Inflammation and mitochondrial DNA

Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with many conditions that threaten the health of the organism. Even the malfunctioning of the mitochondria (the cell’s “power plants”) can contribute to increasing it, triggering the production of the molecules involved in the regulation of inflammatory phenomena, the cytokines.

The analysis of the proinflammatory cytokine levels makes it possible to detect the asymptomatic inflammation triggered by the malfunction of the mitochondria and to counteract the increased risk of developing chronic diseases that can significantly compromise the quality of life.

Chronic low-grade inflammation

Inflammation is not just a response to trauma or infection: lifestyle, stress, aging and health conditions such as obesity are also associated with an increase in the organism’s inflammatory condition. The increase in life expectancy means that the organism is exposed to pro-inflammatory stimuli for a long time and that, consequently, an inflammatory condition can significantly increase, transforming itself into the so-called “chronic low-grade inflammation”.

This condition is not associated with the classic symptoms of acute inflammation (such as redness and heat). It can compromise health without giving any signals, promoting frailty and conditions such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and various tumors.

The role of mitochondria

Mitochondria can help increase inflammation levels by releasing their genetic material. In fact, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is very similar to that of bacteria. This similarity, coupled with its oxidation state, stimulates the immune response, promoting inflammation.

The reasons why mitochondria can release their DNA have not yet been fully understood. However, it is known that both conditions of cellular stress and cell death phenomena can come into play. There is also a gradual increase in mtDNA levels in the blood after the age of fifty; this increase contributes to inflammaging, chronic low-grade inflammation due to aging. High mtDNA levels in the blood have been associated with various chronic diseases, from Alzheimer’s to diabetes, including tumors

When to analyze inflammation

CYTOBALANCE, the analysis of the chronic inflammation levels by the Bioscience Institute, is indicated in all cases in which it is preferable to keep under control the risk factors for the development of diseases that can compromise health over the years. Prevention can begin at any age, and the inflammation test is suitable for everyone, including healthy and asymptomatic individuals, especially in the presence of an increased risk of inflammatory phenomena, such as for example:

during aging
in case of genetic predisposition to the development of tumors
in case of exposure to cigarette smoke
if you live in polluted environments
when following hormone-based therapies
in case of high stress
in case of an unbalanced diet, overweight and obesity
in case of intestinal dysbiosis (alterations of the intestinal bacterial flora

Request CYTOBALANCE

For more information on the CYTOBALANCE test for the analysis of chronic inflammation levels, contact the Bioscience Institute by emailing info@bioinst.com or fill out the following request form to be contacted without obligation by one of our trusted biologists.

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Inflammation and mitochondrial DNA