The 4977 bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA in human skeletal muscle,heart and different areas of the brain: A useful biomarker or more?

It has been suggested that deletions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are important players with regard to the ageing process. Since the early 1990s, the 4977 bp deletion has been studied in various tissues, especially in postmitotic tissues with high energy demand. Unfortunately, some of these studies included less than 10 subjects, so the aim of our study was to quantify reliably the deletion amount in nine different regions of human brain, heart and skeletal muscle in a cohort of 92 individuals. The basal ganglia contain the highest deletion amounts with values up to 2.93% and differences in deletion levels between early adolescence and older ages were up to three orders of magnitude. Values in frontal lobe were on average an order of magnitude lower, but lowest in cerebellar tissue where the amount was on average only 5 x 10(-3) of the basal ganglia. The deletion started to accumulate in iliopsoas muscle early in the fourth decade of life with values between 0.00019% and 0.0035% and was highest in a 102-year-old woman with 0.14%. In comparison to skeletal muscle, the overall abundance in heart muscle of the left ventricle was only one-third. The best linear logarithmic correlation between amount of the deletion and age was found in substantia nigra with r=0.87 (p<0.0005) followed by anterior wall of the left ventricle (r=0.82; p<0.0005). With regard to mitochondrial DNA damage, we propose to use the 4977 bp deletion as an ideal biomarker to discriminate between physiological ageing and accelerated ageing. The biological meaning of mitochondrial deletions in the process of ageing is under discussion, but there is experimental evidence that large-scale deletions impair the oxidative phosphorylation in single cells and sensitize these cells to undergo apoptosis.     

Age-associated changes in mitochondrial parameters on peripheral human lymphocytes

Among theories of aging, mitochondria are believed to be involved in senescence. Alterations of respiratory chain function and accumulation of various mitochondrial DNA mutations have been reported in mammalian postmitotic tissues. Because mitochondria have a central role in apoptosis and in adenosine triphosphate production, alteration of mitochondria function could contribute to immune senescence. We searched for alterations of mitochondrial parameters in peripheral lymphocytes with aging. Comparisons of respiratory chain activities of complex II+III, III, and IV were carried out in two populations of healthy volunteers with average ages of 35.3 +/- 6.7 years and 80.8 +/- 8.7 years. No difference was observed in complex IV activity between each group, whereas a significant decrease of complex II+III and a nonsignificant decrease of complex III activity were observed with aging. Alterations in mitochondrial functions can result from mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), the most common being the 4977-bp deletion (mtDNA(-4977)). In either group we observed many deletions of mtDNA on peripheral blood lymphocytes by large-fragment polymerase chain reaction. This result suggests that alterations of respiratory chain activities observed with aging in lymphocytes could be the result of nuclear DNA dysfunction, with consequences on immune function (reduced responsiveness to antigen). Its possible implication on the recent observation of increased apoptosis of CD45RA+ RO- T cells with aging is discussed.     

Oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA and its relationship to diabetic complications

Increased oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Oxidative stress is known to increase the conversion of deoxyguanosine (dG) to 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in DNA, which is linked to increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions. We investigated mtDNA deletions and 8-OHdG in the muscle DNA of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. mtDNA deletion of 4977 bp (delta mtDNA4977) and the content of 8-OHdG in the muscle DNA of the NIDDM patients were much higher than those of the control subjects. There was a significant correlation between delta mtDNA4977 and the 8-OHdG content (P < 0.0001). Both delta mtDNA4977 and the 8-OHdG content were also correlated with the duration of diabetes. Delta mtDNA4977 and the 8-OHdG content in muscle DNA increased in proportion to the severity of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. This is the first report that an increase in delta mtDNA4977 and 8-OHdG is proportional to the severity of diabetic complications. Oxidative mtDNA damage is speculated to contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications though a defect in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation or other mechanisms. 8-OHdG and delta mtDNA4977 are useful markers to evaluate oxidative mtDNA damage in the diabetic patients.     

