Mitochondrial DNA [MTDNA] alterations and dysfunctions in presbyacusis

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of mitochondrial DNA [mtDNA] alterations and mitochondrial metabolic dysfunctions in patients with presbyacusis, and also to discover correlations between presbyacusis and eventually the degree of hearing loss and mitochondrial damage. Seventy patients with presbyacusis were examined, including forty Egyptian patients and thirty Italian patients. Forty eight normal persons were included as control group, including twenty four Egyptian persons and twenty four Italian persons. No common point mutation; A1555G, A3243G, A7445G were detected in all patients and controls. Haplogroup U was significantly common in patients in comparison to controls. Mutation of antioxidant genes [GSTT1,GSTM1] were significantly detected in only Italian patients in comparison to Italian controls