Accumulation Of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations Research Articles

Mitochondrial DNA in platelets from aged subjects

This study aimed to assess platelets as a possible model for screening the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations, particularly during normal ageing. For this purpose we isolated platelets from young and old donors selected by lack of systemic and haematological diseases. We studied the accumulation of a particular deletion (4977-bp deletion) that usually accumulates in an age-related manner in different post-mitotic tissues, such as brain, heart and skeletal muscle, and in some non-post-mitotic tissues (skin, liver). Using different primers, we failed to detect this particular species of deletion in platelets both from young and old individuals. However, we cannot exclude the presence of other species of deletions or point mutations affecting the mitochondrial DNA in platelets during the aging process.

Effects of physical activity and age on mitochondrial function.

It has been proposed that ageing results from the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations with age which interfere with respiratory chain ATP production. Insufficient ATP production impairs cell function, and tissue dysfunction ensues, leading to morbidity, decline and eventually death. Supporting this theory, mitochondrial DNA mutations accumulate with age and respiratory chain function declines dramatically in human skeletal muscle. However, the extent of decline in respiratory chain function is greater (50%) than anticipated from the low levels of mitochondrial DNA mutations (< 1%) observed in aged muscle. We hypothesized that an age-related reduction in physical activity could be an important factor in this decline and thus studied the influence of chronological age on muscle mitochondria in subjects matched for levels of physical activity. In this carefully selected group, there was little correlation between oxidative metabolism and age. However, several parameters of respiratory chain function did correlate with markers of physical activity (activity score and handgrip strength). Our results suggest that reduced physical activity is a major contribution to the decline in mitochondrial oxidations during ageing. Physical activity ameliorates and may even mask mitochondrial 'ageing' in muscle.

Clinical spectrum of mitochondrial diseases.

Mitochondrial diseases include myopathies and multisystem disorders. They are characterized by morphologic and biochemical abnormalities of mitochondria. Their genetic characteristics-maternal inheritance, heteroplasmy, mitotic segregation, and threshold effect-are unique. The clinical phenotypes are considerably heterogeneous, but the clinical presentation in many cases is characteristic or suggestive. We review the clinical features of the most prevalent mitochondrial encephalomyopathy syndromes, their molecular genetic basis, isolated clinical symptoms, and uncommon presentations. Molecular genetic diagnosis is available for the common syndromes and has revolutionized their diagnosis. Future therapeutic advances, based on the precise genetic etiology, are anticipated. Mitochondrial dysfunction may be a more frequent pathogenetic mechanism than the prevalence of the classic mitochondrial syndromes would indicate, as there is an association between the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations in postmitotic tissues and neurologic and systemic degenerative diseases.

Ageing-associated 5 kb deletion in human liver mitochondrial DNA

Using PCR technique and restriction mapping, we analyzed liver mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) of 2 stillborn babies and 55 Chinese subjects from 27 to 86 years old and blood cell mtDNA from 20 subjects of various ages. An ageing-associated 4,977-bp deletion was detected between nucleotide position 8,469 and 13,447 (or between 8482 and 13460) in the liver mtDNA of older subjects. In the region containing the junction fragment, we observed a 13 bp repeat “ACCTCCCTCACCA”. Moreover, the incidence of the deleted mtDNA of each of the study subjects was found to increase with age. The deletion was found in 5 out of 8 patients of the 31–40 age group and 9 out of 11 patients of the 41–50 age group, and in all the patients over 50 years old. The deletion was not observed in either the mtDNA of the liver of the still-birth or the blood cells of subjects of all the age groups. These results support our previous contention that liver mitochondrial respiratory functions decline with age and the hypothesis that continuous accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutation is an important contributor to ageing process.