NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre in Ageing & Chronic Disease

Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondria are subcellular organelles essential for the generation of energy by oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondria are unique since they contain their own DNA, a small 16.6kb genome which encodes 13 essential mitochondrial proteins. All the other proteins which make up the mitochondrial proteome (>1000 proteins in total) are nuclear encoded.

Defects of mitochondria are a very important cause of genetic disease and patients present at any age with a number of different symptoms. These patients almost invariably progress and there is no specific curative treatment for the majority of patients. Mitochondria are also involved in ageing and age-related diseases. Studies in numerous different human tissues have shown the presence of mitochondrial defects with age. In addition, certain age related diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and inclusion body myositis have very prominent mitochondrial abnormalities.

The specific objective of the mitochondrial theme is to develop treatments acting at the mitochondrial level. Any treatments developed will be beneficial not only for patients with primary mitochondrial disease but also for age-related common diseases where mitochondrial mechanisms play an important role.

We will address important questions relating to mitochondrial involvement in the ageing brain with particular emphasis on neurodegeneration, assess the benefit of exercise and physical activity for patients with chronic diseases, understand mechanisms and develop new therapies for age related muscle diseases and sarcopenia and importantly develop clinical trials of agents which improve mitochondrial function or increase mitochondrial biogenesis.