Cytobiochemical biomarkers of the state of mitochondria in humans. I. Great differences in children suffering from leukemia or myopathy as compared with healthy children of similar age.

Abstract

Quantitative indicators of mitochondria functions and dysfunctions and physiological state of the organism were estimated by the activity of dehydrogenases (DH): succinate DH (SDH), SDH + isocitrate (ISC), lactate DH ( LDH), and LDH/SDH as glycolysis-respiration ratio or Warburg еffect measure proposed by our group. Our advanced cyto-BIO-chemical method was used to detect the state of mitochondria within lymphocytes in a smear of blood [1, 2]. The typical examples for the children examined are shown in the figure below. The pronounced rise of LDH activity and decrease in SDH are observed under leucosis. The dysfunctions are even more manifested in the LDH/SDH ratio. There is little difference between DH activity under myopathy and this in healthy children. However, the LDH/SDH ratio clearly reveals the decrease. The increase in Warburg effect is a beneficial property of cancer cells, which is essential for intensive biosynthesis and proliferation [3]. In contrast, the weakening of the restorative processes is typical for myopathy. Biomarkers of glycolysis ( LDH), respiration (SDH) and Warburg effect (LDH/SDH) in young patients suffering from leucosis (L) n=22 and myopathy (M) n=9, compared with healthy(H) n=25 children of similar age, measured by nitroblue reduction (NBR).