Project R-4340

Mitochondrial DNA content in cardiovascular ageing and disease: a population study (Research)

A major burden of modern society is the progressive increase in age-associated diseases such as heart failure (HF). The genetic and environmental drivers of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction progression remain to be elucidated. LV dysfunction is associated with changes in cardiac energy metabolism. Mitochondria play a central role in a variety of cardiac cell functions. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content correlates with the size and number of mitochondria, which change under pathological conditions, including HF. Hence, biomarkers of mitochondria might be important in disease prediction and to date its association with the progression of LV dysfunction has not been studied. Understanding the role of mitochondrial function in the transition from LV dysfunction to HF necessitates a multidisciplinary approach crossing the borders between clinical and laboratory medicine. We address the objectives by adding a prospective dimension to the unique epidemiological resources on LV structure and function available at the Studies Coordinating Centre, KU Leuven. This project also relies on cutting-edge technologies for measurement of mtDNA content, telomeres, oxidative gene expression and exposure assessment of particulate air pollution available within the Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University. The objectives of this study are: (1)To measure mtDNA content and its dynamic in a longitudinal population study; (2) To investigate the impact on the mtDNA of telomere biology and oxidative genes; (3) To determine the influence of mtDNA content and its dynamic on LV structure and function; (4) To study the role of environmental exposure to particulate air pollution on the previously mentioned associations.

01 January 2013 - 31 December 2016