Molecular Genetics Overview of Primary Mitochondrial Myopathies

Alternative NADH dehydrogenase: A complex I backup, a drug target, and a tool for mitochondrial gene therapy

Alternative NADH dehydrogenase, also known as type II NADH dehydrogenase (NDH-2), catalyzes the same redox reaction as mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. Specifically, it oxidizes reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) while simultaneously reducing ubiquinone to ubiquinol. However, unlike complex I, this enzyme is non-proton pumping, comprises of a single subunit, and is resistant to rotenone. Initially identified in bacteria, fungi and plants, NDH-2 was subsequently discovered in protists and certain animal taxa including sea squirts. The gene coding for NDH-2 is also present in the genomes of some annelids, tardigrades, and crustaceans. For over two decades, NDH-2 has been investigated as a potential substitute for defective complex I. In model organisms, NDH-2 has been shown to ameliorate a broad spectrum of conditions associated with complex I malfunction, including symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Recently, lifespan extension has been observed in animals expressing NDH-2 in a heterologous manner. A variety of mechanisms have been put forward by which NDH-2 may extend lifespan. Such mechanisms include the activation of pro-longevity pathways through modulation of the NAD+/NADH ratio, decreasing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria, or then through moderate increases in ROS production followed by activation of defense pathways (mitohormesis). This review gives an overview of the latest research on NDH-2, including the structural peculiarities of NDH-2, its inhibitors, its role in the pathogenicity of mycobacteria and apicomplexan parasites, and its function in bacteria, fungi, and animals.

Overview of neuroimaging in primary mitochondrial disorders

Advancements in understanding the clinical, biochemical, and genetic aspects of primary mitochondrial disorders, along with the identification of a broad range of phenotypes frequently involving the central nervous system, have opened a new and crucial area in neuroimaging. This expanding knowledge presents significant challenges for radiologists in clinical settings, as the neuroimaging features and their associated metabolic abnormalities become more complex. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the key neuroimaging features associated with the common primary mitochondrial disorders. It highlights both the classical imaging findings and the emerging diagnostic insights related to several previously identified causative genes for these diseases. The review also provides an in-depth description of the clinicoradiologic presentations and potential underlying mitochondrial defects, aiming to enhance diagnostic abilities of radiologists in identifying primary mitochondrial diseases in their clinical practice.

276th ENMC workshop: recommendations on optimal diagnostic pathway and management strategy for patients with acute rhabdomyolysis worldwide. 15th-17th March 2024, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands

The 276th ENMC Workshop on rhabdomyolysis brought together 21 experts to address the compelling need for standardized guidelines on the clinical approach of rhabdomyolysis. There was a general agreement that a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis require that 1) clinical symptoms include severe muscle swelling, weakness and/or myalgia; 2) serum CK-levels exceed 10,000 IU/L in case of exertional, and >5000 IU/L in non-exertional rhabdomyolysis; 3) CK-levels reaching a maximum 1-4 days after the event and normalizing to baseline within 1-2 weeks of rest. In case of an underlying neuromuscular condition, CK-levels should exceed 5-10 times the patient's baseline level. Treatment should be initiated only in case of high risk on acute kidney injury, which can be predicted by the McMahon score. Furthermore, recommendations on performing genetic testing were formulated and the use of the 'RHABDO'- acronym was generally agreed upon as a tool to aid clinicians in deciding which patients require genetic testing. Moreover, recommendations on follow-up were made, with a particular emphasis on evaluation of physical and psychological sequelae. Patient representatives present during the workshop emphasized the importance of the current recommendations for future clinical guidelines on rhabdomyolysis.

Unraveling ptosis: A comprehensive review of clinical manifestations, genetics, and treatment

Ptosis is defined as an abnormally low-lying upper eyelid margin on the primary gaze, generally resulting from a congenital or acquired abnormality of the nerves or muscles that control the eyelid. Ptosis can occur alone or concurrently as an ocular or systemic syndrome, and the prevalence of ptosis varies among different countries and populations. Isolated ptosis typically causes aesthetic problems in patients and can lead to functional ophthalmic problems in severe cases. In individuals with syndromic ptosis, ptosis can be a warning of serious medical problems. There are different approaches to classification, depending on the onset time or the etiology of ptosis, and the clinical characteristics of congenital and acquired ptosis also differ. Pedigree and genetic analysis have demonstrated that hereditary ptosis is clinically heterogeneous, with incomplete concordance and variable expressivity. A number of genetic loci and genes responsible for hereditary isolated and syndromic ptosis have been reported. Optimal surgical timing and proper method are truly critical for avoiding the risk of potentially severe outcomes from ptosis and minimizing surgical complications, which are challenging as the pathogenesis is still indistinct and the anatomy is complex. This review provides a comprehensive review of ptosis, by summarizing the clinical manifestations, classification, diagnosis, genetics, treatment, and prognosis, as well as the bound anatomy of upper eyelid.

