Higher proportion of mitochondrial A3243G mutation in blood than in skeletal muscle in a patient with cardiomyopathy and hearing loss

Phenotypes of individuals with the mitochondrial A3243G mutation and amount of mutant DNA in different tissues can be very variable, but the proportion of mutant DNA was consistantly lower in blood than muscle in previously studied patients. We detected the A3243G mutation in a 54-year-old patient with cardiomyopathy and hearing loss, where the amount of mutant DNA was higher in blood (19%) than in muscle (6%). This shows that the level of A3243G mutation is not always lower in rapidly dividing tissues such as blood than in muscle, as has been presumed until now.     

Noninvasive diagnosis of the 3243A > G mitochondrial DNA mutation using urinary epithelial cells

The 3243A > G mutation is one of the most frequently observed mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and is associated with numerous clinical presentations including mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO) and diabetes and deafness. The routine diagnosis of the 3243A > G mutation in blood is difficult as mutation levels are known to decrease in this tissue over time, while in some patients it may be absent. We have directly compared the levels of the 3243A > G mutation in skeletal muscle, blood and urinary epithelial cells in 18 patients and observed a striking correlation between the mutation load in postmitotic muscle and urinary epithelium, a mitotic tissue. These data strongly support the use of urinary epithelial cells as the tissue of choice in the noninvasive diagnosis of the 3243A > G mutation.     

线粒体脑肌病伴乳酸血症和卒中样发作综合征的临床特征及遗传学研究

目的探讨线粒体脑肌病伴乳酸血症和卒中样发作（MELAS）综合征临床与分子遗传学特征,寻找MELAS线粒体DNA（mtDNA）A3243G点突变比例与临床特征的关联性。方法对2001年1月至2008年1月在首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院神经内科住院和门诊临床疑似线粒体脑肌病的患儿,行外周血白细胞mtDNA A3243G点突变筛查、血乳酸检测和神经影像学等检查。A3243G点突变阳性病例中选取符合MELAS临床疑似诊断标准的患儿（突变阳性组）,对其家系进行调查,采集家族成员血进行mtDNA A3243G点突变筛查;A3243G点突变阴性病例中选取符合MELAS临床疑似诊断标准的患儿行肌肉病理活检和肌肉A3243G点突变筛查（突变阴性组）。分析比较两组的临床资料及MELAS遗传学特征。结果研究期间共有272例疑似线粒体脑肌病的患儿进行了外周血白细胞A3243G点突变的筛查。A3243G点突变的20例阳性标本中,突变均为异胞质性（heteroplasmy）,18例符合MELAS的临床疑似诊断标准。血细胞中突变型mtDNA的比例为9.0%-50.0%,其中4例同时在肌肉组织检测到相同突变,突变比例为42.4%-64.8%。临床症状以惊厥、乏力、智力进行性倒退、发热、呕吐、视力障碍和失语为主,身材矮小和体毛增多为主要体征,13例合并癫,血乳酸均升高,头颅CT/MRI显示双侧对称性苍白球钙化和脑梗死信号。A3243G点突变筛查阴性标本中有4例临床符合MELAS临床疑似诊断标准,肌肉病理可见破碎红边纤维,肌肉A3243G点突变筛查阴性。14个家庭中的37名家庭成员采集了外周血进行mtDNA A3243G点突变筛查,突变阳性组中患儿母亲5名检测到A3243G点突变,突变比例分别为3.0%,5.0%,11.8%,21.3%和26.9%,同胞兄弟4名检测到A3243G突变,突变比例分别为19.3%、33.3%,37.5%和41.5%,均无临床症状,其他成员未检测到突变。本研究A3243G点突变比例与发病年龄和就诊年龄呈负相关趋势,与病程未?     

Combination of mtDNA mutations in a patient with a mitochondrial multisystem syndrome

We report a patient who manifested a heterogeneous clinical presentation, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hypothyroidism, with initially limited central nervous system involvement, and who harbored the mitochondrial (mt)DNA A3243G mutation. MtDNA analyses also revealed deleted genomes in muscle and blood. This atypical molecular combination may have influenced the clinical phenotype. Received: August 5, 1999 / Accepted: October 5, 1999     

Frequency and clinical features of patients with sensorineural hearing loss associated with the A3243G mutation of the mitochondrial DNA in otorhinolaryngic clinics

