Mitochondrial targets in ischaemic heart disease and heart failure, and their potential for a more efficient clinical translation. A scientific statement of the ESC Working Group on Cellular Biology of the Heart and the ESC Working Group on Myocardial Function

Abstract

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains a major cause of death and disability worldwide. No adjuvant treatment has yet been fully validated in patients to limit the progression from the initial tissue damage due to acute MI, to the development of heart failure. However, mitochondria have long been demonstrated to be a key target for cardioprotective strategies to reduce cell death that leads to left ventricular dysfunction and ultimately heart failure. While pre-clinical studies have investigated several mitoprotective strategies targeting different mitochondrial functions, such as oxidative stress or permeability transition pore opening, none have shown successful clinical translation so far. In this European Society of Cardiology scientific statement, we present recent research advances in the understanding of the mitochondrial alterations occurring in MI and in the discovery of key components of mitochondrial structure and function in order to improve drug development. We discuss the reasons for the failure of clinical translation and the remaining obstacles that need to be addressed, including timing of drug administration, tissue bioavailability and efficient mitochondrial targeting, together with the mitochondrial impact derived from risk factors, comorbidities and comedications. Taken together, this scientific statement aims to provides a consensus opinion from clinicians and basic scientists to translate some of the most promising mitoprotective targets into the clinical setting to protect against MI and heart failure.