Morphometric analysis of mitochondria in lymphocytes of patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – pilot study

Figures & data

Table 1 Results of morphometric analysis

Parameter	ECOPD (n=9)	Stable COPD (n=9)	P-value	Bootstrap P-value*	95% CI
Number of mitochondria per cell, mean (SD)	8.75 (3.64)	9.82 (3.3)	0.52	0.53	0.52; 0.54
Mitochondrial content, %, mean (SD)	5.51 (3.17)	8.51 (0.03)	0.05	0.06	0.05; 0.06
Mitochondrial circularity, mean (SD)	0.87 (0.04)	0.81 (0.02)	<0.001	<0.001	0.000; 0.001
Mitochondrion length, µm, median (IQR)	1.68 (1.54–1.87)	2.16 (1.97–2.26)	0.03	0.03	0.03; 0.04
Elongation index, median (IQR)	1.93 (1.82–2.16)	2.28 (2.2–2.43)	0.03	0.04	0.03; 0.04
Interconnectivity index, median (IQR)	0.32 (0.3–0.32)	0.35 (0.35–0.39)	0.04	0.04	0.04; 0.05

Note:

* 10,000 iterations.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; ECOPD, exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; IQR, interquartile range.

Figure 1 Lymphocytes of patients with ECOPD showing mitochondrial morphological abnormalities, including focal loss of cristae with empty spaces (A) and (B), and swollen mitochondria with severe loss of cristae and matrix (C). (D) Elongated mitochondrion observed in a stable COPD patient.

Abbreviation: ECOPD, exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.