Defect in mitochondrial functions in damaged human mitral valve

Mitochondrial diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders in which a primary mitochondrial dysfunction is proven by morphological, biochemical, and genetic examinations. The mitral valve has important function in the regulation of blood flow from one chamber to another. Often, the mitral valve becomes abnormal with age, in Rheumatic fever or it is abnormal from birth (Congenital) or it can be destroyed by infection i.e. bacterial endocarditis and needs replacement. Myocardial function depends on energy produced by mitochondria and in any of these disease conditions, mitochondrial functions and enzyme activities may be impaired. With this in view, we analyzed the relationship between preoperative clinical conditions (as per New York heart Association) and extent of mitochondrial enzyme activities in damaged Human mitral valve in two types of heart disease such as Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) and Bacterial Endocarditis (BE). Thirty nine Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for routine valvular heart surgery were included in the study. Controls included 11 normal porcine mitral valve samples without any evidence of heart disease. Mitochondrial enzymes like cytochrome oxidase (COX), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), citrate synthase (CS) and ATPase were determined. Mitochondrial COX, SDH, CS and Total ATPase activities were significantly decreased in disease condition like BE and RHD when compared with control (P<0.001). On the other hand as per New York Heart Association (NYHA) preoperative clinical classification, all the mitochondrial enzymes were significantly (p<0.05) impaired in class IV as compared with NYHA class I, II and III. Present study shows that impairment in the mitochondrial enzymes activities are more pronounced in bacterial endocarditis (BE). It also indicates that damage to mitochondrial enzymes are most pronounced in NYHA class IV.