The A3243G mutation of the mitochondrial gene is a cause of maternally inherited diabetes and deafness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and clinical features of this mutation in patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in otorhinolaryngic clinics. The frequency of the A3243G mutation in 230 patients with SNHL was 1.74% (4/230). Three of the four patients had diabetes mellitus (DM) and were already aware that they had the mutation. The other had cardiomyopathy but not DM, and proved to have the mutation in this study. The frequency of the mutation was 12.9% (4/31) in patients with a family history of possible maternal inheritance of SNHL, 10.3% (3/29) in patients with DM, and 50% (3/6) in patients with both. The age of onset of SNHL in these patients and their families was between their teens and their forties. The chance of diagnosing the A3243G mutation in patients with SNHL in otorhinolaryngic clinics is probably less than 1%. Association of DM, cardiomyopathy, a family history of possible maternal inheritance of SNHL, and an onset of SNHL between the teens and the forties are signs suggesting the mutation. These signs provide us with a reason for genetic testing for the mutation. Received: June 1, 2001 / Accepted: July 16, 2001     

Point mutation of the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu) gene (A 3243 G) in maternally inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, and sensorineural deafness.

The A 3243 G mutation of the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu) gene was found to segregate with maternally inherited diabetes mellitus, sensorineural deafness, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or renal failure in a large pedigree of 35 affected members in four generations. Presenting symptoms almost consistently involved deafness and recurrent attacks of migraine-like headaches, but the clinical course of the disease varied within and across generations. The A 3243 G mutation has been previously reported in association with the mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episode syndrome (MELAS) and with diabetes mellitus and deafness. To our knowledge, however, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not a common feature in people with the A 3243 G mutation and renal failure has not been hitherto reported in association with this mutation. The present observation gives additional support to the variable clinical expression of mtDNA mutations in humans.     

Barth's syndrome-like disorder: a new phenotype with a maternally inherited A3243G substitution of mitochondrial DNA (MELAS mutation)

An Argentine male child died at 4.5 years of age of a lethal mitochondrial disease associated with a MELAS mutation and a Barth syndrome-like presentation. The child had severe failure to thrive from the early months and for approximately two years thereafter. In addition, the patient had severely delayed gross motor milestones, marked muscle weakness, and dilated cardiomyopathy that progressed to congestive heart failure. He also had persistently elevated urinary levels of 3-methylglutaconic and 2-ethylhydracrylic acids and low blood levels of cholesterol. Detailed histopathologic evaluation of the skeletal muscle biopsy showed high activity of succinate dehydrogenase, a generalized decrease of COX activity, and abundant ragged-red fibers. Electron microscopic studies revealed multiple mitochondrial abnormalities in lymphocytes and monocytes, in the striated muscle, and in the postmortem samples (muscle, heart, liver, and brain). Biochemical analysis showed a pronounced and constant lactic acidosis, and abnormal urinary organic acid excretion (unchanged in the fasting and postprandial states). In addition, in CSF there was a marked increase of lactate and beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HOB) and also a high systemic ratio beta-HOB/acetoacetate. Enzymatic assay of the respiratory chain in biopsied muscle showed 10% of complex I activity and 24% of complex IV activity compared with controls. Molecular studies of the mitochondrial genome revealed an A to G mutation at nucleotide pair 3243 in mitochondrial DNA, a well-known pathogenetic mutation (MELAS mutation) in all the patient's tissues and also in the blood specimens of the probands mother and sibs (4 of 5). The diagnosis of MELAS mutation was reinforced by the absence of an identifiable mutation in the X-linked G4.5 gene of the propositus. The present observation gives additional evidence of the variable clinical expression of mtDNA mutations in humans and demonstrates that all clinical variants deserve adequate investigation to establish a primary defect. It also suggests adding Barth-like syndrome to the list of phenotypes with the MELAS mutation.     

Clinical features of MELAS and its relation with A3243G gene point mutation

Mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) mostly occur in children. The point mutation A3243G of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may work as a specific bio-marker for mitochondrial disorders. The related clinical features, however, may vary among individuals. This study therefore investigated the relation between MELAS clinical features and point mutation A3243G of mtDNA, in an attempt to provide further evidences for genetic diagnosis of MELAS. Children with MELAS-like syndromes were tested for both blood lactate level and point mutation A3243G of mtDNA. Further family study was performed by mtDNA mutation screening at the same loci for those who had positive gene mutation at A3243G loci. Those who were negative for A3243G point mutation were examined by muscle biopsy and genetic screening. Both clinical and genetic features were analyzed. In all 40 cases with positive A3243G mutation, 36 children fitted clinical diagnosis of MELAS. In other 484 cases with negative mutation, only 8 children were clinically diagnosed with MELAS. Blood lactate levels in both groups were all elevated (P>0.05). In a further genetic screening of 28 families, 10 biological mothers and 8 silbings of MELAS children had positive A3243G point mutations but without any clinical symptoms. Certain difference existed in the clinical manifestations between children who were positive and negative for A3243G mutation of mtDNA but without statistical significance. MELAS showed maternal inheritance under most circumstances.     

