Regulation of Oxidative Phosphorylation of Liver Mitochondria in Sepsis

The link between liver dysfunction and decreased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in sepsis has been clearly established in experimental models. Energy transduction is plastic: the efficiency of mitochondrial coupling collapses in the early stage of sepsis but is expected to increase during the recovery phases of sepsis. Among the mechanisms regulating the coupling efficiency of hepatic mitochondria, the slipping reactions at the cytochrome oxidase and ATP synthase seem to be a determining element, whereas other regulatory mechanisms such as those involving proton leakage across the mitochondrial membrane have not yet been formally proven in the context of sepsis. If the dysfunction of hepatic mitochondria is related to impaired cytochrome c oxidase and ATP synthase functions, we need to consider therapeutic avenues to restore their activities for recovery from sepsis. In this review, we discussed previous findings regarding the regulatory mechanism involved in changes in the oxidative phosphorylation of liver mitochondria in sepsis, and propose therapeutic avenues to improve the functions of cytochrome c oxidase and ATP synthase in sepsis.