Comprehensive analysis of GDF15 as a biomarker in primary mitochondrial myopathies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Mitochondrial diseases are caused by defects in oxidative phosphorylation, with primary mitochondrial myopathies (PMM) being a subset where muscle involvement is predominant. PMM presents symptoms ranging from exercise intolerance to progressive muscle weakness, often involving ocular muscles, leading to ptosis and progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO). PMM can be due to variants in mitochondrial or nuclear DNA. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) has been identified as an accurate biomarker for mitochondrial dysfunction. This study evaluates the utility of GDF15 as a biomarker for monitoring PMM.

METHODS

This observational study involved 50 adult PMM patients. Clinical data were collected alongside functional motor outcomes measured by the Motor Research Council scale, 6-min walk test, North Star Ambulatory Assessment, and 100-m run test (100MRT). Biomarkers including serum lactate, creatine kinase (CK), creatinine, and plasma GDF15 were assessed.

RESULTS

Patients exhibited diverse phenotypes, including exercise intolerance (8 %), progressive myopathy (22 %), isolated PEO (24 %), and PEO plus (42 %). Significant correlations were found among motor function tests, with 100MRT being particularly sensitive. Biomarker analysis showed elevated lactate in 32 %, elevated CK in 54 %, reduced creatinine in 76 %, and elevated GDF15 in 86 % of cases. GDF15 levels correlated with motor performance, lactate levels, and mtDNA mutation load in muscle. Creatinine levels were strongly linked to disease severity.

DISCUSSION

This study underscores the heterogeneity of PMM and the importance of reliable biomarkers. GDF15 was consistently elevated across all PMM phenotypes and genotypes, correlating well with disease severity. Reduced creatinine also emerged as a potential prognostic marker.

Repairing muscle with broccoli-derived sulforaphane: A preclinical evaluation for the treatment of mitochondrial myopathies

Skeletal muscle health relies on the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the mitochondria. ATP production is accompanied by oxidative phosphorylation, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). When there is an imbalance in ROS levels, oxidative stress and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial myopathies including sarcopenia, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, and proximal myopathy can result. Such incurable myopathies are characterised by aberrant metabolism, limited ATP production, and muscle atrophy. Broccoli-derived sulforaphane has emerged as a novel treatment for mitochondrial myopathies because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This review discusses preclinical studies that reveal sulforaphane's potential therapeutic benefits and limitations in treating mitochondrial myopathies.

Sucla2 Knock-Out in Skeletal Muscle Yields Mouse Model of Mitochondrial Myopathy With Muscle Type-Specific Phenotypes

BACKGROUND

Pathogenic variants in subunits of succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) are associated with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy in humans. SCS catalyses the conversion of succinyl-CoA to succinate coupled with substrate-level phosphorylation of either ADP or GDP in the TCA cycle. This report presents a muscle-specific conditional knock-out (KO) mouse model of Sucla2, the ADP-specific beta subunit of SCS, generating a novel in vivo model of mitochondrial myopathy.

METHODS

The mouse model was generated using the Cre-Lox system, with the human skeletal actin (HSA) promoter driving Cre-recombination of a CRISPR-Cas9-generated Sucla2 floxed allele within skeletal muscle. Inactivation of Sucla2 was validated using RT-qPCR and western blot, and both enzyme activity and serum metabolites were quantified by mass spectrometry. To characterize the model in vivo, whole-body phenotyping was conducted, with mice undergoing a panel of strength and locomotor behavioural assays. Additionally, ex vivo contractility experiments were performed on the soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles. SOL and EDL cryosections were also subject to imaging analyses to assess muscle fibre-specific phenotypes.

