Increased Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Oxidative Damage in Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Fatemeh Esfahanian; Mojgan Mirabdolhagh Hazaveh; Laya Hooshmand Garehbagh; Kowsar Falahati; Mitra Ataei; Mohammad Hossein Sanati; Zohreh Jadali

doi:10.18502/ijph.v50i8.6817

Increased Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Oxidative Damage in Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Iran J Public Health. 2021 Aug;50(8):1697-1704. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v50i8.6817.

Authors

Fatemeh Esfahanian¹, Mojgan Mirabdolhagh Hazaveh², Laya Hooshmand Garehbagh¹, Kowsar Falahati³, Mitra Ataei³, Mohammad Hossein Sanati³, Zohreh Jadali⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Clinical Genetics Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of present study was to investigate mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and mtDNA damage in peripheral blood of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and healthy controls (HC).

Methods: The relative mtDNAcn and oxidative DNA damage in this case-control study were measured in peripheral blood of 50 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 50 healthy controls using quantitative real-time PCR. The study was conducted in Tehran University of Medical Sciences hospital, Tehran, Iran in 2018.

Results: HT patients had significantly higher mitochondrial DNA copy number and mitochondrial oxidative damage than the comparison group.

Conclusion: These data suggest the possible involvement of mitochondria and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of HT.

Keywords: Autoimmunity; DNA, Mitochondrial; Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; Oxidative stress.