Exercise training-induced effects on mitochondrial biogenesis and maintenance, and potential contraindicative effects of statin use.

Normal mitochondrial maintenance (black arrows) is theoretically characterized by the balance between the addition of healthy mitochondria (mitochondria with white fill) via mitochondrial biogenesis and removal of damaged mitochondria (mitochondrial with red fill) via autophagy. Herein, short-term statin use was associated with a decrease in mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 and altered autophagy-related protein LC3 content, which may contribute to disrupted mitochondrial maintenance. Long-term disruption in the mitochondrial maintenance (red dashed arrow) may lead to accumulation of damaged mitochondria. More directed research is necessary to understand the potential long-term impact of statin use on mitochondrial fission, autophagy, and function.