The mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) is a high affinity cholesterol binding protein which is primarily located in
the outer mitochondrial membrane where it has been shown to interact with proteins implicated in
mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) formation. TSPO is found in different species and is expressed at high levels in tissues that syn
thesize steroids but is also present in o
ther peripheral tissues especially in
the heart. TSPO has been involved in
the import
of cholesterol into mitochondria, a key step in steroidogenesis. This constitutes
the main established function
of the protein which was recently challenged by genetic studies. TSPO has also been associated directly or indirectly with a wide range
of cellular functions such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, differentiation, regulation
of mitochondrial function or porphyrin transport.
In the heart the role of TSPO remains undefined but a growing body of evidence suggests that TSPO plays a critical role in regulating physiological cardiac function and that TSPO ligands may represent interesting drugs to protect the heart under pathological conditions.
This article briefly reviews current knowledge regarding TSPO and discusses its role in the cardiovascular system under physiological and pathologic conditions. More particularly, it provides evidence that TSPO can represent an alternative strategy to develop new pharmacological agents to protect the myocardium against ischemia–reperfusion injury.