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Lookup NU author(s): Padraig Flannery, Dr Florence Burte, Professor Robert Taylor, Professor Laurence Bindoff, Dr Patrick Yu Wai Man
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Background Infantile-onset encephalopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation defects are genetically heterogeneous with defects involving both the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes.Objective To identify the causative genetic defect in two sisters presenting with lethal infantile encephalopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and optic atrophy.Methods We describe a comprehensive clinical, biochemical and molecular genetic investigation of two affected siblings from a consanguineous family. Molecular genetic analysis was done by a combined approach involving genome-wide autozygosity mapping and next-generation exome sequencing. Biochemical analysis was done by enzymatic analysis and Western blot. Evidence for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) instability was investigated using long-range and real-time PCR assays. Mitochondrial cristae morphology was assessed with transmission electron microscopy.Results Both affected sisters presented with a similar cluster of neurodevelopmental deficits marked by failure to thrive, generalised neuromuscular weakness and optic atrophy. The disease progression was ultimately fatal with severe encephalopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activities were globally decreased in skeletal muscle biopsies. They were found to be homozygous for a novel c. 1601T>G (p. Leu534Arg) mutation in the OPA1 gene, which resulted in a marked loss of steady-state levels of the native OPA1 protein. We observed severe mtDNA depletion in DNA extracted from the patients' muscle biopsies. Mitochondrial morphology was consistent with abnormal mitochondrial membrane fusion.Conclusions We have established, for the first time, a causal link between a pathogenic homozygous OPA1 mutation and human disease. The fatal multisystemic manifestations observed further extend the complex phenotype associated with pathogenic OPA1 mutations, in particular the previously unreported association with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Our findings further emphasise the vital role played by OPA1 in mitochondrial biogenesis and mtDNA maintenance.
Author(s): Spiegel R, Saada A, Flannery PJ, Burté F, Soiferman D, Khayat M, Eisner V, Vladovski E, Taylor RW, Bindoff LA, Shaag A, Mandel H, Schuler-Furman O, Shalev SA, Elpeleg O, Yu-Wai-Man P
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Medical Genetics
Year: 2016
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
Pages: 127-131
Print publication date: 01/02/2016
Online publication date: 11/11/2015
Acceptance date: 11/08/2015
ISSN (print): 0022-2593
ISSN (electronic): 1468-6244
Publisher: BMJ Group
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103361
DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103361
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