Mitochondria Dysfunction at the Heart of Viral Myocarditis: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Implications

Abstract

The myocardium/heart is the most mitochondria-rich tissue in the human body with mitochondria comprising approximately 30% of total cardiomyocyte volume. As the resident “powerhouse” of cells, mitochondria help to fuel the high energy demands of a continuously beating myocardium. It is no surprise that mitochondrial dysfunction underscores the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular ailments, including those of viral origin such as virus-induced myocarditis. Enteroviruses have been especially linked to injuries of the myocardium and its sequelae dilated cardiomyopathy for which no effective therapies currently exist. Intriguingly, recent mechanistic insights have demonstrated viral infections to directly damage mitochondria, impair the mitochondrial quality control processes of the cell, such as disrupting mitochondrial antiviral innate immune signaling, and promoting mitochondrial-dependent pathological inflammation of the infected myocardium. In this review, we briefly highlight recent insights on the virus-mitochondria crosstalk and discuss the therapeutic implications of targeting mitochondria to preserve heart function and ultimately combat viral myocarditis.

Critical contribution of mitochondria in the development of cardiomyopathy linked to desmin mutation

“…It should be noted that mitochondrial dysfunction has been found in several cardiac diseases, i.e. dilated cardiomyopathy [ 84 ], hypertrophic cardiomyopathy [ 85 ], arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy [ 86 ], viral myocarditis [ 87 ], ischemic heart disease [ 88 ] or rare cases of restrictive cardiomyopathy [ 89 ]. This clearly suggests that defects in mitochondrial functions and/or structure may be a general trait of cardiac diseases.…”

Critical contribution of mitochondria in the development of cardiomyopathy linked to desmin mutation

“…It should be noted that mitochondrial dysfunction has been found in several cardiac diseases, i.e. dilated cardiomyopathy 83 , hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 84 , arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy 85 , viral myocarditis 86 , ischemic heart disease 87 or rare cases of restrictive cardiomyopathy 88 . This clearly suggests that defects in mitochondrial functions and/or structure may be a general trait of cardiac diseases.…”

Critical contribution of mitochondria in the development of cardiomyopathy linked to desmin mutation

“…It should be noted that mitochondrial dysfunction has been found in several cardiac diseases, i.e. dilated cardiomyopathy(Ramaccini et al , 2021), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(Moore et al , 2023), arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy(van Opbergen et al , 2019), viral myocarditis(Mohamud et al , 2023), ischemic heart disease(Walters et al , 2012) or rare cases of restrictive cardiomyopathy(Thebault et al , 2008). This clearly suggests that defects in mitochondrial functions and/or structure may be a general trait of cardiac diseases.…”