Brierley E J, Johnson M A, James O F, Turnbull D M
Department of Neurology, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Mol Cell Biochem. 1997 Sep;174(1-2):325-8.
Mitochondria are believed to be involved in human ageing. Whilst it is clear that various mitochondrial DNA mutations do accumulate in human tissues with age, whether or not they interfere with respiratory chain function is uncertain. We question the results of previous studies which have measured respiratory chain function in human skeletal muscle with age. Whilst cytochrome c oxidase deficient fibres are a real finding in skeletal muscle, the contribution of mitochondrial DNA mutations to human ageing is still controversial. Our results show for mitochondria to be involved in ageing then it must be through a more subtle mechanism than a global decline in respiratory chain function.
线粒体被认为与人类衰老有关。虽然很明显，随着年龄增长，各种线粒体DNA突变确实会在人体组织中积累，但它们是否会干扰呼吸链功能尚不确定。我们对之前关于随着年龄增长测量人类骨骼肌呼吸链功能的研究结果提出质疑。虽然细胞色素c氧化酶缺陷纤维在骨骼肌中是一个真实的发现，但线粒体DNA突变对人类衰老的影响仍存在争议。我们的研究结果表明，如果线粒体参与衰老，那么其机制必定比呼吸链功能的整体下降更为微妙。
