Angelina Schwarz - Mitochondrial DNA copy number in relation to media calcification score in kidney failure

Mitochondrial DNA copy number in relation to media calcification score in kidney failure

Background:Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal failure areconnected toincreased oxidative stress and vascular calcification, which are indicators for development of comorbidities and mortality outcome.Mitochondrial(mt)DNA copy number has been reportedas independent predictor for frailty and mortality outcome of various cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer.
Hypothesis:mtDNA copy number in blood of kidney failure patients can be correlated to media calcification score and coronary arterial calcification (CAC) and be used as an independent predictor for comorbidities and mortality outcome.
Methods:Quantitative PCR (qPCR) with TaqMan® probes for three mtDNAgenes (ND1, ND4 and COX1) and two single locus genes onnuclear DNA (hemoglobin beta and 18S),for normalization,is performed on DNA samplesisolated fromcollectedblood of 208kidney transplant donors and 242recipientsincluded in the KaroKidney biobank. Resulting mtDNA copy number will be compared to CAC score, patient mortality outcome and other clinical parameters.
Conclusion:With half of the cohort assayed, first results show statisticallysignificant difference inmtDNA copy number between kidney failure patients (recipients) and healthy controls (donors). No differencebetween females and males was observed.Already, an inverse correlation between mtDNA and increasing CAC score is evident, indicating that mtDNA could be used as a predictor for frailty and outcome in kidney failurepatients.