Mitochondrial Transplantation as a Newer Therapeutic Approach for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mitochondria play major roles such as maintaining calcium homeostasis, body temperature, regulation of metabolism, and apoptosis. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), produced by mitochondria, is necessary for the nervous system to develop proper electrochemical gradients and dependable synaptic transmission. Notably, a number of abnormalities in the mitochondria have been linked to illnesses of the central nervous system. The development of neurodegenerative illnesses, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease, as well as ischemic stroke, is linked to a number of mechanisms, including membrane leakage and electrolyte imbalances, proapoptotic pathway activation, and mitophagy. As an inventive approach to treating mitochondrial disorders by augmenting and replacing mitochondria, mitochondrial transplantation has garnered more attention in recent years. In this chapter, we emphasize research on the treatment of tissue-specific mitochondrial abnormalities and concentrate on illnesses linked to mitochondrial malfunction. This chapter also discuss various techniques for isolation and delivery of mitochondria. In spite of certain uncertainties and difficulties, mitochondrial transplantation would offer a novel strategy for mitochondrial medicine.