Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury in Organ Transplantation: Role of Coenzyme Q10

The success of organ transplantation can be compromised by ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), an unavoidable consequence of transplant surgery. IRI is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis/ferroptosis. There is therefore a rationale for supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to mediate the adverse effects of IRI, given the role of CoQ10 in promoting normal mitochondrial function, as an antioxidant, and as an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic/ferroptotic agent. In this article we have reviewed the potential role of supplementary CoQ10 in organ transplantation in preclinical animal studies based on the above actions; the role of supplementary CoQ10 in promoting stem cell action in transplantation and its role in alleviating the adverse effects of immunosuppressants used in organ transplantation are also discussed.