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mitochondrial dysfunction

Saturday 4 February 2006

Defective mitochondrial function results in decreased phospholipid synthesis, which affects all cellular membranes, including the mitochondria themselves.

At the same time, increase of cytosolic calcium associated with ATP depletion results in increased uptake of Ca2+ into the mitochondria, activating phospholipases and leading to breakdown of phospholipids.

The net result is depletion of phospholipids from the mitochondria and other cellular membranes, and accumulation of free fatty acids.

In the mitochondria, these changes cause permeability defects, such as the mitochondrial permeability transition, leading to progresive cell injury.

Etiology (Exemples)

 cell injury

See also

 Mitochondria

  • mitochondrial damage