Barth's syndrome‐like disorder: A new phenotype with a maternally inherited A3243G substitution of mitochondrial DNA (MELAS mutation)

An Argentine male child died at 4.5 years of age of a lethal mitochondrial disease associated with a MELAS mutation and a Barth syndrome‐like presentation. The child had severe failure to thrive from the early months and for approximately two years thereafter. In addition, the patient had severely delayed gross motor milestones, marked muscle weakness, and dilated cardiomyopathy that progressed to congestive heart failure. He also had persistently elevated urinary levels of 3‐methylglutaconic and 2‐ethylhydracrylic acids and low blood levels of cholesterol. Detailed histopathologic evaluation of the skeletal muscle biopsy showed high activity of succinate dehydrogenase, a generalized decrease of COX activity, and abundant ragged‐red fibers. Electron microscopic studies revealed multiple mitochondrial abnormalities in lymphocytes and monocytes, in the striated muscle, and in the postmortem samples (muscle, heart, liver, and brain). Biochemical analysis showed a pronounced and constant lactic acidosis, and abnormal urinary organic acid excretion (unchanged in the fasting and postprandial states). In addition, in CSF there was a marked increase of lactate and β‐hydroxybutyrate (β‐HOB) and also a high systemic ratio β‐HOB/acetoacetate. Enzymatic assay of the respiratory chain in biopsied muscle showed 10% of complex I activity and 24% of complex IV activity compared with controls. Molecular studies of the mitochondrial genome revealed an A to G mutation at nucleotide pair 3243 in mitochondrial DNA, a well‐known pathogenetic mutation (MELAS mutation) in all the patient's tissues and also in the blood specimens of the probands mother and sibs (4 of 5). The diagnosis of MELAS mutation was reinforced by the absence of an identifiable mutation in the X‐linked G4.5 gene of the propositus. The present observation gives additional evidence of the variable clinical expression of mtDNA mutations in humans and demonstrates that all clinical variants deserve adequate investigation to establish a primary defect. It also suggests adding Barth‐like syndrome to the list of phenotypes with the MELAS mutation. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Mitochondrial genetic analysis in a Chinese family suffering from both mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes and diabetes

To investigate the mitochondrial mutations in patients suffering from both mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and maternally inherited diabetes. MELAS was confirmed by muscle biopsy performed from the biceps muscle of the proband. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The significant mtDNA loci of other 14 family members were further detected according to the sequencing results of the proband. Direct sequencing of PCR products was used to identify the mitochondrial mutations. The proband (III 1) and her brother (III 3) both harbored the tRNALeu (UUR) A3243G mutation, with heteroplasmic levels of 50% and 33% respectively. Moreover, another two mitochondrial variants, A8860G and A15326G, were also detected in the samples of all the family members. MELAS and diabetes can coexist in one patient, and the main cause for these diseases is the tRNALeu (UUR) A3243G mutation. However, other gene variants may contribute to its pathogenesis. This case also supports the concept that both syndromes can be regarded as two phenotypes of the same disease.     

Comparison of the relative levels of the 3243 (A-->G) mtDNA mutation in heteroplasmic adult and fetal tissues.

In this report, levels of the 3243 A to G mtDNA mutation associated with the mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome were measured in different heteroplasmic tissues of subjects in a kindred including adults with variable clinical phenotypes and a fetus. The relative proportions of mutant mtDNA varied widely (0.03 to 0.67) between identical tissues of the six different subjects and between different tissues of the same subjects. In the one adult for whom sufficient data were available there was an apparent correlation between the distribution of mutant mtDNA and clinical presentation. A woman without neurological symptoms who died prematurely with a cardiomyopathy and lactic acidosis had higher proportions of mutant in heart (0.49, SD 0.02), skeletal muscle (0.56, SD 0.01), and liver (0.55, SD 0.12) than in other tissues studied (for example, kidney, 0.03, SD 0.01). A strikingly different result was found in a 24 week old fetus in whom there was little variation in heteroplasmy in different tissues (average proportion of mutant mtDNA in six tissues, 0.53, SD 0.02). These observations add cardiomyopathy to the growing list of presenting features of the 3243 mtDNA mutation. The unique results from the fetus suggest also that selection pressures acting on either wild type or 3243 mutant mtDNA (rather than variation from replicative segregation of the heteroplasmic mtDNA) may be responsible primarily for the variable levels of 3243 mutant mtDNA in different heteroplasmic tissues of adults.     

