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Age-related mitochondrial DNA deletion in human heart: its relationship with cardiovascular diseases

Tomio Arai1, Ken-ichi Nakahara, Hiroko Matsuoka

  • 1Departments of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan. arai@tmig.or.jp

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
|July 5, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions increase with age in heart tissue, particularly in individuals over 90. While common, these age-related mtDNA deletions show limited links to cardiovascular diseases, except for right ventricular hypertrophy.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Aging Research
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage accumulates in heart tissue with aging.
  • Cardiovascular diseases are more prevalent in the elderly, yet mtDNA deletions in aged hearts are understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between aging, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions, and cardiovascular diseases.
  • To determine the prevalence and characteristics of mtDNA deletions in the myocardial tissue of aged individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 163 autopsy cases aged 60 and older.
  • Utilized highly sensitive PCR for a common 4977-bp deletion and long-PCR for multiple deletions in cardiac mtDNA.

Main Results:

  • The common 4977-bp deletion was found in 95.7% of cases, unrelated to age or cardiovascular disease.
  • Multiple mtDNA deletions were detected in 20.2% of cases, with higher prevalence in individuals in their nineties (46.2%) compared to younger groups (15.3%).
  • Female predominance was observed in the mtDNA deletion group; deletions were linked to right ventricular hypertrophy but not other cardiovascular conditions.

Conclusions:

  • A strong correlation exists between aging and mtDNA deletion, with the ratio of deleted mtDNA increasing with age.
  • Age-related mtDNA deletions appear to have minimal impact on cardiovascular diseases, with the exception of right ventricular hypertrophy.
Abstract

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