Mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp deletion and OH ⁸ dG levels correlate in the brain of aged subjects but not Alzheimer's disease patients

Abstract

ABSTRACT The levels of mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp deletion (mtDNA 4977 ) and mitochondrial DNA 8′‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (OH 8 dG) were determined in the same samples from two brain areas of healthy subjects and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. A positive correlation between the age‐related increases of mtDNA 4977 and of OH 8 dG levels was found in the brain of healthy individuals. On the contrary, in both brain areas of AD patients, mtDNA 4977 levels were very low in the presence of high OH 8 dG amounts. These results might be explained assuming that the increase of OH 8 dG above a threshold level, as in AD patients, implies consequences for mtDNA replication and neuronal cell survival.—Lezza, A. M. S., Mecocci, P., Cormio, A., Real, M. F., Cherubini, A., Cantatore, P., Senin, U., Gadaleta, M. N. Mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp deletion and OH 8 dG levels correlate in the brain of aged subjects but not Alzheimer's disease patients. FASEB J. 13, 1083–1088 (1999)