RESULTS

Molecular validation confirmed 68% reduction of Sucla2 transcript within the mutant skeletal muscle (p < 0.001) and 95% functionally reduced SUCLA2 protein (p < 0.0001). By 3 weeks of age, Sucla2 KO mice were 44% the size of controls by body weight (p < 0.0001). Mutant mice also exhibited 34%-40% reduced grip strength (p < 0.01) and reduced spontaneous exercise, spending about 88% less cumulative time on a running wheel (p < 0.0001). Contractile function was also perturbed in a muscle-specific manner; although no genotype-specific deficiencies were seen in EDL function, SUCLA2-deficient SOL muscles generated 40% less specific tetanic force (p < 0.0001), alongside slower contraction and relaxation rates (p < 0.001). Similarly, a SOL-specific threefold increase in mitochondria (p < 0.0001) was observed, with qualitatively increased staining for both COX and SDH, and the proportion of Type 1 myosin heavy chain expressing fibres within the SOL was nearly doubled (95% increase, p < 0.0001) in the Sucla2 KO mice compared with that in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

SUCLA2 loss within murine skeletal muscle yields a model of SCS-deficient mitochondrial myopathy with reduced body weight, muscle weakness and exercise intolerance. Physiological and morphological analyses of hindlimb muscles showed remarkable differences in ex vivo function and cellular consequences between the EDL and SOL muscles, with SOL muscles significantly more impacted by Sucla2 inactivation. This novel model will provide an invaluable tool for investigations of muscle-specific and fibre type-specific pathogenic mechanisms to better understand SCS-deficient myopathy.

Mitochondrial myopathies diagnosed in adulthood: clinico-genetic spectrum and long-term outcomes

Mitochondrial myopathies are frequently recognized in childhood as part of a broader multisystem disorder and often overlooked in adulthood. Herein, we describe the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum and long-term outcomes of mitochondrial myopathies diagnosed in adulthood, focusing on neuromuscular features, electrodiagnostic and myopathological findings and survival. We performed a retrospective chart review of adult patients diagnosed with mitochondrial myopathy at Mayo Clinic (2005-21). We identified 94 patients. Median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 11 years (interquartile range 4-21 years). Median age at diagnosis was 48 years (32-63 years). Primary genetic defects were identified in mitochondrial DNA in 48 patients (10 with single large deletion, 38 with point mutations) and nuclear DNA in 29. Five patients had multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions or depletion without nuclear DNA variants. Twelve patients had histopathological features of mitochondrial myopathy without molecular diagnosis. The most common phenotypes included multisystem disorder (n = 30); mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (14); limb myopathy (13); chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (12); and chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia-plus (12). Isolated skeletal muscle manifestations occurred in 27%. Sixty-nine per cent had CNS and 21% had cardiac involvement. Mutations most frequently involved MT-TL1 (27) and POLG (17); however, a wide spectrum of established and novel molecular defects, with overlapping phenotypes, was identified. Electrodiagnostic studies identified myopathy (77%), fibrillation potentials (27%) and axonal peripheral neuropathy (42%, most common with nuclear DNA variants). Among 42 muscle biopsies available, median percentage counts were highest for cytochrome C oxidase negative fibres (5.1%) then ragged blue (1.4%) and ragged red fibres (0.5%). Skeletal muscle weakness was mild and slowly progressive (decline in strength summated score of 0.01/year). Median time to gait assistance was 5.5 years from diagnosis and 17 years from symptom onset. Thirty patients died, with median survival of 33.4 years from symptom onset and 10.9 years from diagnosis. Median age at death was 55 years. Cardiac involvement was associated with increased mortality [hazard ratio 2.36 (1.05, 5.29)]. There was no difference in survival based on genotype or phenotype. Despite the wide phenotypic and genotypic spectrum, mitochondrial myopathies in adults share similar features with slowly progressive limb weakness, contrasting with common multiorgan involvement and high mortality.

