Intercellular Mitochondrial Transfer and Mitochondrial Transplantation in Cardiovascular Disease.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of preclinical and mechanistic concepts without human trial data.
PubMed 42413818 · doi:10.1016/j.cjca.2026.06.032
What was done
This narrative review synthesizes literature on intercellular mitochondrial transfer and mitochondrial transplantation across cardiovascular cell types, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells. It describes transfer routes (tunneling nanotubes, extracellular vesicles, gap junctions, extracellular release), trafficking machinery (MIRO proteins, TRAK adaptors, cytoskeletal motor complexes), pathophysiological impacts, and therapeutic transplantation concepts.
What was found
The abstract provides a qualitative overview and conceptual framework without reporting numerical data, quantitative effect sizes, or primary trial outcomes.
Why it matters
Intercellular mitochondrial exchange highlights an emerging signaling and bioenergetic paradigm that may inform future regenerative therapies in cardiovascular disease.
Limits
The review relies on mechanistic and preclinical reasoning rather than systematic review methodology or primary human clinical trials. Delivery standardization, donor-recipient compatibility, in vivo fate tracking, and clinical efficacy remain unproven.
Cited by
- context Evidence indicates that mitochondria can travel throughout the entire body to assist other cells and mitochondria in distress.