Mitochondria may seem like small cogs in the complex machinery of the cell, but even little gears can drive big changes. Now, researchers from Japan have found that impairing mitochondria in two different ways can have a profound effect on blood cell development. This research provides new insights for Pearson syndrome, a rare mitochondrial disease for which few treatment options exist.
October 13, 2022
Mitochondria may seem like small cogs in the complex machinery of the cell, but even little gears can drive big changes. Now, researchers from Japan have found that impairing mitochondria in two different ways can have a profound effect on blood cell development. This research provides new insights for Pearson syndrome, a rare mitochondrial disease for which few treatment options exist.
In a study published in September in Pharmacological Research, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have revealed that disrupting mitochondrial function and dynamics causes anemia through at least two distinct mechanisms.
Bone marrow harbors blood cell precursors called hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that eventually form all types of blood cells. During this differentiation process, the HSCs rely increasingly on mitochondria for energy, and the mitochondria undergo characteristic changes in shape that reflect this process.
