Diffuse neuroendocrine system and mitochondrial diseases: molecular and cellular bases of pathogenesis, new approaches to diagnosis and therapy.

Structural and functional alterations of mitochondria have been shown to be responsible for a wide variety of clinical disorders that are referred to as "mitochondrial diseases." It is now obvious that many factors are involved in transport of mitochondrial proteins including cytokines, chaperones, chemokines, neurosteroids, ubiquitin and many others. At the same time the participation and the role of biogenic amines and peptide hormones (which are produced by the diffuse neuroendocrine system cells located in different organs) in endogenous mechanisms of mitochondrial diseases are still unknown. Taking into account the wide spectrum of biological effects of biogenic amines and peptide hormones, and especially their regulatory role for intercellular communication, it seems important to analyze the possible participation of these molecules in the pathogenesis of mitochondrial disorders as well as to draw up new ways for elaboration of new markers for lifetime diagnosis, definition of prognosis and efficiency of specific therapy in neurodegenerative diseases.