Multiple skeletal muscle mitochondrial DNA deletions in patients with unilateral peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with metabolic derangements and accumulation of the common 4977 bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion mutation. The current study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that PAD is associated with multiple mtDNA deletions. Gastrocnemius biopsies were obtained from nine patients with unilateral PAD. DNA extracted from the biopsies was analyzed for mtDNA deletions using a primer-shift PCR strategy. Multiple primers and strict, prospective criteria were used to identify deletions. PAD was associated with multiple mtDNA deletions (average of 8.2 distinct deletions in muscle from the hemodynamically affected limb). mtDNA injury was present in both the worse- and less-affected limbs of the unilateral PAD patients, and the estimated degree of mtDNA injury was strongly correlated in the two limbs on an intra-subject basis. The 4977 bp deletion was frequently identified, but was not always the deletion of highest frequency in individual samples. The estimated relative frequency of the 4977 bp deletion was correlated with the overall mtDNA injury in the biopsies. In summary, PAD is associated with mtDNA injury as reflected by multiple deletion mutations. As the mutations are not limited to the ischemic limb in unilateral patients, they are unlikely to contribute to the pathophysiology of claudication.     

病毒性心肌炎患者心肌细胞线粒体DNA缺失的定量分析

为探讨病毒性心肌炎 (VMC)患者心肌细胞线粒体 DNA(mt NDA)缺失突变情况及意义 ,用定量 PCR法检测 2 0例 VMC患者心肌细胞及其外周血淋巴细胞 mt DNA4 977碱基对 (mt DNA4 977)和 mt DNA74 36 碱基对 (mt D-NA74 36 )缺失率。取 10例健康意外死亡者心肌和 2 0例献血员外周血淋巴细胞作正常对照。结果显示 ,正常对照者和 VMC患者心肌细胞均存在 m t DNA4 977及 mt DNA74 36缺失 ,合计缺失率分别为 0 .176 %、0 .384 % ,二者差异显著 ,P<0 .0 5 ;VMC患者外周淋巴细胞 mt DNA缺失程度与心肌细胞呈一致性改变 ,且有良好的相关性 (r=0 .92 0 ,P<0 .0 0 1)。提示 mt DNA缺失可能是 VMC发病过程中重要的心肌损伤机制 ;外周淋巴细胞在研究心肌细胞 mt DNA缺失中的作用值得进一步探讨     

心肌mtDNA4977缺失与扩张型心肌病猝死的关系

目的探讨扩张型心肌病(DCM)猝死者心肌线粒体DNA(mtDNA)4977缺失情况及其与猝死的关系.方法从近7年尸检案例中挑选11例DCM猝死和14例对照组病例及心肌组织蜡块,按常规方法提取心肌mtDNA,用PCR、琼脂糖紫外凝胶成像技术确定扩增产物激光密度,初步定量检测mtDNA4977缺失率.结果DCM猝死11例中,未成年人2例;成人9例,均为男性,年龄22～49(平均38)岁.对照组14例中,未成年人1例;成人13例,其中男11例,女2例,年龄19～47(平均37.23)岁,死因为机械性损伤和窒息各2例,电击死2例,中毒2例,非心肌病猝死6例.DCM11例(占100%)、对照组2例(占14.28%)检见不同程度的mtDNA4977缺失;两组病例mtDNA4977缺失率均值分别为0.92%和0.09%,差异有统计学意义.结论DCM猝死者心肌可检见mtDNA49 77缺失;其心肌mtDNA4977缺失突变与DCM猝死有关.     

