Circulating mitochondrial DNA signature in cardiometabolic patients

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of cardiometabolic diseases. Circulating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) profiles could refine risk stratification, but current methods do not account for different fractions of circulating mtDNA. We investigated whether patients with type 2 diabetes and/or heart failure (HF) have a specific signature of the total circulating mtDNA profile, including intracellular and cell-free fractions. Methods: We performed a complete clinical assessment, including blood tests, 12-lead ECG and ultrasound at rest and during cardiopulmonary exercise. Ultrasound congestion was defined at rest as inferior vena cava of ≥ 21 mm, lung B-lines ≥ 4, or discontinuous renal venous flow. In fasting whole blood and plasma samples collected at rest, we simultaneously measured the copy number of the cellular and cell-free components of mtDNA by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using custom standards. We calculated the ratio of cell mtDNA to cell-free mtDNA as an index of mitochondrial efficiency. Conclusions: Patients with HF and diabetes have an altered circulating mtDNA signature characterised by higher cell-free mtDNA and lower mtDNA ratio, whereas cellular mtDNA remains unaffected. Cell-free mtDNA and mtDNA ratio are associated with impaired response to exercise, higher systemic inflammation and increased congestion. Circulating mitochondrial profile could be a new biomarker of mitochondrial status in cardiometabolic diseases.