[Mitochondrial fusion protein Mfn2 and cardiovascular diseases].

Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) is a mitochondrial dynamin-related protein involved in the mitochondrial fusion reaction and is also connected to an altered mitochondrial energy supply. Mfn2 is a signaling molecule, plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, which participates in the pathophysiology of several cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, restenosis after angioplasty, atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, and cardiac oxidative stress injury. Regulating the mitochondria-related metabolism, Mfn2 affects diabetes and insulin resistance pathogenesis. In addition, Mfn2 could be an important biomarker and therapeutic target molecule for cardiovascular diseases.