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Masarone D, Kittleson MM, D'Onofrio A, Falco L, Fumarulo I, Massetti M, Crea F, Aspromonte N, Pacileo G. Basic science of cardiac contractility modulation therapy: Molecular and electrophysiological mechanisms. Heart Rhythm 2024; 21:82-88. [PMID: 37769793 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2023.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, profound cellular and molecular changes have recently been documented in the failing myocardium. These changes include altered calcium handling and metabolic efficiency of the cardiac myocyte, reactivation of the fetal gene program, changes in the electrophysiological properties of the heart, and accumulation of collagen (fibrosis) at the interstitial level. Cardiac contractility modulation therapy is an innovative device-based therapy currently approved for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in patients with narrow QRS complex and under investigation for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. This therapy is based on the delivery of high-voltage biphasic electrical signals to the septal wall of the right ventricle during the absolute refractory period of the myocardium. At the cellular level, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, cardiac contractility modulation therapy has been shown to restore calcium handling and improve the metabolic status of cardiac myocytes, reverse the heart failure-associated fetal gene program, and reduce the extent of interstitial fibrosis. This review summarizes the preclinical literature on the use of cardiac contractility modulation therapy in heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction, correlating the molecular and electrophysiological effects with the clinical benefits demonstrated by this therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Masarone
- Heart Failure Unit, Department of Cardiology, AORN dei Colli/Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
| | - Michelle M Kittleson
- Department of Cardiology, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Antonio D'Onofrio
- Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, AORN dei Colli/Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Falco
- Heart Failure Unit, Department of Cardiology, AORN dei Colli/Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Massetti
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Crea
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nadia Aspromonte
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pacileo
- Heart Failure Unit, Department of Cardiology, AORN dei Colli/Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
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Abudureyimu M, Yang M, Wang X, Luo X, Ge J, Peng H, Zhang Y, Ren J. Berberine alleviates myocardial diastolic dysfunction by modulating Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission and Ca 2+ homeostasis in a murine model of HFpEF. Front Med 2023; 17:1219-1235. [PMID: 37656418 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-023-0983-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) displays normal or near-normal left ventricular ejection fraction, diastolic dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy, and poor exercise capacity. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, possesses cardiovascular benefits. Adult male mice were assigned to chow or high-fat diet with L-NAME ("two-hit" model) for 15 weeks. Diastolic function was assessed using echocardiography and noninvasive Doppler technique. Myocardial morphology, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and cardiomyocyte mechanical properties were evaluated. Proteomics analysis, autophagic flux, and intracellular Ca2+ were also assessed in chow and HFpEF mice. The results show exercise intolerance and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in "two-hit"-induced HFpEF model, in which unfavorable geometric changes such as increased cell size, interstitial fibrosis, and mitochondrial swelling occurred in the myocardium. Diastolic dysfunction was indicated by the elevated E value, mitral E/A ratio, and E/e' ratio, decreased e' value and maximal velocity of re-lengthening (-dL/dt), and prolonged re-lengthening in HFpEF mice. The effects of these processes were alleviated by berberine. Moreover, berberine ameliorated autophagic flux, alleviated Drp1 mitochondrial localization, mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and fragmentation, and promoted intracellular Ca2+ reuptake into sarcoplasmic reticulum by regulating phospholamban and SERCA2a. Finally, berberine alleviated diastolic dysfunction in "two-hit" diet-induced HFpEF model possibly because of the promotion of autophagic flux, inhibition of mitochondrial fragmentation, and cytosolic Ca2+ overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyesaier Abudureyimu
- Cardiovascular Department, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Mingjie Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Cardiovascular Department, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xuanming Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Junbo Ge
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Hu Peng
- Department of Geriatrics, Shanghai Tenth Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
| | - Yingmei Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Jun Ren
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Medical Laboratory and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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Fefelova N, Wongjaikam S, Pamarthi SH, Siri-Angkul N, Comollo T, Kumari A, Garg V, Ivessa A, Chattipakorn SC, Chattipakorn N, Gwathmey JK, Xie LH. Deficiency of mitochondrial calcium uniporter abrogates iron overload-induced cardiac dysfunction by reducing ferroptosis. Basic Res Cardiol 2023; 118:21. [PMID: 37227592 PMCID: PMC10589903 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-023-00990-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Iron overload associated cardiac dysfunction remains a significant clinical challenge whose underlying mechanism(s) have yet to be defined. We aim to evaluate the involvement of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) in cardiac dysfunction and determine its role in the occurrence of ferroptosis. Iron overload was established in