Targeting mitochondrial biogenesis for promoting health

Mitochondrial biogenesis is a key physiological process that is required for normal growth and development and for maintenance of ongoing cellular energy requirements during aging. Of equivalent and/or greater importance is the regulated enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis upon physiological demand coupled to multiple cellular insults. Basically, cellular survival mechanisms following a variety of disease-related pathophysiological insults are entrained by convergent mechanisms designed to regain homeostatic control of mitochondrial biogenesis. Recent molecular studies represent a clearly defined approach to maximize normative cellular expression of mitochondrial biogenesis for maintenance of cellular energy requirements and as an anti-aging strategy in healthy human populations. This report focuses on mitochondrial transcription factor A, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha, PINK1 and Parkin. Designing agents to target mitochondrial function represents a compelling therapeutic strategy for enhancement of cellular expression of mitochondrial biogenesis in diverse human populations afflicted with metabolic, degenerative, neurodegenerative, and metastatic diseases.