Fig. 1.
Alterations to parameters of mitochondrial function in PD lymphoblasts. (A) Reactive O2 species levels are elevated in lymphoblasts from individuals with PD. Intracellular ROS levels were measured in lymphoblasts from PD and control individuals using MAK142 (Deep Red) fluorescence. Except for one control cell line (which was assayed only once), the mean normalized fluorescence from 105 cells was measured in duplicate in at least three independent experiments. The ROS fluorescence in the PD lines (n=30) was significantly elevated compared with controls (n=9) (single-sided Welch test). (B) Mitochondrial membrane potential is unaltered in iPD lymphoblasts. The relative mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was measured in lymphoblasts from PD and control individuals using the ratio of MitoTracker Red CMXRos (Δψm-dependent) to MitoTracker Green (mitochondrial mass-dependent) fluorescence. Each PD (n=30) and control (n=9) cell line was assayed in duplicate in at least three independent experiments and means were calculated. The mitochondrial membrane potential was not significantly different in the PD and control samples (two-sided Welch t-test). (C) Steady-state ATP levels are elevated in lymphoblasts from individuals with PD. Steady-state ATP levels were assayed using a luciferase-based luminescence assay in lymphoblasts from PD and control individuals. Each PD (n=30) and control (n=9) cell line was assayed in duplicate in at least three independent experiments and means were calculated. The steady-state ATP levels in the PD lines were elevated significantly (single-sided Welch test). Error bars are standard errors of the mean (s.e.m.).