Mitochondrial function as a determinant of recovery or death in cell response to injury

Many pathological conditions can be the cause or the consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction. For instance anoxia, which is initiated by a critical reduction of oxygen availability for mitochondrial oxidations, is followed by a wide variety of mitochondrial alterations. A crucial role in the evolution of cell injury is to be attributed to the direction of operation of the F0F1 ATPase, which may turn mitochondria into the major consumers of cellular ATP in the futile attempt to restore the proton electrochemical gradient. On the other hand, functional mitochondria can paradoxically accelerate or exacerbate cell damage. This concept is particularly relevant for the ischemic myocardium. Indeed, inhibition of the respiratory chain or addition of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation can both limit the extent of enzyme release in the intact heart and prevent the onset of irreversible morphological changes in isolated myocytes. From studies on different tissues in a variety of pathological conditions a general consensus emerges on the role of intracellular Ca2+ overload as a pivotal link between cellular alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidative phosphorylation is reduced by a massive mitochondrial uptake of Ca2+, resulting in a vicious cycle whereby the reduced ATP availability is followed by a failure of the mechanisms which extrude Ca2+ from the sarcoplasm. In addition, the rise in [Ca2+], could promote opening of the cyclosporin-sensitive mitochondrial permeability transition pore, leading to a sudden Delta psi(m) dissipation. Here, we review the changes in intracellular and intramitochondrial ionic homeostasis occurring during ischemia and reperfusion. In particular, we evaluate the potential contribution of the permeability transition pore to cellular damage and discuss the mechanisms which can determine the cellular fate from a mitochondrial point of view.