病毒性心肌炎与扩张型心肌病心肌线粒体DNA缺失的定量分析

目的对比研究病毒性心肌炎(VMC)与扩张型心肌病(DCM)患者活检心肌组织线粒体DNA(mtDNA)缺失突变情况及其与外周淋巴细胞mtDNA缺失程度的相关性.方法用定量PCR法检测20例VMC患者、12例DCM患者心肌细胞及其外周血淋巴细胞mtDNA4977碱基对(mtDNA4977)和mtDNA7436碱基对(mtDNA)缺失率.取12例健康意外死亡者心肌和23例献血员外周血淋巴细胞作正常对照.结果正常对照者、VMC和DCM患者心肌细胞均存在mtDNA4977及mtDNA7436缺失,合计缺失率分别为0.175%、0.385%和3.004%;外周淋巴细胞mtDNA缺失程度与心肌细胞呈一致性改变,且有良好的相关性(r=0.960,P＜0.001).结论mtDNA缺失可能是VMC发病及其向DCM演变的一个重要心肌损伤机制;外周淋巴细胞在研究心肌细胞mtDNA缺失中的作用值得进一步探讨.     

Atrial fibrillation is associated with accumulation of aging-related common type mitochondrial DNA deletion mutation in human atrial tissue

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Accumulation of somatic mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) contributes to the aging process and progressive organ dysfunction. We investigated the mitochondrial DNA with 4977-base-pair mtDNA deletion mutation (mtDNA(4977)) in human atrial tissue and correlated the amount of mtDNA(4977) to clinical atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Atrial tissue from the right atrial appendage was obtained in 88 patients during open-heart surgery (22 children/adolescents and 66 adults). The amount of mtDNA(4977) was measured using a nested polymerase chain reaction protocol and normalized to wild-type mtDNA. We found that the mtDNA(4977) was absent in all 22 pediatric/adolescent patients. In the adult group, the relative amount of mtDNA(4977) was significantly higher in patients with AF than in patients without AF (0.55 +/- 0.26 vs 0.35 +/- 0.29, p < 0.007) [mean +/- SD]. The amount of mtDNA(4977) was also positively associated with age (r = 0.29, p < 0.01). Left and right atrial pressures, left atrial dimension, hypertension, and cardiac diagnosis did not influence the amount of mtDNA(4977) significantly. Further multivariate analysis showed that both aging and AF contributed independently to the accumulation of mtDNA(4977). CONCLUSION: AF is associated with an increase of mtDNA(4977). This change is similar to the aging process of atrial tissue and might contribute to atrial dysfunction in AF.     

Oxidative stress and its impact on mitochondrial DNA in pulmonary tuberculosis patients- a pilot study

BackgroundPulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality all around the world. Recent studies have pointed out increased oxidative stress and also DNA damage in peripheral blood in PTB. Till date, to the best of our knowledge, no study has so far been conducted to show the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions mapping in PTB patients. Therefore we performed the present study with the aim to investigate oxidative stress parameters along with mtDNA damage in newly diagnosed untreated PTB patients.Material and methodsThis is a prospective study carried out in Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram,Wardha, Maharashtra during september 2017 to september 2018.Thirty newly diagnosed untreated PTB patients and thirty age matched healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Analysis of Oxidative stress parameters such as nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were done by calorimetric methods. Assessment of mitochondrial DNA damage was carried out by mtDNA deletions mapping using primer shift long range polymerase chain reaction technique.ResultsThere was significant increase in levels of oxidative stress parameters, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, in PTB patients compared to controls (p < 0.01). Generally there are two common deletion sites of “13 bp direct repeats” (ACCTCCCTCACCA) in mtDNA. One at the junction sites from bp 8470 to 8482 bp and another from bp 13447 to 13460 bp which make mtDNA more prone for 4977bp deletion. Out of thirty cases of PTB, two cases showed mtDNA damage in the form of mtDNA deletion of 4977bp. There was no mtDNA deletion in any control which can be attributed to continuous generation of oxidative stress.ConclusionThis pilot study has been able to demonstrate that compared to controls, in newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients some mtDNA damage did occur and was probably due to continuous generation of oxidative stress in tuberculous patients. However, sample size is too small to draw any conclusions but definitely a more comprehensive study, by recruiting more number of pulmonary tuberculosis patients is warranted to establish correlation between oxidative stress and mtDNA damage in PTB.     

