Laboratory of mitochondrial medicine

Laboratory of mitochondrial medicine

Head of the Laboratory: Michail Vysokikh –  Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Deputy Director for Science of the Institute of Translational Medicine

Laboratory of Mitochondrial medicine (LMM) is a scientific and research unit of the Center, which is integrated in the clinic. The prospective task of LLM is to study the pathogenetic mechanisms of diseases associated with impaired energy metabolism in the early stages of human body development, during gestation, in the perinatal period, as well as in pathologies of various etiologies at different age.

The data obtained during many years of research indicate that mitochondrial status of the somatic and germ cells of the reproductive system is one of the major factors, which influence female fertility at the reproductive age, but also affect the pre- and postnatal stages of ontogenesis, as well as the specific features of formation of a pathological phenotype.

Currently, the molecular mechanisms of signal transmission between the mitochondrial reticulum, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and membrane surface receptors that control the development of tissues in the embryonic period and maintain the functional adequacy of the tissues with the age of adults are relatively poorly understood. Globally, such studies are of key importance for the development of diagnostic and clinical approaches to treatment of pathologies associated with impairment of cell bioenergetics.

Instruments and methods

The work in the LMM is based on the use of modern high-tech scientific and methodological developments in the field of mitochondrial physiology, molecular and cell biology. The researchers of the laboratory use the following methods in their studies:

 - cell culture for further analysis and phenotyping;

- flow cytometry is routinely used to determine cell viability, apoptosis, cell phenotyping, as well as to measure mitochondrial membrane potential in intact cells;

 - isolation of exosomal fractions by ultracentrifugation;

- immunocytochemistry;

- confocal and light microscopy;

- high-resolution oximetry and polarography;

- spectrophotometry and fluorometry (the available equipment in the laboratory makes it possible to perform the studies in the field of enzymology and kinetics of enzymatic processes);

 -  real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for gene expression analysis;

- Electrophoresis of proteins and nucleic acids;

- Western blot and hybridization using chemiluminescence detection.