About this Research Topic
A variety of endogenous and exogenous stressors are known to affect mitochondrial function. Interestingly, mitochondrial changes in oxidative metabolism or redox homeostasis are not only associated with metabolic disorders/diseases, but are also thought to be protective. In the past decade, several studies demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction of different etiologies can induce cell-autonomous and cell-non autonomous pathways aimed at restoring cellular and organismal homeostasis. This mitohormetic response ultimately leads to improved systemic metabolic health by mechanisms that often involve changes in the antioxidant defense system or the secretion of endocrine factors such as fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15). Positive metabolic effects are often linked to energy and substrate homeostasis, retarding the development of obesity or aging-associated diseases.
Several stress response pathways have been implicated in regulating these systemic metabolic adaptations, such as the integrated stress response and the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR). Nonetheless, the molecular signals mediating activation of these pathways in response to different kinds of mitochondrial stresses, and in distinct tissues are still incompletely understood. Furthermore, additional downstream effectors of this adaptive response and their mechanisms of action need to be refined. By expanding our understanding of the mitochondrial stress response and its role in regulating metabolic health, we hope to uncover novel therapeutic avenues for the treatment of metabolic diseases.
This Research Topic aims to highlight new pathways and molecules induced in response to mitochondrial stress that regulate inter-organ communication and metabolic fitness, ultimately leading to enhanced phenotypes. Our goal is to compile a series of original research articles, reviews and opinions that will expand our understanding of the mitochondrial stress response, and how it can be leveraged to improve systemic metabolic health.
The Topic Editors welcome reviews, original research articles, perspectives and opinions encompassing the following themes (and closely related themes):
• The role of mitochondrial quality control mechanisms in the regulation of metabolic health (mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, mtUPR etc)
• The role of mtROS in mitochondrial stress response and metabolic regulation
• The role of cytokines in mediating the mitochondrial stress response
• Mitochondrial stress response in the regulation of inter-organ communication
• Mitochondrial stress and the integrated stress response in metabolic regulation
• The role of mitochondria-ER contacts in metabolic health
Several stress response pathways have been implicated in regulating these systemic metabolic adaptations, such as the integrated stress response and the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR). Nonetheless, the molecular signals mediating activation of these pathways in response to different kinds of mitochondrial stresses, and in distinct tissues are still incompletely understood. Furthermore, additional downstream effectors of this adaptive response and their mechanisms of action need to be refined. By expanding our understanding of the mitochondrial stress response and its role in regulating metabolic health, we hope to uncover novel therapeutic avenues for the treatment of metabolic diseases.
This Research Topic aims to highlight new pathways and molecules induced in response to mitochondrial stress that regulate inter-organ communication and metabolic fitness, ultimately leading to enhanced phenotypes. Our goal is to compile a series of original research articles, reviews and opinions that will expand our understanding of the mitochondrial stress response, and how it can be leveraged to improve systemic metabolic health.
The Topic Editors welcome reviews, original research articles, perspectives and opinions encompassing the following themes (and closely related themes):
• The role of mitochondrial quality control mechanisms in the regulation of metabolic health (mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, mtUPR etc)
• The role of mtROS in mitochondrial stress response and metabolic regulation
• The role of cytokines in mediating the mitochondrial stress response
• Mitochondrial stress response in the regulation of inter-organ communication
• Mitochondrial stress and the integrated stress response in metabolic regulation
• The role of mitochondria-ER contacts in metabolic health
Keywords: Mitochondrial dysfunction, integrated stress response, unfolded protein response, cytokines, metabolic homeostasis, oxidative stress
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