control (MCUfl/fl) and conditional MCU knockout (MCUfl/fl-MCM) mice. LV function was reduced by chronic iron loading in MCUfl/fl mice, but not in MCUfl/fl-MCM mice. The level of mitochondrial iron and reactive oxygen species were increased and mitochondrial membrane potential and spare respiratory capacity (SRC) were reduced in MCUfl/fl cardiomyocytes, but not in MCUfl/fl-MCM cardiomyocytes. After iron loading, lipid oxidation levels were increased in MCUfl/fl, but not in MCUfl/fl-MCM hearts. Ferrostatin-1, a selective ferroptosis inhibitor, reduced lipid peroxidation and maintained LV function in vivo after chronic iron treatment in MCUfl/fl hearts. Isolated cardiomyocytes from MCUfl/fl mice demonstrated ferroptosis after acute iron treatment. Moreover, Ca2+ transient amplitude and cell contractility were both significantly reduced in isolated cardiomyocytes from chronically Fe treated MCUfl/fl hearts. However, ferroptosis was not induced in cardiomyocytes from MCUfl/fl-MCM hearts nor was there a reduction in Ca2+ transient amplitude or cardiomyocyte contractility. We conclude that mitochondrial iron uptake is dependent on MCU, which plays an essential role in causing mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis under iron overload conditions in the heart. Cardiac-specific deficiency of MCU prevents the development of ferroptosis and iron overload-induced cardiac dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezhda Fefelova
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Suwakon Wongjaikam
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Sri Harika Pamarthi
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Natthaphat Siri-Angkul
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Thomas Comollo
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Anshu Kumari
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Vivek Garg
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andreas Ivessa
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Siriporn C Chattipakorn
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nipon Chattipakorn
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Judith K Gwathmey
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Lai-Hua Xie
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
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Fratta Pasini AM, Stranieri C, Busti F, Di Leo EG, Girelli D, Cominacini L. New Insights into the Role of Ferroptosis in Cardiovascular Diseases. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060867. [PMID: 36980208 PMCID: PMC10047059 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the principal cause of disease burden and death worldwide. Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death mainly characterized by altered iron metabolism, increased polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation by reactive oxygen species, depletion of glutathione and inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4. Recently, a series of studies have indicated that ferroptosis is involved in the death of cardiac and vascular cells and has a key impact on the mechanisms leading to CVDs such as ischemic heart disease, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiomyopathies, and heart failure. In this article, we reviewed the molecular mechanism of ferroptosis and the current understanding of the pathophysiological role of ferroptosis in ischemic heart disease and in some cardiomyopathies. Moreover, the comprehension of the machinery governing ferroptosis in vascular cells and cardiomyocytes may provide new insights into preventive and therapeutic strategies in CVDs.
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Cardiac-Specific Expression of Cre Recombinase Leads to Age-Related Cardiac Dysfunction Associated with Tumor-like Growth of Atrial Cardiomyocyte and Ventricular Fibrosis and Ferroptosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043094. [PMID: 36834504 PMCID: PMC9962429 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgenic expression of Cre recombinase driven by a specific promoter is normally used to conditionally knockout a gene in a tissue- or cell-type-specific manner. In αMHC-Cre transgenic mouse model, expression of Cre recombinase is controlled by the myocardial-specific α-myosin heavy chain (αMHC) promoter, which is commonly used to edit myocardial-specific genes. Toxic effects of Cre expression have been reported, including intro-chromosome rearrangements, micronuclei formation and other forms of DNA damage, and cardiomyopathy was observed in cardiac-specific Cre transgenic mice. However, mechanisms associated with Cardiotoxicity of Cre remain poorly understood. In our study, our data unveiled that αMHC-Cre mice developed arrhythmias and died after six months progressively, and none of them survived more than one year. Histopathological examination showed that αMHC-Cre mice had aberrant proliferation of tumor-like tissue in the atrial chamber extended from and vacuolation of ventricular myocytes. Furthermore, the αMHC-Cre mice developed severe cardiac interstitial and perivascular fibrosis, accompanied by significant increase of expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the cardiac atrium and ventricular. Moreover, cardiac-specific expression of Cre led to disintegration of the intercalated disc, along with altered proteins expression of the disc and calcium-handling abnormality. Comprehensively, we identified that the ferroptosis signaling pathway is involved in heart failure caused by cardiac-specific expression of Cre, on which oxidative stress results in cytoplasmic vacuole accumulation of lipid peroxidation on the myocardial cell membrane. Taken together, these results revealed that cardiac-specific expression of Cre recombinase can lead to atrial mesenchymal tumor-like growth in the mice, which causes cardiac dysfunction, including cardiac fibrosis, reduction of the intercalated disc and cardiomyocytes ferroptosis at the age older than six months in mice. Our study suggests that αMHC-Cre mouse models are effective in young mice, but not in old mice. Researchers need to be particularly careful when using αMHC-Cre mouse model to interpret those phenotypic impacts of gene responses. As the Cre-associated cardiac pathology matched mostly to that of the patients, the model could also be employed for investigating age-related cardiac dysfunction.
