The translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) resides on the outer mitochondrial membrane where it is believed to participate in cholesterol transport and steroid hormone synthesis. Although it is almost ubiquitously expressed, what TSPO does in non-steroidogenic tissues is largely unexplored. Recent studies report changes in glucose homoeostasis and cellular energy production when TSPO function is modulated by selective ligands or by genetic loss-of-function. This review summarizes findings that connect TSPO function with the regulation of mitochondrial energy metabolism. The juxtaposition of TSPO at the cytosolic/mitochondrial interface and the existence of endogenous ligands that are regulated by metabolism suggest that TSPO functions to adapt mitochondrial to cellular metabolism. From a pharmacological perspective the specific up-regulation of TSPO in neuro-inflammatory and injury-induced conditions make TSPO an interesting, druggable target of mitochondrial metabolism.
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August 2015
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Review Article|
August 03 2015
Targeting mitochondrial energy metabolism with TSPO ligands
Philipp Gut
Philipp Gut
1
*Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment H, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
1emailPhilipp.Gut@rd.nestle.com.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
January 20 2015
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2015 Authors; published by Portland Press Limited
2015
Biochem Soc Trans (2015) 43 (4): 537–542.
Article history
Received:
January 20 2015
Citation
Philipp Gut; Targeting mitochondrial energy metabolism with TSPO ligands. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2015; 43 (4): 537–542. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20150019
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