Intracellular and microenvironmental regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential in cancer cells

Cancer cells have an abnormally high mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm ), which is associated with enhanced invasive properties in vitro and increased metastases in vivo. The mechanisms underlying the abnormal ΔΨm in cancer cells remain unclear. Research on different cell types has shown that ΔΨm is regulated by various intracellular mechanisms such as by mitochondrial inner and outer membrane ion transporters, cytoskeletal elements, and biochemical signaling pathways. On the other hand, the role of extrinsic, tumor microenvironment (TME) derived cues in regulating ΔΨm is not well defined. In this review, we first summarize the existing literature on intercellular mechanisms of ΔΨm regulation, with a focus on cancer cells. We then offer our perspective on the different ways through which the microenvironmental cues such as hypoxia and mechanical stresses may regulate cancer cell ΔΨm . This article is categorized under: Cancer > Environmental Factors Cancer > Biomedical Engineering Cancer > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.