Journal Article
Decreased Complex I Activity in Blood lymphocytes Correlates with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Severity
Emily Zifa; Sotirios Sinis; Anna-Maria Psarra; Andreas Mouikis; Aglaia Pozantzi; Konstantina Rossi; Foteini Malli; Ilias Dimeas; Paraskevi Kirgou; Konstantinos Gourgoulianis; Ourania S. Kotsiou; Zoe Daniil
Biochemical Genetics · Vol. 64, Issue 1 · pp. 1018-1031 · 2026
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease linked to aging. Mitochondrial dysfunction in circulating T cells, often caused by disruption of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), may play a role in age-related conditions like IPF. In our previous study, we found high mtDNA mutational loads in blood lymphocytes from IPF patients, especially in regions critical for mtDNA expression. Since Complex I of the electron transport chain, partly encoded by mtDNA, is essential for energy production, we conducted a preliminary study on its activity. We found significantly reduced Complex I activity (p Graphical Abstract