Age related somatic mitochondrial DNA deletions in bone.
BACKGROUND
It has been suggested that the accumulation of damage to mitochondrial DNA is a major cause of age related, degenerative disease. Aging is known to cause bone loss leading to a fall in bone mineral density and disruption of bone microarchitecture. However, despite the evidence of age related bone loss, no attempt has been made to detect specific deletions of mitochondrial DNA in the bone of aged individuals.


OBJECTIVE
To detect bone specific, age related deletions in mitochondrial DNA.


METHODS
Blood leucocytes and bone biopsies from patients who had undergone orthopaedic surgery were used as a source of mitochondrial DNA and screened for deletions using the polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Although no deletions were detected in the blood mitochondrial DNA, specific deletions in bone mitochondrial DNA were found in three of five elderly subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that there could be a link between mitochondrial DNA deletions and free radical induced apoptosis of bone cells in the development of age related bone loss.
Papiha
S S
SS
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, The Medical School, University of Newcastle, UK.
Rathod
H
H
Briceno
I
I
Pooley
J
J
Datta
H K
HK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D001842:Bone and Bones; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial