Mitochondrial aging is accelerated by anti-retroviral therapy through the clonal expansion of MTDNA mutation
There is emerging evidence that people with successfully treated HIV infection age prematurely, leading to progressive multi-organ disease, but the reasons for this are not known.
During Targeting Mitochondria 2012, Dr Brendan Payne, from Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, UK, will present his recent researches about patients treated with NRTI drugs. They progressively accumulate somatic mtDNA mutations, mirroring those seen much later in life caused by normal aging.
The observations of his Dr Payne's team add weight to the role of somatic mtDNA mutations in the aging process and raise the spectre of progressive iatrogenic mitochondrial genetic disease emerging over the next decade.
About Dr Brendan Payne
He initially trained in General Internal Medicine in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. For the last 7 years, his clinical work is in the Departments of Infectious Diseases and Virology at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle. He has a particular interest in HIV infection and the long-term complications of anti-retroviral therapy. For the last 5 years, he has undertaken research at the Institute of Genetic Medicine and the Institute for Ageing and Health at Newcastle University, working in particular with Professor Patrick Chinnery. His doctoral thesis is on the effects of anti-retroviral therapy on mtDNA mutations and ageing.
To know more about Targeting Mitochondria 2012 World Conference:
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