Mitochondrial DNA mutation at np 3243 in a family with maternally inherited diabetes mellitus

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene defects may play a role in the development of maternally inherited diabetes mellitus and deafness (MIDD). A family from Southern Italy who showed maternal transmission of type 2 diabetes mellitus with three individuals affected is described. A 10.4 kb deletion and mutations at nucleotide positions (np) 3243, 7445 and 11778 in the mtDNA of six relatives were sought. The mitochondrial np 3243 mutation of the tRNA Leu (UUR) gene was identified in a boy affected by optic atrophy and mental retardation, as well as in his diabetic mother. No other mutations or deletions were found. Our study points out the variable phenotypic expression of the np 3243 mtDNA mutation. This may suggest the presence of other mitochondrial or nuclear mutations required to modulate the phenotype. A clinical and metabolic follow-up of all family members was necessary to understand the role of the np 3243 mutation, especially in one child affected by optic atrophy and mental retardation. Further studies will be aimed at investigating the prevalence of mutations and deletions of mtDNA in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Received: 20 November 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 20 July 1999     

Detection of the 4977 bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA in different human blood cells

As recently reported, it is possible to detect and quantify the amount of the deleted human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in whole blood, platelets and peripheral blood mononuclear cells using real-time PCR. The aim of this study was to identify the cell types in human blood carrying the 4977 bp deleted mtDNA and their accumulation with regard to donor age. Whole blood from 10 healthy donors (five individuals aged from 19 to 22 years, five aged from 57 to 61 years) was separated in various cell populations such as granulocytes, B cells/monocytes and T cells. Purity of the cell isolates was determined by flow cytometry. Total DNA was extracted and 250 ng DNA of each cell type was subjected to PCR using fluorescent-labelled primer pairs. The specific PCR product of the 4977 bp deletion was quantified using an automated detection system. The accumulation of the 4977 bp deletion was more pronounced in T lymphocytes and granulocytes in comparison to B lymphocytes/monocytes. The amount of the 4977 bp deletion in whole blood varied from 0 to 0.00018%, in T lymphocytes from 0.00009 to 0.00160%, in granulocytes from 0 to 0.00162% and in the B lymphocyte/monocyte fraction from 0 to 0.00025%. The higher amount of the deletion in T lymphocytes may be due to a subset of lymphocytes with a longer lifespan thus facilitating the accumulation of mitochondrial damage. The higher amount in granulocytes could have the explanation in the higher release of free radicals for prevention of infectious diseases, because free radicals are supposed to damage the macromolecules of this cell type. The 10 donors displayed differences in the pattern of the accumulation with regard to the different cell types, but no age-dependent accumulation was observed. Differences of the accumulation pattern may be due to actual individual living behaviour or environmental factors.     

Tissue-specific deletion patterns of the mitochondrial genome with advancing age

Aging is a multifactorial process and a lot of theories have been put forward to explain the deterioration of organ function with advancing age. The free radical hypothesis developed by Harman is amongst the most prominent today and has been focused on mitochondrial aging in the last decades. Applying a long PCR approach we screened human skeletal muscle, heart, caudate nucleus and cerebellum of 50 individuals for large-scale deletions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The most important observation of our study was the detection of age dependent tissue specific deletion patterns of mtDNA. The pattern of the same tissue of different individuals was more similar than the pattern of different tissues of the same individuals. Whereas deletions were barely detectable in cerebellar tissue, in caudate nucleus a specific banding pattern with deletions of 4-8 kb was already observed around the age of thirty. However, the increase of these large-scale deletions in number and variety over lifetime was more pronounced in skeletal muscle or heart. Our data support the notion that different tissues accumulate mtDNA damage in a specific manner. Although functional consequences of mitochondrial deletions are clearly supported by experimental data on the single-cell level in model organisms and mammals, their role regarding impaired function of organs with advancing age in humans remains unresolved.     

Introduction of disease-related mitochondrial DNA deletions into HeLa cells lacking mitochondrial DNA results in mitochondrial dysfunction.

Mutant mitochondrial DNA with large-scale deletions (delta-mtDNA) has been frequently observed in patients with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO), a subgroup of the mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. To exclude involvement of the nuclear genome in expression of the mitochondrial dysfunction characteristic of CPEO, we introduced the mtDNA of a CPEO patient into clonal mtDNA-less HeLa cells and isolated cybrid clones. Quantitation of delta-mtDNA in the cybrids revealed that delta-mtDNA was selectively propagated with higher levels of delta-mtDNA correlating with slower cellular growth rate. In these cybrid clones, translational complementation of the missing tRNAs occurred only when delta-mtDNA was less than 60% of the total mtDNA, whereas accumulation of delta-mtDNA to greater than 60% resulted in progressive inhibition of overall mitochondrial translation as well as reduction of cytochrome c oxidase activity throughout the organelle population. Because these cybrids shared the same nuclear background as HeLa cells, these results suggest that large-scale deletion mutations of mtDNA alone are sufficient for the mitochondrial dysfunction characteristic of CPEO.     

Mitochondrial gene defects in patients with NIDDM

Summary Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) has a strong genetic component and maternal factors have recently been implicated in disease inheritance. The mitochondrial myopathies are a group of diseases which often show maternal inheritance as a result of mtDNA defects; some patients have impaired glucose tolerance. Occasional families with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness associated with a deletion or point mutation of mtDNA have been reported. To assess the importance of mitochondrial gene defects in NIDDM, 150 unrelated diabetic subjects from Wales, UK and 68 unrelated patients with diabetes and at least one affected sibling from England, UK were studied. Southern blot analysis did not show any large mtDNA deletions or duplications. One patient had a mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA^leu(UUR) gene at bp 3243. This mutation is commonly associated with the syndrome of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke like episodes (MELAS). Study of this patient and his siblings showed a distinct form of late-onset diabetes associated with nerve deafness but no clinical features of the MELAS syndrome. No diabetic subject was shown to have the mtDNA mutation at position 8344 (tRNA^lys) which has previously been described in the syndrome of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and red-ragged fibres (MERRF). The role of other mitochondrial gene defects in diabetes and the pathophysiological basis of glucose intolerance in patients with the MELAS mutation requires further elucidation.Abbreviations mtDNA mitochondrial DNA - tRNA transfer RNA - NIDDM non-insulin-dependent mellitus - bp base pair - PCR polymerase chain reaction     

The frequency of 4977 base pair deletion of mitochondrial DNA in various types of liver disease and in normal liver

Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, we tested for the hepatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion in 40 hepatic tumors (28 hepatocellular carcinomas [HCcs], 9 other malignant tumors, and 3 benign tumors) and in the livers of 71 patients, including 16 pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease who underwent living related donor liver transplantation and 16 liver donors. A 4977 base pair (bp) deletion of mtDNA was detected in 36 of 55 specimens of non-tumor portions of adult liver (65.5%). However, none of the specimens obtained from cirrhotic livers of the 16 pediatric patients younger than 13 years of age had the 4977 bp deletion. The frequency of mtDNA deletion was significantly decreased compared with normal liver in HCCs (7 of 28) and other malignant liver tumors (2 of 9). The frequency of this deletion was unrelated to the presence of liver cirrhosis, patient's gender, hepatitis B virus surface antigen status, and hepatitis C virus antibody status.     

Mitochondrial DNA Deletions in Cardiomyopathies

Structural changes in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases. In this study we report on deletions in the mtDNA of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and post mortem control samples. Total DNA was extracted from left ventricular tissue and nearly the whole mtDNA was amplified using the long PCR technique. For quantitative analysis of the PCR-products with mtDNA deletions the fragments were scanned by a laser densitometer. With the method of long PCR we could detect wild-type and deleted mtDNA in 1 reaction. A total of 14 different deletions ranging from 3.3 to 12.6 kb could be detected. The highest rate of deleted as compared to wild-type mtDNA was 12% in 1 control and 9% in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy. The number of mitochondrial deletions increase with age in the control group. Additional deletions appear sooner in cardiomyopathic hearts than in control hearts. With regard to the low quantity of the deleted mtDNA and the cumulative nature of these deletions by ageing, we conclude that they may be relevant in individual cases only. A general pathogenic effect on the development of dilated cardiomyopathy is less likely. The mutations may be a sign of increasing stress to the heart, however, thus promoting consecutive damage of mtDNA by initiating a vicious circle.     

