Role of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

Mitochondria are key cellular organelles that not only supply cellular ATP but also integrate redox signaling, apoptotic balance, and biosynthetic pathways in the cell. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to loss of cellular function, and in humans, mitochondrial dysfunction causes numerous pathologies including cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and respiratory diseases. Mitochondria are a major source of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial ROS production is tightly regulated by the various states of electron transport chain and antioxidant systems present within the mitochondria. As accumulation of mitochondria-derived ROS have been linked to several human diseases, a better understanding of mitochondrial ROS signaling and regulation of its production and function is clinically relevant under physiological and pathological situations. Further, as mitochondrial ROS is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction in various human pathologies, targeting mitochondrial ROS with specific antioxidants has been an area of intense investigation. Thus, there is considerable evidence for mitochondrial ROS in normal cell function and signaling, and in this review, we discuss recent advances on the generation, regulation, and targeting of mitochondrial ROS.KeywordsMitochondriaOxidative stressROSRNSRespiratory diseases