Sources, mechanisms, and consequences of chemical-induced mitochondrial toxicity.

Mitochondrial function is critical for health, as demonstrated by the effects of mitochondrial toxicity, mutations in genes encoding mitochondrial proteins, and the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in many chronic diseases. However, much basic mitochondrial biology is still being discovered. Furthermore, the details of how different environmental exposures affect mitochondria, how mitochondria respond to stressors, and how genetic variation affecting mitochondrial function alters response to exposures are areas of rapid research growth. This Special Issue was created to highlight and review cutting-edge areas of research into chemical effects on mitochondrial function. We anticipate that it will stimulate additional research into the mechanisms by which chemical exposures impact mitochondria, the biological processes that protect mitochondria from such impacts, and the health consequences that result when defense and homeostatic mechanisms are overcome.