The role of mitophagy in selected neurodegenerative diseases

Purpose
Mitophagy is a type of selective autophagy, associated with degradation of inefficient mitochondria. The modulation of mitophagy seems to be one of the most important solutions for key factors in the maintenance of neuronal cell homeostasis. This paper overviews the role of mitochondria and mitophagy in the etiology of the most common age-related neurodegenerative diseases, i.e. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Views
In recent years, the role of mitophagy in neurodegenerative diseases has been given more attention. It has been shown that disturbed mitophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction in neurons may contribute to the cell death. In AD and PD, a number of abnormalities related to the expression and function of proteins involved in the process have been revealed. Because mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role in the origin/etiology of those diseases, possible therapeutic strategies aiming to improve quality control systems of mitochondria are also presented. Nowadays, these are mainly strategies improving the energy efficiency and facilitating induction of mitophagy.

Conclusions
Recent reports suggest that abnormal function of proteins involved in mitophagy may be an important etiological factor in neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, these findings may become the basis for the development of more effective thera¬pies preventing or alleviating the disease symptoms.