Cited by 522Mitochondrial Function and PathologyAutophagy in Disease and TherapyGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 153 of the 156 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 145 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

New insights into the role of mitochondria in aging: mitochondrial dynamics and more

Open access
Seo, Arnold Y., Joseph, Anna-Maria, Dutta, Debapriya, Hwang, Judy C. Y., Aris, John P., Leeuwenburgh, Christiaan·2010·Journal of Cell Science

Abstract

A decline in mitochondrial function plays a key role in the aging process and increases the incidence of age-related disorders. A deeper understanding of the intricate nature of mitochondrial dynamics, which is described as the balance between mitochondrial fusion and fission, has revealed that functional and structural alterations in mitochondrial morphology are important factors in several key pathologies associated with aging. Indeed, a recent wave of studies has demonstrated the pleiotropic role of fusion and fission proteins in numerous cellular processes, including mitochondrial metabolism, redox signaling, the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA and cell death. Additionally, mitochondrial fusion and fission, together with autophagy, have been proposed to form a quality-maintenance mechanism that facilitates the removal of damaged mitochondria from the cell, a process that is particularly important to forestall aging. Thus, dysfunctional regulation of mitochondrial dynamics might be one of the intrinsic causes of mitochondrial dysfunction, which contributes to oxidative stress and cell death during the aging process. In this Commentary, we discuss recent studies that have converged at a consensus regarding the involvement of mitochondrial dynamics in key cellular processes, and introduce a possible link between abnormal mitochondrial dynamics and aging.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This Commentary argues that mitochondrial dynamics—the balance between fusion and fission—is a key regulator of mitochondrial function, mtDNA maintenance, autophagy/mitophagy, and apoptosis, and that its dysregulation may contribute to aging and age-related disease. It synthesizes evidence linking altered fusion/fission proteins to mitochondrial dysfunction in aging, sarcopenia, and neurodegenerative conditions.

Key findings

  • Mitochondrial morphology is controlled by fusion proteins Mfn1/Mfn2 and Opa1 and fission proteins Drp1/Fis1; Mfn1 and Mfn2 share greater than 70% sequence similarity, and mutations in Mfn2 cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 2A, while Opa1 is associated with autosomal dominant optic atrophy.
  • mtDNA mutations accumulate with age and must reach a threshold of ~70–90% of total mtDNA before clinical symptoms manifest; mitochondrial fusion is proposed to enable complementation and dilution of mutant mtDNA, whereas fission can promote removal of damaged mitochondria by autophagy.
  • Muscle-specific Mfn1/Mfn2 knockout mice show impaired mitochondrial function, abnormal mitochondrial proliferation, muscle loss, increased mtDNA point mutations and deletions, and severe mtDNA depletion preceding phenotypic changes.
  • Aging is associated with reduced mitochondrial biogenesis (including declines in PGC-1α and AMPK activity), impaired autophagy/mitophagy, accumulation of enlarged or “giant” mitochondria, and increased apoptosis; altered mitochondrial dynamics are also implicated in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases.

Methods

  • Design: narrative Commentary/review, not a primary research study; it synthesizes and interprets published literature on mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis, mtDNA homeostasis, autophagy, apoptosis, neurodegeneration, and aging.
  • Data or sample: no new experimental sample or dataset; evidence comes from cited yeast, mammalian cell, mouse, and human studies.
  • Main analysis: conceptual synthesis and model-building, proposing a link between abnormal mitochondrial fusion/fission regulation and aging-related mitochondrial dysfunction.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the molecular events underlying aging are not completely elucidated, the relevance of mitochondrial fusion and fission to aging has not been fully appreciated, and contradictory findings exist across different cell lines, animal models, and pathologies.
  • The paper states that progress has been slow because of difficulty visualizing fusion and fission events in in vivo models of mammalian aging, and that detailed studies are needed on aging effects on fusion/fission proteins, mitochondrial morphology, and turnover across many cells and tissues.
  • Evident from the text: as a Commentary, it is not a systematic review or meta-analysis and presents no primary data; its conclusions are interpretive and depend on the cited literature.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1242/jcs.070490

Cites

153 of 153 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 145 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

Show all 34 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 66
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 23
77 of 77
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Neuronal cells have a high metabolic demand and are particularly dependent on mitochondrial function.

    “Neuronal cells have a high metabolic demand, making them particularly dependent on mitochondrial function.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Huntington's disease is caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene (HTT).

    “HD is caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene (HTT).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mitochondria are highly dynamic structures that can adapt their morphology and function in response to a wide range of intracellular and extracellular stimuli.

    “As discussed above, mitochondria are highly dynamic structures that can adapt their morphology and function in response to a wide range of intracellular and extracellular stimuli.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Cell-death pathways are induced in postmitotic aging cells, leading to irreversible damage to mitochondrial proteins and DNA, and the loss of nuclei.

    “Cell-death pathways are also induced in postmitotic aging cells, leading to irreversible damage to mitochondrial proteins and DNA, and the loss of nuclei.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mitochondrial fragmentation due to elevated fission events can both precede and follow the release of apoptogenic factors from mitochondria in many cell types.

    “Mitochondrial fragmentation due to elevated fission events has been reported to both precede and follow the release of apoptogenic factors from mitochondria in many cell types.”
5 of 5

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  • Bogenhagen citation year differs from reference year

    Minor

    The text cites Bogenhagen as a 2009 publication, but the corresponding reference is dated 2010.

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Metadata

Authors
Seo, A. Y., Joseph, A.-M., Dutta, D., Hwang, J. C. Y., Aris, J. P., & Leeuwenburgh, C.
Affiliations
University of Florida (US)
Corresponding author
  • Aris, John P.
  • Leeuwenburgh, Christiaan
Venue
Journal of Cell Science
Published
2010-08-01
Volume
123
Issue
15
Pages
2533-2542
ISSN
  • 0021-9533 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9137
OpenAlex
W2057495460
Cited by
522
References
156
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 47 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 34
FWCI
2.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Cell Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Aging (AG023719, R21AG023719, R01AG017994, P30AG028740, R01 AG17994)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
Keywords
mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial fusion, mitochondrial fission, aging, mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial morphology, autophagy, mitochondrial quality control, oxidative stress, cell death, redox signaling, mitochondrial DNA maintenance, mitochondrial metabolism, age-related diseases
MeSH terms
Aging, Animals, DNA, Mitochondrial, Humans, Mitochondria, Models, Biological, Apoptosis

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