Clinical manifestations of Mitochondrial Disease
Genetic of mitochondrial disease
37 genes encode 13 proteins and 24 RNAS
More than 200 nDNA-encoded mito genes - encode over 1500 proteins
Circular mitome
100 known mito disease genes
Defects affect the ETC (electron transport chain/respiratory chain)
mtDNA syndromes
MELAS - Mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes
MERRF - Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers
NARP - neuropathy, ataxia, retinitis pigmentosa
MILS - maternally inherited Leighs syndrome
LHON - Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy
KSS/Pearson - sideroblastic anemia, pancreatitis (caused by mtDNA deletions)
Heteroplasmy
Percentage of affected mitochondria determines severity of phenotype
High percentage - more severe phenotype
Low percentage - may not exhibit any phenotype
ex. T8993G mutation-carrying individuals appear normal from 0-60% affected DNA, have retinitis pigmentosa from 60-75%, have NARP from 75-90%, and have Leighs syndrome if 90% or more of the mitochondria is affected
Fission and Fusion (mitochondria dynamics)
Mitochondria replicate by fission, require fusion to operate
Several genes regulate this and gene defects lead to mitochondrial disease
Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency
6 Major clinical phenotypes
May respond dramatically to Coenzyme Q10 treatment
mtDNA depletion syndrome symptoms
Defects of intergenomic communication
Mitochondrial neuro gastrointestinal encephalomyopathy
Mitochondrial Disease Therapeutics
Ammonia excretion - non-hepatic tissues
Urea excretion - hepatic tissues
Requires water
Nitrogen waste ends up in urea
Goes into urea cycle
Amino acids derived either from breakdown of protein in tissues or from what is synthesized in those tissues
Hyperammonemias
Acquired - liver disease leads to portal systemic shunting
Inherited - Urea cycle enzyme defects of CPS1 (carbonyl phosphate synthetase 1) or ornithine transcarbamylase lead to severe hypoammonemia
Metabolic functions of the liver
Deammination as a source of ammonia production
Removal of an amino group from amino acids results in the production of an ammonia molecule
Non-IEM causes of Hyperammonemias
Urea cycle functions
Urea Cycle Disorders
Characterized by hyperammonemia, encephalopathy (due to accumulation of glutamine in the astrocyte), respiratory alkalosis
N-Acetylglutamate Synthase deficiency (NAGS)
Carbamyl phosphate synthetase deficiency (CPS)
Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency
Argininosuccinic acid synthetase deficiency (ASS)
Argininiosuccinic acid lyase deficiency (ASL)
Arginase Deficiency (ARG)
Treatment of Urea Cycle Defects