A new role for phosphoinositides in regulating mitochondrial dynamics

Phosphoinositides are a minor group of membrane-associated phospholipids that are transiently generated on the cytoplasmic leaflet of many organelle membranes and the plasma membrane. There are seven functionally distinct phosphoinositides, each derived via the reversible phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol in various combinations on the inositol ring. Their generation and termination is tightly regulated by phosphatidylinositol-kinases and -phosphatases. These enzymes can function together in an integrated and coordinated manner, whereby the phosphoinositide product of one enzyme may subsequently serve as a substrate for another to generate a different phosphoinositide species. This regulatory mechanism not only enables the transient generation of phosphoinositides on membranes, but also more complex sequential or bidirectional conversion pathways, and phosphoinositides can also be transferred between organelles via membrane contacts. It is this capacity to fine-tune phosphoinositide signals that makes them ideal regulators of membrane organization and dynamics, through their recruitment of signalling, membrane altering and lipid transfer proteins. Research spanning several decades has provided extensive evidence that phosphoinositides are major gatekeepers of membrane organization, with roles in endocytosis, exocytosis, autophagy, lysosome dynamics, vesicular transport and secretion, cilia, inter-organelle membrane contact, endosome maturation and nuclear function. By contrast, there has been remarkably little known about the role of phosphoinositides at mitochondria - an enigmatic and major knowledge gap, with challenges in reliably detecting phosphoinositides at this site. Here we review recent significant breakthroughs in understanding the role of phosphoinositides in regulating mitochondrial dynamics and metabolic function.

Epilepsy: Mitochondrial connections to the 'Sacred' disease

Over 65 million people suffer from recurrent, unprovoked seizures. The lack of validated biomarkers specific for myriad forms of epilepsy makes diagnosis challenging. Diagnosis and monitoring of childhood epilepsy add to the need for non-invasive biomarkers, especially when evaluating antiseizure medications. Although underlying mechanisms of epileptogenesis are not fully understood, evidence for mitochondrial involvement is substantial. Seizures affect 35%-60% of patients diagnosed with mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction is pathophysiological in various epilepsies, including those of non-mitochondrial origin. Decreased ATP production caused by malfunctioning brain cell mitochondria leads to altered neuronal bioenergetics, metabolism and neurological complications, including seizures. Iron-dependent lipid peroxidation initiates ferroptosis, a cell death pathway that aligns with altered mitochondrial bioenergetics, metabolism and morphology found in neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Studies in mouse genetic models with seizure phenotypes where the function of an essential selenoprotein (GPX4) is targeted suggest roles for ferroptosis in epilepsy. GPX4 is pivotal in NDDs, where selenium protects interneurons from ferroptosis. Selenium is an essential central nervous system micronutrient and trace element. Low serum concentrations of selenium and other trace elements and minerals, including iron, are noted in diagnosing childhood epilepsy. Selenium supplements alleviate intractable seizures in children with reduced GPX activity. Copper and cuproptosis, like iron and ferroptosis, link to mitochondria and NDDs. Connecting these mechanistic pathways to selenoproteins provides new insights into treating seizures, pointing to using medicines including prodrugs of lipoic acid to treat epilepsy and to potential alternative therapeutic approaches including transcranial magnetic stimulation (transcranial), photobiomodulation and vagus nerve stimulation.

Case report: MELAS and T3271C mitochondrial mutation in an adult woman

Introduction

Patients with mitochondrial disorders always show neurological deficits. However, the diversity of clinical manifestations, genetic heterogeneity and threshold effect caused by maternal heredity make its diagnosis very challenging.

Case presentation

A 30-year-old female presented to our neurology department with a recurrence of symmetrical weakness proximally in the lower extremities. Seven years ago, the patient had a sudden onset of persistent weakness in bilateral proximal lower extremities, along with elevated creatinine kinase (CK) and CK-MB. Given the diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome, she was treated with high-dose glucocorticoid (GC) therapy at the local hospital and recovered. After admission to our hospital, laboratory analysis revealed elevated CK and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in serum. Electrocardiography showed sinus tachycardia and left high ventricular voltage. Electromyography (EMG) and evoked potential (EP) suggested peripheral neurogenic damage of the upper and lower extremities with myogenic wear. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) was initially considered, but neurological symptoms were not significantly improved with glucocorticoid shock therapy. An elevated level of lactate was found. The short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) axial magnetic resonance image (MRI) revealed mild hyperintensities, indicating muscle edema. Meanwhile, muscle biopsies suggested pathological changes in mitochondrial disorders (MIDs) and neuronal damage. Further mitochondrial genome analysis revealed a heteroplasmic m3271 T>C mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA-Leu gene (UUR). Collectively, the patient was finally diagnosed with mitochondrial disorder and apparently improved after the corresponding treatment to regulate energy metabolism.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, it's the first report about MELAS with 3271 mutation that have only shown peripheral nerve motion impairment. Proximal weakness is also common in CIDP. In the context of this patient's experience, mitochondrial genome analysis provides an auxiliary criterion for differential diagnosis between MIDs and CIDP. In the meantime, we discussed the clinical effect of GCs on MIDs.

