Key Hepatoprotective Roles of Mitochondria in Liver Regeneration.

Treatment of advanced liver disease using surgical modalities is possible due to the liver's innate ability to regenerate following resection. Several key cellular events in the regenerative process converge at the mitochondria, implicating its crucial roles in liver regeneration. Mitochondria enable the regenerating liver to meet immense metabolic demands by coordinating energy production to drive cellular proliferative processes and vital homeostatic functions. Mitochondria are also involved in terminating the regenerative process by mediating apoptosis. Studies have shown that attenuation of mitochondrial activity results in delayed liver regeneration, and liver failure following resection is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Emerging mitotherapy strategies involve isolating healthy donor mitochondria for transplantation into diseased organs to promote regeneration. This review highlights mitochondria's inherent roles in liver regeneration. New & Noteworthy Mitochondrial therapy (Mitotherapy) could potentially be the next big wave in therapeutics to preserve, supplement or replace damaged mitochondria after injury. In liver, mitotherapy should be considered to not only improve organ function but as therapeutic modality that could accelerate liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy.