衰老人体组织中线粒体DNA体细胞缺失的积累模式。

Cortopassi G A, Shibata D, Soong N W, Arnheim N

Molecular Biology Section and Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-1340.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992 Aug 15;89(16):7370-4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.16.7370.

An assay that selectively amplifies a specific deletion of the mitochondrial genome has been used to study the extent of the deletion's accumulation in a variety of human tissues. The deletion occurs at much higher levels in nervous and muscle tissues than in all other tissues studied. The variation in deletion level between the same tissues in different persons of similar age appears to be less than the variation among tissues within an individual. Tests for artifactual explanations of the level differences were each negative. Three cellular parameters that are correlated with the level of the deletion are identified. The preferential accumulation of deleterious mitochondrial mutations in a restricted subset of aging human tissues may compound deficiencies of function in those tissues that accrue with age.

一种选择性扩增线粒体基因组特定缺失片段的检测方法已被用于研究该缺失片段在多种人体组织中的积累程度。在神经和肌肉组织中，该缺失片段的出现水平远高于其他所有被研究的组织。在年龄相仿的不同个体中，相同组织间的缺失水平差异似乎小于个体内不同组织间的差异。针对水平差异的人为因素解释的各项检测结果均为阴性。确定了与该缺失水平相关的三个细胞参数。有害线粒体突变在特定的衰老人体组织亚群中的优先积累，可能会加剧这些组织中随年龄增长而出现的功能缺陷。