One hypothesis for mitochondrial diseases is that mitochondrial damage and dysfunction play an important role in aging. Protofection is being researched as a possibly viable laboratory technique for constructing gene therapies for inherited mitochondrial diseases, such as Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Studies have shown that protofection can lead to improved mitochondrial function in targeted cells.
Protofection could be applied to modified or artificial mitochondria. Mitochondria could be modified to produce few or no free radicals without compromising energy production. Recent studies have demonstrated that mitochondrial transplants may be useful to rejuvenate dead or dying tissue, such as in heart attacks, for which the mitochondria is the first part of the cell that dies.