Once considered a small component within cells, mitochondria are now known to play a much more important role in human health. These powerhouses of the cell can help to keep us healthy and free from disease. They can also contribute to cellular death. In this article, we will explore some of the roles of mitochondria and how they can impact our health.

Mitochondria plays a complicated, and important role in cellular health. Organelles are a major components in the structure of the cells. From producing energy to regulating cell death, these organelles are essential for proper function.  Here, we take a closer look at the many roles of mitochondria.

Cellular Processes: How mitochondria affect various cellular processes.

Mitochondria are critical for the production of energy by our cells. But how exactly do mitochondria affect processes like cell growth, cell death, and signal transduction? It produces energy for the cell in the form of ATP, (adenosine triphosphate), which is used by all sorts of cellular processes.ATP  is a molecule that provides energy for many cellular processes. Mitochondria also produce ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), which can damage cells if they are not properly controlled.  It is often referred to as the "energy currency" of the cell.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a condition that results when the mitochondria of a cell are not able to produce enough energy for the cell to function properly. When this happens functions can also become impaired, leading to disease.

Large population of cells can undergo the following malfunctions:

- A loss of the mitochondria membrane potential - Lack of an electrical potential between the inner and outer membrane that would normally serve to generate ATP from available nutrients.

-The change in permeability and integrity of the mitochondrial membrane.

- The production of toxic molecules that are created by the mitochondria - Gas exchange, energy, the synthesis of new proteins, and antioxidant defence systems are all affected by mitochondrial dysfunction.

In short the cells need continual maintenance day to date with good nutrients and/or supplements.

The Immune System: How mitochondria affect the immune system.

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from foreign invaders. They are important for the proper function of the immune system. They produce energy that is needed for the movement of immune cells and the production of antibodies. They also act as an anti-inflammatory defence.

Mitochondria do not release chemicals (known as cytokines) into the circulation, but they increase production of other cytokines at the same time. This changes the immune system's ability to fight off infections.

The loss of mitochondrial integrity by increased oxidative stress causes decreased amounts of oxygen to be delivered to the immune cells. This is thought to be caused by a reduction in the production of the cell's oxygen delivery molecule, cytochrome oxidase. The cells become less able to use oxygen for cell metabolism. Therefore, it reduces the amount of energy available for immune function.

Ageing: How mitochondria affects us.

The mitochondria is the source of cell energy. They are however, also involved in other important cellular processes, such as calcium homeostasis, cell death, and cell signalling. As we age, our cells produce less ATP, and this can lead to a decline in mitochondrial function. In a damaged cell, the ability to produce energy declines. This in turn, may contribute to cell death. It also affects the signalling capacity of the mitochondria, which can affect cell survival. When it cannot produce enough energy for the cell, it can start to fail. This is what happens in cancer cells. Because cancer cells lack energy, they begin to die. In ageing, a decline in the health of the cells may cause increased inflammation. This may also lead to free radical damage and increased levels of oxidative stress.