RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Mitochondria as a Pharmacological Target
JF Pharmacological Reviews
JO Pharmacol Rev
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 101
OP 127
DO 10.1124/pr.54.1.101
VO 54
IS 1
A1 Adam Szewczyk
A1 Lech Wojtczak
YR 2002
UL http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/54/1/101.abstract
AB Mitochondria play a central role in energy metabolism within the cell. Mitochondrial dysfunctions lead to various neurodegenerative disorders and to the so-called “mitochondrial diseases”. A vast amount of evidence points to the implication of mitochondria in such complex processes as apoptosis and cardioprotection. The purpose of this review is to present a recent state of our knowledge and understanding of the action of various therapeutically applied substances on mitochondria. These include antitumor, immunosuppressant, and antiviral drugs, potassium channel openers, sulfonylureas, and anesthetics. Some of these substances are specifically designed to affect mitochondrial functions. In other cases, drugs with primary targets in other cellular locations may modify mitochondrial functions as side effects. In any case, identification of mitochondria as primary or secondary targets of a drug may help us to better understand the drug's mechanism of action and open new perspectives for its application. As far as possible, the molecular mechanisms of the interference of particular drugs in the mitochondrial metabolism will be described. In some cases, metabolic routes in which the drugs interfere will also be briefly outlined.