Transcriptional control of mitochondrial biogenesis: the central role of PGC-1α

Although the concept of energy starvation in the failing heart was proposed decades ago, still very little is known about the origin of energetic failure. Recent advances in molecular biology have started to elucidate the transcriptional events governing mitochondrial biogenesis. In particular, a gr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cardiovascular research 2008-07, Vol.79 (2), p.208-217
Main Authors: Ventura-Clapier, Renée, Garnier, Anne, Veksler, Vladimir
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cardiovascular diseases
Energy metabolism
Heart
Heart failure
Heart failure, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, cardiac enlargement
Medical sciences
Mitochondrial biogenesis
Signalling pathways
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Summary:Although the concept of energy starvation in the failing heart was proposed decades ago, still very little is known about the origin of energetic failure. Recent advances in molecular biology have started to elucidate the transcriptional events governing mitochondrial biogenesis. In particular, a great step was taken with the discovery that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator (PGC-1α) is the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. The molecular mechanisms underlying the downregulation of PGC-1α and the consequent decrease in mitochondrial function in heart failure are, however, still poorly understood. Indeed, the main pathways involved in mitochondrial biogenesis are thought to be up- rather than down-regulated in pathological hypertrophy and heart failure. The current review summarizes recent advances in this field and is restricted to the heart when cardiac data are available.
ISSN:0008-6363
1755-3245
DOI:10.1093/cvr/cvn098