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Review
. 2024 Aug;30(8):e14897.
doi: 10.1111/cns.14897.

Mitochondrial plasticity and synaptic plasticity crosstalk; in health and Alzheimer's disease

Affiliations
Review

Mitochondrial plasticity and synaptic plasticity crosstalk; in health and Alzheimer's disease

Fatemeh Sayehmiri et al. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Synaptic plasticity is believed to underlie the cellular and molecular basis of memory formation. Mitochondria are one of the main organelles involved in metabolism and energy maintenance as plastic organelles that change morphologically and functionally in response to cellular needs and regulate synaptic function and plasticity through multiple mechanisms, including ATP generation, calcium homeostasis, and biogenesis. An increased neuronal activity enhances synaptic efficiency, during which mitochondria's spatial distribution and morphology change significantly. These organelles build up in the pre-and postsynaptic zones to produce ATP, which is necessary for several synaptic processes like neurotransmitter release and recycling. Mitochondria also regulate calcium homeostasis by buffering intracellular calcium, which ensures proper synaptic activity. Furthermore, mitochondria in the presynaptic terminal have distinct morphological properties compared to dendritic or postsynaptic mitochondria. This specialization enables precise control of synaptic activity and plasticity. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to synaptic failure in many neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD, malfunctioning mitochondria cause delays in synaptic vesicle release and recycling, ionic gradient imbalances, and mostly synaptic failure. This review emphasizes mitochondrial plasticity's contribution to synaptic function. It also explores the profound effect of mitochondrial malfunction on neurodegenerative disorders, focusing on AD, and provides an overview of how they sustain cellular health under normal conditions and how their malfunction contributes to neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting their potential as a therapeutic target for such conditions.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; beta‐amyloid; mitochondria; synaptic plasticity.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Mitochondria as central hubs in synaptic modulation.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Mitochondrial localization and synaptic plasticity. At the presynaptic level, BDNF‐induced TrkB signaling stops the transport of mitochondria along the axons and promotes their docking at presynaptic sites by a Ca2+‐dependent mechanism involving the adaptor protein Miro1. The signaling mechanism operating downstream of TrkB receptors to regulate the transport of mitochondria is mediated by an increase in the [Ca2+] I through PI3K and PLC‐ɣ signaling pathways. Additionally, BDNF‐signaling controls mitochondrial transport and localization. More mitochondria build up at presynaptic sites due to the BDNF‐induced mitochondrial halting, followed by improved synaptic transmission. At the postsynaptic level, BDNF induces the delivery of AMPA and NMDA receptors to the synapse.

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