Varying loads of the mitochondrial DNA A3243G mutation in different tissues: implications for diagnosis

Testing for common mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), including the A3243G MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes) mutation, is routinely done in DNA isolated from blood. Since the blood level of the A3243G mutation may be low in probands and even lower in asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic maternal relatives, we assessed the proportion of A3243G mutant genomes in other accessible tissues. We studied five tissues (leukocytes, skin fibroblasts, hair roots, urinary sediment, and cheek mucosa) in 61 individuals from 22 families harboring the A3243G mutation. Although mutational loads varied widely among these tissues, as a rule DNA from urinary sediment had the highest and blood the lowest proportion of mutant genomes; individual hair roots differed markedly from one another; fibroblasts and cheek mucosa tended to have higher mutation loads than blood but lower than urinary sediment. In all individuals in whom the mutation was detectable in blood, it was also detected in other tissues. Conversely, in some individuals the mutation was undetectable in blood but clearly present in other tissues. We conclude that urinary sediment and cheek mucosa are tissues of choice for the diagnosis of mtDNA mutations, as they are easy to obtain and the mutation load is almost always greater than in blood.     

Complex I deficiency is associated with 3243G:C mitochondrial DNA in osteosarcoma cell cybrids

143B.206 rho degrees cells were repopulated with mitochondria from a MELAS patient harbouring a mixture of 3243G:C and 3243A:T mitochondrial DNA. A number of biochemical assays were performed on selected cybrids with various proportions of the two types of mitochondrial DNA. These assays revealed a marked decrease in oxygen consumption with pyruvate, a complex I substrate, in cybrids containing 60% to 90% 3243G:C mitochondrial DNA. Moreover, these cybrids showed decreased synthesis of a number of polypeptides in a mitochondrial in vitro translation assay. A cybrid line with a very high level of 3243G:C mitochondrial DNA (95%) had additional deficiencies in complexes III and IV and there was a marked generalised decrease in mitochondrial translation in this cybrid. The observation of complex I deficiency is consistent with previously reported enzymatic measurements of muscle homogenates from MELAS patients with the 3243G:C mutation.      

Diagnosis of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes in a Chinese family by PCR/restriction enzyme analysis

The clinical presentation and the biochemical and molecular genetic findings are described in a 13 year old Chinese boy with MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes). The diagnosis was initially suspected because of the characteristic clinical features and the strong family history of convulsions. Using polymerase chain reaction—restriction enzyme analysis, the heteroplasmic nt3243 A→G mutation in mtDNA of peripheral blood leucocytes and a muscle sample was demonstrated. The oligosymptomatic relatives were then screened by this method and the degree of heteroplasmy was analysed. This appears to be the first report of a MELAS family in Hong Kong with this described mutation. Molecular genetic techniques are advantageous in the diagnosis of MELAS.     

Mitochondrial DNA m.3242G > A mutation,an under diagnosed cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and renal tubular dysfunction?

We present two new patients with the recently described mitochondrial m.3242G > A mutation. Although the mutation is situated next to the well known m.3243A > G mutation, the most common alteration associated with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome, the clinical presentation is quite different, but characteristic. All three m.3242G > A patients presented in the neonatal period with hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy, generalized muscle hypotonia and lactic acidosis. Two additionally had creatine kinase elevation, renal tubular acidosis/dysfunction and showed a mild clinical course with a favourable psychomotor development. The third patient had more neurological involvement and died in infancy. The mutation occurred de novo in the two patients where maternal investigations were performed. The combination of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and renal tubular acidosis/renal tubular dysfunction is clinically distinctive and may represent a separate entity.     

Tissue specific distribution of the 3243A->G mtDNA mutation

Background

The 3243A→G is a common pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutation causing a variety of different phenotypes. Segregation of this mutation to different tissues during embryonic life and postnatally is still enigmatic.

Objective

To investigate the tissue distribution of this mutation.

Methods

In 65 individuals from nine families segregating the 3243A→G mutation, the mutation load (% mutated mtDNA) was determined in various tissues. Mutation load was measured in two to four cell types—blood leucocytes, buccal cells, skeletal muscle cells, and urine epithelial cells (UEC)—derived from all three embryogenic germ layers.

Results

There was a significant correlation among mutation loads in the four tissues (r = 0.80–0.89, p<0.0001). With blood serving as reference, the mutation load was increased by 16% in buccal mucosa, by 31% in UEC, and by 37% in muscle. There were significant differences between the mitotic tissues blood, buccal mucosa, and UEC (p<0.0001), but no difference between UEC and muscle. Using the present data as a cross sectional investigation, a negative correlation of age with the mutation load was found in blood, while the mutation load in muscle did not change with time; 75% of the children presented with higher mutation loads than their mothers in mitotic tissues but not in the post‐mitotic muscle.