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Molecular Mechanisms of Ferroptosis and Relevance to Cardiovascular Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172726. [PMID: 36078133 PMCID: PMC9454912 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis has recently been demonstrated to be a novel regulated non-apoptotic cell death characterized by iron-dependence and the accumulation of lipid peroxidation that results in membrane damage. Excessive iron induces ferroptosis by promoting the generation of both soluble and lipid ROS via an iron-dependent Fenton reaction and lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme activity. Cytosolic glutathione peroxidase 4 (cGPX4) pairing with ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) and mitochondrial glutathione peroxidase 4 (mGPX4) pairing with dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) serve as two separate defense systems to detoxify lipid peroxidation in the cytoplasmic as well as the mitochondrial membrane, thereby defending against ferroptosis in cells under normal conditions. However, disruption of these defense systems may cause ferroptosis. Emerging evidence has revealed that ferroptosis plays an essential role in the development of diverse cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as hemochromatosis-associated cardiomyopathy, doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, heart failure (HF), atherosclerosis, and COVID-19–related arrhythmias. Iron chelators, antioxidants, ferroptosis inhibitors, and genetic manipulations may alleviate the aforementioned CVDs by blocking ferroptosis pathways. In conclusion, ferroptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of various CVDs and suppression of cardiac ferroptosis is expected to become a potential therapeutic option. Here, we provide a comprehensive review on the molecular mechanisms involved in ferroptosis and its implications in cardiovascular disease.
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Husti Z, Varró A, Baczkó I. Arrhythmogenic Remodeling in the Failing Heart. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113203. [PMID: 34831426 PMCID: PMC8623396 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic heart failure is a clinical syndrome with multiple etiologies, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular tachyarrhythmias and atrial fibrillation, are common in heart failure. A number of cardiac diseases including heart failure alter the expression and regulation of ion channels and transporters leading to arrhythmogenic electrical remodeling. Myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis and scar formation are key elements of arrhythmogenic structural remodeling in heart failure. In this article, the mechanisms responsible for increased arrhythmia susceptibility as well as the underlying changes in ion channel, transporter expression and function as well as alterations in calcium handling in heart failure are discussed. Understanding the mechanisms of arrhythmogenic remodeling is key to improving arrhythmia management and the prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Husti
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.H.); (A.V.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - András Varró
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.H.); (A.V.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Research Group for Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - István Baczkó
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.H.); (A.V.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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Moos WH, Faller DV, Glavas IP, Harpp DN, Kamperi N, Kanara I, Kodukula K, Mavrakis AN, Pernokas J, Pernokas M, Pinkert CA, Powers WR, Steliou K, Tamvakopoulos C, Vavvas DG, Zamboni RJ, Sampani K. Pathogenic mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 193:114809. [PMID: 34673016 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Herein we trace links between biochemical pathways, pathogenesis, and metabolic diseases to set the stage for new therapeutic advances. Cellular and acellular microorganisms including bacteria and viruses are primary pathogenic drivers that cause disease. Missing from this statement are subcellular compartments, importantly mitochondria, which can be pathogenic by themselves, also serving as key metabolic disease intermediaries. The breakdown of food molecules provides chemical energy to power cellular processes, with mitochondria as powerhouses and ATP as the principal energy carrying molecule. Most animal cell ATP is produced by mitochondrial synthase; its central role in metabolism has been known for >80 years. Metabolic disorders involving many organ systems are prevalent in all age groups. Progressive pathogenic mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of genetic mitochondrial diseases, the most common phenotypic expression of inherited metabolic disorders. Confluent genetic, metabolic, and mitochondrial axes surface in diabetes, heart failure, neurodegenerative disease, and even in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter H Moos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Douglas V Faller
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Cancer Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ioannis P Glavas
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David N Harpp
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Natalia Kamperi
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | - Anastasios N Mavrakis
- Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julie Pernokas
- Advanced Dental Associates of New England, Woburn, MA, USA
| | - Mark Pernokas
- Advanced Dental Associates of New England, Woburn, MA, USA
| | - Carl A Pinkert
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Whitney R Powers
- Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Anatomy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kosta Steliou
- Cancer Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; PhenoMatriX, Inc., Natick, MA, USA
| | - Constantin Tamvakopoulos
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Demetrios G Vavvas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Retina Service, Angiogenesis Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert J Zamboni
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Konstantina Sampani
- Beetham Eye Institute, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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