of validating miRNAs that influence calcium handling and cellular fate.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on miRNAs and mitochondrial calcium handling.
  • Analysis of mechanisms by which miRNAs modulate calcium transport and homeostasis.
  • Identification of specific miRNAs and their mRNA targets involved in calcium regulation.

Main Results:

  • Mitochondrial miRNAs (MitomiRs) directly impact mitochondrial calcium uptake and buffering.
  • Cytosolic miRNAs regulate key proteins involved in cytoplasmic calcium regulation.
  • Dysregulation of these miRNAs is linked to cellular dysfunction and potential cell death.

Conclusions:

  • miRNAs play a significant role in regulating both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic calcium homeostasis.
  • Targeting specific miRNAs presents a potential therapeutic strategy for conditions involving impaired calcium handling.
  • Further validation of miRNA involvement is crucial for understanding their impact on cellular fate.
Keywords:
MitomiRheart failuremiRNAmicroRNAmitochondriamitochondrial calcium

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