Skeletal muscle mitophagy in chronic disease: implications for muscle oxidative capacity?

Pieter A. Leermakers, Harry R. Gosker*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Purpose of reviewLoss of skeletal muscle oxidative capacity is a common feature of chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes, and congestive heart failure. It may lead to physical impairments and has been suggested to contribute to metabolic inflexibility-induced cardiometabolic risk. The mechanism underlying loss of muscle oxidative capacity is incompletely understood. This review discusses the role of mitophagy as a driving force behind the loss of skeletal muscle oxidative capacity in these patients.Recent findingsMitophagy has been studied to a very limited extent in human skeletal muscle. There are, however, clear indications that disease-related factors, including hypoxia, systemic inflammation, muscle inactivity, and iron deficiency are able to induce mitophagy, and that these factors trigger mitophagy via different regulatory mechanisms. Although mitophagy may lead to mitochondrial loss, it is also required to maintain homeostasis through clearance of damaged mitochondria.SummaryBased on available evidence, we propose that enhanced mitophagy is involved in chronic disease-induced loss of muscle oxidative capacity. Clearly more research is required to confirm this role and to establish to what extent mitophagy is pathological or a part of physiological adaptation to maintain muscle health.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)427-433
JournalCurrent Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
Volume19
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2016

Keywords

  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • congestive heart failure
  • mitophagy
  • skeletal muscle
  • type 2 diabetes

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