Functional Mitochondrial Analysis PBMCs

The analysis of mitochondrial function can also be referred to as a bioenergetic snapshot. Mitochondria are dynamic metabolic organelles that adapt to various physiological demands, reflecting an individual's lifestyle and exposure to environmental factors, medications, and toxins. Numerous studies have shown that mitochondrial respiration declines with age and correlates with many age-related diseases. This raises the question of how mitochondria influence cells in a clinical context.

For this purpose, 20 participants are recruited and comprehensively characterized in terms of their demographic information and clinical profiles. Additionally, physical examinations are conducted, and participants are surveyed about their lifestyles through questionnaires. Over a 12-month period, blood samples are collected at intervals of three months, resulting in a total of five study visits. For the analysis of mitochondrial oxygen consumption, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are preferably used, as they provide a minimally invasive and easily accessible insight into mitochondrial function and overall metabolic status and are isolated from the collected blood samples.

To enable the application of mitochondrial diagnostics in research for early disease detection and therapeutic development, additional information is needed regarding the stability of mitochondrial respiration in cryopreserved PBMCs using high-resolution respirometry (HRR) with O2k technology. The goal of this study is to assess how the duration of cryopreservation affects mitochondrial bioenergetics compared to freshly isolated PBMCs.

The study also considers a variety of parameters that could potentially influence the stability of mitochondrial respiration. These factors include non-fasting blood collection, discrepancies between the right and left arm, and seasonal effects. To what extent the intraindividual variability in these parameters affects the mitochondrial respiration is yet to be fully understood.

Furthermore, the longitudinal study design allows the tracking of mitochondrial activity and stability over time, providing a better understanding of the central processes of cellular respiration.

Thus, the planned study promises to yield significant insights into mitochondrial respiration and cellular bioenergetics in a clinical context.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged between 18-85
• Willingness and ability to consent

Exclusion criteria

• Regular (e.g. daily, weekly or similar) intake of medication or nutritional supplements except oral and spiral contraceptives
• Autoimmune diseases or immune alterations
• Diseases in the context of haematopoiesis, haemophilia, hematophobia
• Diagnosed mild or major neurocognitive disorder
• Depressive episodes in the last two years
• Chronic infectious diseases
• Neurostimulators or drug pump
• Involved in competitive sports (over the past two years)
• Pregnancy