Conclusions

There appears to be a uniform distribution of mutant mtDNA throughout the three germ layers in embryogenesis. The significant differences between mutation loads of the individual tissue types indicate tissue specific segregation of the 3243A→G mtDNA later in embryogenesis.     

湖北土家族一糖尿病伴耳聋家系的遗传学研究

目的分析湖北土家族一糖尿病伴耳聋家系,确定其遗传方式;检测线粒体基因组中tRNAleu（UUR）基因3243A→G突变,阐明该家系患者发病与线粒体基因突变的关系。方法采集家系部分成员外周血提取DNA,利用聚合酶链式反应-限制性片段长度多态性（PCR-RFLP）的分析方法,检测家系部分成员的线粒体基因突变。结果经PCR-RFLP分析,家系中8名患者tRNAleu（UUR）基因均存在3243A→G异质性突变,患者的2名正常后代则没有该突变。结论该家系为母系遗传,线粒体tRNAleu（UUR）基因3243A→G突变是导致患者发病的原因。     

慢性进行性眼外肌瘫痪和Kearns-Sayre综合征的线粒体DNA突变分析

目的 探讨慢性进行性眼外肌瘫痪(chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia，CPEO)和Kearns-Sayre综合征(Kearns—Sayre syndrome，KSS)的线粒体DINA(mitochondrial DNA，mtDNA)突变特点。方法 用Southern印迹方法检测7例CPEO和4例KSS患者的肌肉组织mtDNA，并进一步用聚合酶链反应产物直接测序来明确缺失的具体范围；用聚合酶链反应-限制性内切酶分析法检测有无mtDNA A3243G点突变。结果 发现5例患者(2例CPEO和3例KSS)存在mtDNA的大片段缺失；1例KSS患者存在A3243G点突变。5例大片段缺失的大小及缺失范围各不相同，从3．0～8．0kb不等，缺失型mtDNA占总mtDNA的比例为37．6％～87．0％。聚合酶链反应产物测序表明这5例缺失类型均未见文献报道。结论 与CPEO和KSS患者相关的最常见的mtDNA突变为大片段缺失，A3243G点突变也可在少数患者中检测到。     

线粒体DNA 3243、3316点突变与2型糖尿病

目的研究2型糖尿病患者中线粒体tRNA^Leu(UUR)基因3243A／G突变和NADH脱氢酶亚单位1基因(ND1)基因3316G／A突变的发生频率及其与2型糖尿病的相关性。方法应用聚合酶链反应及限制性片段长度多态性技术检测225例中国云南2型糖尿病患者和195名无糖尿病家族史的健康对照者有无3243A／G突变和3316G／A突变，并经DNA直接测序确证。结果2型糖尿病患者中3316G／A突变者5例(2．22％)，195例对照者中突变者2例(1．03％)，突变发生率在两组间差异无统计学意义(P=0．4576)；两组中无线粒体3243A／G突变。结论线粒体tRNA^Leu(UUR)基因3243A／G突变在中国云南2型糖尿病人群中发生频率低，可能不是云南人群中2型糖尿病的常见病因。线粒体ND1基因3316G／A突变可能仅为人群中线粒体基因组的正常多态。其他的遗传、环境及子宫内因素需要进一步研究。     

Histochemical and molecular genetic study of MELAS and MERRF in Korean patients

Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episode (MELAS) and myoclonic epilepsy and ragged-red fibers (MERRF) are rare disorders caused by point mutation of the tRNA gene of the mitochondrial genome. To understand the pathogenetic mechanism of MELAS and MERRF, we studied four patients. Serially sectioned frozen muscle specimens with a battery of histochemical stains were reviewed under light microscope and ultrastructural changes were observed under electron microscope. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was performed and the tRNA genes were sequenced to confirm mutations. In two patients with MELAS, strongly succinyl dehydrogenase positive blood vessels (SSVs) and many cytochrome oxidase (COX) positive ragged-red fibers (RRFs) were observed, and A3243G mutations were found from the muscle samples. In two patients with MERRF, neither SSV nor COX positive RRFs were seen and A8344G mutations were found from both muscle and blood samples. In the two MERRF families, the identical mutation was observed among family members. The failure to detect the mutation in blood samples of the MELAS suggests a low mutant load in blood cells. The histochemical methods including COX stain are useful for the confirmation and differentiation of mitochondrial diseases. Also, molecular biological study using muscle sample seems essential for the confirmation of the mtDNA mutation.