SARS-CoV-2/COVID's major underlying cause: Mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of membrane potential (ΔΨ m) and impaired OXPHOS under hypoxic conditions
Mitochondria are located inside the cell. Their function is to maintain cellular homeostasis and "aerobic respiration": by generating Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) from ADP, mitochondria supply cells with energy. Through generation of low levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), mitochondria are involved in cell signaling. Imbalance in one of the processes involved in energy supply and ROS generation contributes to pathology, as is the case with infectious diseases such as COVID. Mitochondrial dysfunction is also involved in systemic disease. In this part of the "Deterioration in SARS-CoV-2 series", I will discuss the key role of mitochondria in the energy production process and ROS generation. As is known since SARS-CoV-1 (2003), the proteins of the coronavirus are able to "hack" mitochondria and get access to host cells via the "hijacking of mitochondria". I will offer insight into the properties of the virus that impair mitochondr