Mutant mitochondrial helicase Twinkle causes multiple mtDNA deletions and a late-onset mitochondrial disease in mice

Defects of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance have recently been associated with inherited neurodegenerative and muscle diseases and the aging process. Twinkle is a nuclear-encoded mtDNA helicase, dominant mutations of which cause adult-onset progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO) with multiple mtDNA deletions. We have generated transgenic mice expressing mouse Twinkle with PEO patient mutations. Multiple mtDNA deletions accumulate in the tissues of these mice, resulting in progressive respiratory dysfunction and chronic late-onset mitochondrial disease starting at 1 year of age. The muscles of the mice faithfully replicate all of the key histological, genetic, and biochemical features of PEO patients. Furthermore, the mice have progressive deficiency of cytochrome c oxidase in distinct neuronal populations. These "deletor" mice do not, however, show premature aging, indicating that subtle accumulation of mtDNA deletions and progressive respiratory chain dysfunction are not sufficient to accelerate aging. This model is a valuable tool for therapy development and testing for adult-onset mitochondrial disorders.     

Mitochondrial DNA damage in lymphocytes: a role in immunosenescence?

An age-related increase of DNA damage/mutation has been previously reported in human lymphocytes. The high copy number and mutation rate make the mtDNA genome an ideal candidate for assessing damage and to act as a potential biomarker of ageing. In the present study, two assays were developed to evaluate the level of mtDNA(4977) and the accumulation of point mutations with age. A competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology incorporating three primers was used to detect and quantify the levels of mtDNA(4977) and a novel heteroduplex reference strand conformational analysis (RSCA) technique was used to analyse the accumulation of point mutations. The assays were applied to an in vitro model of T cell ageing and ex vivo DNA samples from an elderly cohort of subjects and a younger control group. The mtDNA(4977) was detected in all the DNA samples examined but only a very low concentration was observed and no age-related increase or accumulation was observed. No accumulation of point mutations was identified using RSCA within the T cell clones as they were aged or the ex vivo lymphocytes from the elderly cohort. A higher level of variation was observed within the ex vivo DNA samples, verifying the high resolution of RSCA and its ability to identify different mtDNA species, although no correlation with age was observed. The low level of mtDNA damage observed with respect to the ex vivo lymphocyte DNA samples within this study may be due in part to the high turnover of blood cells/mtDNA, which may inhibit the accumulation of genetically abnormal mtDNA that may play a role in immunosenescence. A similar explanation may also apply to the in vitro model of T cell ageing if the vast majority of the cells are replicating rather than entering senescence.     

Mitochondrial dysfunction as a cause of ageing

Mitochondrial dysfunction is heavily implicated in the ageing process. Increasing age in mammals correlates with accumulation of somatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and decline in respiratory chain function. The age-associated respiratory chain deficiency is typically unevenly distributed and affects only a subset of cells in various human tissues, such as heart, skeletal muscle, colonic crypts and neurons. Studies of mtDNA mutator mice has shown that increased levels of somatic mtDNA mutations directly can cause a variety of ageing phenotypes, such as osteoporosis, hair loss, greying of the hair, weight reduction and decreased fertility. Respiratory-chain-deficient cells are apoptosis prone and increased cell loss is therefore likely an important consequence of age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction. There is a tendency to automatically link mitochondrial dysfunction to increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), however, the experimental support for this concept is rather weak. In fact, respiratory-chain-deficient mice with tissue-specific mtDNA depletion or massive increase of point mutations in mtDNA typically have minor or no increase of oxidative stress. Mitochondrial dysfunction is clearly involved in the human ageing process, but its relative importance for mammalian ageing remains to be established.