| 摘要 |
<p>The present invention relates to a method for detecting mitochondrial damage in mammalian tissue or cells comprising: (a) isolating mitochondria from a sample obtained from a mammal and containing tissue or cells containing mitochondria; (b1 ) separating populations of the isolated mitochondria of step (a) by means of their electrophoretic mobility; and (c1) comparing the populations of the mitochondria obtained in step (b1) with those of a reference sample containing tissue or cells displaying a non-pathological phenotype, wherein a rise in the number of populations, a shift of the population(s) towards the anode and/or an increase in the heterogeneity of one or more populations separated in step (b1) as compared to those of the reference sample is indicative of mitochondrial damage; or (b2) analyzing the average surface charge of the isolated mitochondria of step (a); and (c2) comparing the average surface charge determined in step (b2) with that of a reference sample containing cells displaying a non-pathological phenotype, wherein a shift of the average surface charge of the mitochondria analyzed in step (b2) to the negative as compared to that of the mitochondria of the reference sample is indicative of mitochondrial damage; and (d) in the case that a shift of the population(s) towards the cathode in step (c1) or a shift of the average surface charge to the positive in step (c2) is detected or, confirming that mitochondrial damage is present. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of identifying an agent causing mitochondrial damage in mammalian cells and a method of identifying an agent capable of improving the condition of mammalian mitochondria.</p> |
