Mitochondrion in Pulmonary Disease: Small Organelle but Big Function

Mitochondria are micrometer-sized organelles, yet are pivotal for the activity, function, and fate of mammalian cells. Recent findings further reveal that mitochondrial homeostasis plays an active role in regulating lung cell disorders, inspiring a novel strategy to treat pulmonary disease by restoring the imbalanced mitochondrial homeostasis. Pioneering studies have shown the potentials of this strategy for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which currently lack efficient medicines. However, there has been no comprehensive summary of this innovative strategy in pulmonary disease treatment. Therefore, the present review aims to provide an overview of the mechanism and advances in pulmonary disease treatment by restoring mitochondrial homeostasis. Particularly, some of the latest therapeutic strategies, including antioxidant therapy, mitochondrial quality controlling, and mitochondrial replenishment therapy (MRT), are introduced to show the potent capability of mitochondria to regulate cellular disorders in different types of lung cells. This review is believed to provide a general understanding of the mitochondria involved in pathogenesis and is intended to inspire the development of novel therapeutic methods against pulmonary diseases, focusing on regulating impaired mitochondrial homeostasis.