Rose G, Passarino G, Franceschi C, De Benedictis G
Department of Cell Biology, University of Calabria, 87030, Rende, Italy.
Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2002 Nov;34(11):1449-60. doi: 10.1016/s1357-2725(02)00042-0.
The impressive performance of the research in mitochondrial genetics and human aging in the last decade outlines a new scenery in which the inherited variation of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) may play a role in rate and quality of aging. This variation in humans was initially looked at as nearly neutral, and useful just for the reconstruction of human population history. However, recent data suggest that different mtDNA molecules are qualitatively different from each other. The aim of this paper is to discuss current ideas on the relationships among mitochondrial function, mtDNA inherited variation, and aging. The main processes where the mitochondrion is involved and the importance these processes have on aging and death of individuals will be described. A possible connection between programmed death phenomena (mitoptosis, apoptosis, phenoptosis) and rate and quality of aging will be discussed. Finally, the possible role played in these processes by the mtDNA germline variation will be explored.
过去十年间，线粒体遗传学与人类衰老研究取得的出色成果勾勒出了一幅新景象，即线粒体基因组（mtDNA）的遗传变异可能在衰老的速度和质量方面发挥作用。人类的这种变异最初被视为近乎中性，仅有助于重建人类种群历史。然而，最近的数据表明，不同的mtDNA分子在质量上存在差异。本文旨在探讨当前关于线粒体功能、mtDNA遗传变异与衰老之间关系的观点。将描述线粒体所涉及的主要过程以及这些过程对个体衰老和死亡的重要性。还将讨论程序性死亡现象（线粒体凋亡、细胞凋亡、自然凋亡）与衰老速度和质量之间可能存在的联系。最后，将探讨mtDNA种系变异在这些过程中可能发挥的作用。
