Mitochondrial communication in the context of aging

Mitochondria constantly contribute to the cell homeostasis and this, during the lifespan of a cell, takes its toll. Indeed, the functional decline of mitochondria appears correlated to the aging of the cell. The initial idea was that excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by functionally compromised mitochondria was the causal link between the decline of the organelle functions and cellular aging. However, in recent years accumulating evidence suggests that the contribution of mitochondria to cellular aging goes beyond ROS production. In this short review, we discuss how intracellular signalling, specifically the cAMP-signalling cascade, is involved in the regulation of mitochondrial functions and potentially in the processes that link mitochondrial status to cellular aging.