Statin Use in Relation to COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Infections: Muscle and Other Considerations

Statins have been widely advocated for use in COVID-19 based on large favorable observational associations buttressed by theoretical expected benefits. However, past favorable associations of statins to pre-COVID-19 infection outcomes (also buttressed by theoretical benefits) were unsupported in meta-analysis of RCTs, RR = 1.00. Initial RCTs in COVID-19 appear to follow this trajectory. Healthy-user/tolerator effects and indication bias may explain these disparities. Moreover, cholesterol drops in proportion to infection severity, so less severely affected individuals may be selected for statin use, contributing to apparent favorable statin associations to outcomes. Cholesterol transports fat-soluble antioxidants and immune-protective vitamins. Statins impair mitochondrial function in those most reliant on coenzyme Q10 (a mevalonate pathway product also transported on cholesterol)-i.e., those with existing mitochondrial compromise, whom data suggest bear increased risks from both COVID-19 and from statins. Thus, statin risks of adverse outcomes are amplified in those patients at risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes-i.e., those in whom adjunctive statin therapy may most likely be given. High reported rates of rhabdomyolysis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients underscore the notion that statin-related risks as well as benefits must be considered. Advocacy for statins in COVID-19 should be suspended pending clear evidence of RCT benefits, with careful attention to risk modifiers.

Gene Editing Technologies Targeting TFAM and Its Relation to Mitochondrial Diseases

Mitochondria are organelles present in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells; they play a key role in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondria have their own DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), keeping the function of the mitochondria. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is a member of the HMGB subfamily that binds to mtDNA promoters is and considered essential in mtDNA replication and transcription. More recently, TFAM has been shown to play a central role in the maintenance and regulation of mitochondrial copy number, inflammatory response, expression regulation, and mitochondrial genome activity. Gene editing tools such as the CRISPR-Cas 9 technique, TALENs, and other gene editing tools have been used to investigate the role of TFAM in mitochondrial mechanics and biogenesis as well as its correlation to mitochondrial disorders. Thus this chapter brings a summary of mitochondria function, dysfunction, the importance of TFAM in the maintenance of mitochondria, and state of the art of gene editing tools involving TFAM and mtDNA.

Navigating Life With Primary Mitochondrial Myopathies: The Importance of the Patient Voice and Implications for Clinical Practice

Primary mitochondrial myopathies (PMM) are rare disorders with diverse and progressive symptom presentations that cause a substantial, detrimental impact on the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. The burden of symptoms is compounded by their visibility and their unpredictable, progressive nature, leading to a sense of social stigmatization, limited autonomy, social isolation, and grief. There is also a lack of awareness and expertise in the medical community, which presents huge obstacles to diagnosis and provision of coordinated multidisciplinary care for these patients, along with a lack of disease-modifying treatments. The present commentary serves to raise awareness of the challenges faced by patients with PMM and their caregivers in their own words, including diagnostic delays, the burden of disease, and the need for further trials to develop disease-modifying treatments and improved understanding of the disease course. We also provide commentary on considerations for clinical practice, including the need for holistic care and multidisciplinary care teams, details of common 'red flag' symptoms, proposed diagnostic approaches, and suggested descriptions of multisystemic symptoms for physician-patient dialogue. In addition, we highlight the role patient advocacy and support groups play in supporting patients and providing access to reliable, up-to-date information and educational resources on these rare diseases.

Large Common Mitochondrial DNA Deletions Are Associated with a Mitochondrial SNP T14798C Near the 3' Breakpoints

Introduction

Large somatic deletions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) accumulate with aging in metabolically active tissues such as the brain. We have cataloged the breakpoints and frequencies of large mtDNA deletions in the human brain.

Methods

We quantified 112 high-frequency mtDNA somatic deletions across four human brain regions with the Splice-Break2 pipeline. In addition, we utilized PLINK/Seq to test the association of mitochondrial genotypes with the abundance of these high-frequency mtDNA deletions. A conservative p value threshold of 5E-08 was used to find the significant loci.

