The Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Doxorubicin-Induced Disease: Implications for Therapy

As an anthracycline chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin (Dox) is generally prescribed to treat a variety of malignant tumors. Nevertheless, Dox exhibited toxicity at a high dosage, which might eventually lead to injury of the body. Mitochondrial dynamics, including mitochondrial fission and fusion, regulates mitochondrial homeostasis and cellular function. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics, manifested by increased mitochondrial fission or decreased mitochondrial fusion, is associated with the development of Dox-induced diseases. In this paper, we will elaborate the role of mitochondrial dynamics in Dox-induced diseases, and discuss the regulatory mechanism of mitochondrial dynamics in Dox-induced diseases, including apoptosis, fibrosis, myocardial atrophy and inflammation. Elucidating these issues may provide important value in the diagnosis and potential therapeutic strategies for Dox-induced diseases through regulation of mitochondria dynamics.