Birch-Machin M A
Dermatological Sciences, School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Clin Exp Dermatol. 2006 Jul;31(4):548-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2006.02161.x.
Mitochondria can perform multiple cellular functions including energy production, cell proliferation and apoptosis. These organelles contain their own genetic material, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is maternally inherited. Although much smaller than the nuclear genome, mtDNA is equally important, as it has been hypothesized to play a crucial role in ageing and carcinogenesis. This is partly due to the fact that mitochondria represent the major site for the generation of cellular oxidative stress and play a key role in mediating programmed cell death (apoptosis). Damage to mtDNA is therefore an important contributor to human ageing, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The most relevant footprints of mtDNA damage are point mutations of single bases, or deletions of the 16.5-kb mitochondrial genome. This review will focus on the key roles of mitochondrial function and mtDNA in oxidative stress production and as a mediator of apoptosis, and on the use of mtDNA as a biomarker of sun exposure. This will be related to the contribution of mitochondria and mtDNA in the ageing process and cancer, with a specific focus on human skin. In conclusion, it is likely that the interplay between nuclear and mitochondrial genes may hold the final understanding of the mitochondrial role in these disease processes.
线粒体能够执行多种细胞功能，包括能量产生、细胞增殖和凋亡。这些细胞器含有自己的遗传物质，即线粒体DNA（mtDNA），它是母系遗传的。尽管mtDNA比核基因组小得多，但它同样重要，因为据推测它在衰老和致癌过程中起着关键作用。部分原因在于线粒体是细胞氧化应激产生的主要部位，并且在介导程序性细胞死亡（凋亡）中起关键作用。因此，mtDNA损伤是人类衰老、癌症和神经退行性疾病的一个重要促成因素。mtDNA损伤最相关的痕迹是单碱基的点突变，或16.5 kb线粒体基因组的缺失。本综述将聚焦于线粒体功能和mtDNA在氧化应激产生以及作为凋亡介质方面的关键作用，以及mtDNA作为阳光暴露生物标志物的应用。这将与线粒体和mtDNA在衰老过程和癌症中的作用相关，特别关注人类皮肤。总之，核基因与线粒体基因之间的相互作用可能是最终理解线粒体在这些疾病过程中作用的关键。