Results

One mtDNA SNP (T14798C) was significantly associated with mtDNA deletions in two brain regions, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the superior temporal gyrus. Since the DLPFC showed the most robust association between T14798C and two deletion breakpoints (7816-14807 and 5462-14807), this association was tested in the DLPFC of a replication sample and validated the first results. Incorporating the C allele at 14,798 bp increased the perfect/imperfect length of the repeat at the 3' breakpoint of the two associated deletions.

Conclusion

This is the first study to identify the association of mtDNA SNP with large mtDNA deletions in the human brain. The T14798C allele located in the MT-CYB gene is a common polymorphism that occurs in several mitochondrial haplogroups. We hypothesize that the T14798C association with two deletions occurs by extending the repeat length around the 3' deletion breakpoints. This simple mechanism suggests that mtDNA SNPs can affect the mitochondrial genome structure, especially in brain where high levels of reactive oxygen species lead to deletion accumulation with aging.

Remarks on Mitochondrial Myopathies

Mitochondrial myopathies represent a heterogeneous group of diseases caused mainly by genetic mutations to proteins that are related to mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Meanwhile, a similar etiopathogenetic mechanism (i.e., a deranged oxidative phosphorylation and a dramatic reduction of ATP synthesis) reveals that the evolution of these myopathies show significant differences. However, some physiological and pathophysiological aspects of mitochondria often reveal other potential molecular mechanisms that could have a significant pathogenetic role in the clinical evolution of these disorders, such as: i. a deranged ROS production both in term of signaling and in terms of damaging molecules; ii. the severe modifications of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+/NADH, pyruvate/lactate, and α-ketoglutarate (α-KG)/2- hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) ratios. A better definition of the molecular mechanisms at the basis of their pathogenesis could improve not only the clinical approach in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of these myopathies but also deepen the knowledge of mitochondrial medicine in general.

Mitochondrial mutations in protein coding genes of respiratory chain including complexes IV, V, and mt-tRNA genes are associated risk factors for congenital heart disease

Most studies aiming at unraveling the molecular events associated with cardiac congenital heart disease (CHD) have focused on the effect of mutations occurring in the nuclear genome. In recent years, a significant role has been attributed to mitochondria for correct heart development and maturation of cardiomyocytes. Moreover, numerous heart defects have been associated with nucleotide variations occurring in the mitochondrial genome, affecting mitochondrial functions and cardiac energy metabolism, including genes encoding for subunits of respiratory chain complexes. Therefore, mutations in the mitochondrial genome may be a major cause of heart disease, including CHD, and their identification and characterization can shed light on pathological mechanisms occurring during heart development. Here, we have analyzed mitochondrial genetic variants in previously reported mutational genome hotspots and the flanking regions of mt-ND1, mt-ND2, mt-COXI, mt-COXII, mt-ATPase8, mt-ATPase6, mt-COXIII, and mt-tRNAs (Ile, Gln, Met, Trp, Ala, Asn, Cys, Tyr, Ser, Asp, and Lys) encoding genes by polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) in 200 patients with CHD, undergoing cardiac surgery. A total of 23 mitochondrial variations (5 missense mutations, 8 synonymous variations, and 10 nucleotide changes in tRNA encoding genes) were identified and included 16 novel variants. Additionally, we showed that intracellular ATP was significantly reduced (P=0.002) in CHD patients compared with healthy controls, suggesting that the mutations have an impact on mitochondrial energy production. Functional and structural alterations caused by the mitochondrial nucleotide variations in the gene products were studied in-silico and predicted to convey a predisposing risk factor for CHD. Further studies are necessary to better understand the mechanisms by which the alterations identified in the present study contribute to the development of CHD in patients.

Mitochondrial DNA: Consensuses and Controversies

In the course of its short history, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has made a long journey from obscurity to the forefront of research on major biological processes. mtDNA alterations have been found in all major disease groups, and their significance remains the subject of intense research. Despite remarkable progress, our understanding of the major aspects of mtDNA biology, such as its replication, damage, repair, transcription, maintenance, etc., is frustratingly limited. The path to better understanding mtDNA and its role in cells, however, remains torturous and not without errors, which sometimes leave a long trail of controversy behind them. This review aims to provide a brief summary of our current knowledge of mtDNA and highlight some of the controversies that require attention from the mitochondrial research community.