Abstract
The heart consists of millions of cells, namely cardiomyocytes, which are highly organized in terms of structure and function, at both macroscale and microscale levels. Such meticulous organization is imperative for assuring the physiological pump-function of the heart. One of the key players for the electrical and mechanical synchronization and contraction is the calcium ion via the well-known calcium-induced calcium release process. In cardiovascular diseases, the structural organization is lost, resulting in morphological, electrical, and metabolic remodeling owing the imbalance of the calcium handling and promoting heart failure and arrhythmias. Recently, attention has been focused on the role of mitochondria, which seem to jeopardize these events by misbalancing the calcium processes. In this review, we highlight our recent findings, especially the role of mitochondria (dys)function in failing cardiomyocytes with respect to the calcium machinery.
Highlights
The heart pumps more than 60 times per minute, it is an exquisite electromechanical organ, where every contraction is activated and triggered with the preceding bioelectrical stimulus.The electro-mechanical coupling can be reversible whereby a mechanical insult or stretch can generate bioelectricity via the well-known phenomena of mechanoelectric feedback [1,2].Mechanoelectric feedback fine-tunes heart contractions so that every single heartbeat can be adjusted in response to the previous contraction
Cardiac pathophysiological remodeling includes mitochondrial function [31,32] and metabolism as observed in aging and failing hearts, and in particular during the development of various cardiovascular diseases when compared to cardiac energetics of a healthy person
A physiological role of calcium in mitochondrial metabolism is evident from the effect of small levels of calcium taken up by this organelle resulting in an efficient regulation of the phosphorylation process [49]
Summary
The heart pumps more than 60 times per minute, it is an exquisite electromechanical organ, where every contraction is activated and triggered with the preceding bioelectrical stimulus.The electro-mechanical coupling can be reversible whereby a mechanical insult or stretch can generate bioelectricity via the well-known phenomena of mechanoelectric feedback [1,2].Mechanoelectric feedback fine-tunes heart contractions so that every single heartbeat can be adjusted in response to the previous contraction. Cardiac pathophysiological remodeling includes mitochondrial function [31,32] and metabolism as observed in aging and failing hearts, and in particular during the development of various cardiovascular diseases when compared to cardiac energetics of a healthy person. 2. Altered Mitochondria Metabolism in Heart Failure and Consequences on Calcium Handling
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