6个线粒体脑肌病伴高乳酸血症和卒中样发作综合征(MELAS)家系先证者线粒体基因全序列比较分析

线粒体脑肌病伴高乳酸血症和卒中样发作综合征(Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes, MELAS)是一种异质性很强的遗传代谢性疾病,而位于tRNA ^Leu(UUR)基因的A3243G突变是该疾病最常见的致病位点。文章对6个汉族MELAS家系的先证者进行了临床病理、分子遗传学特征分析,探讨了线粒体基因多态性对MELAS病人表型可能产生的影响。线粒体基因检测结果显示,4例先证者为A3243G阳性,其异质性比例介于29%~59%之间,临床症状的严重性和异质性程度大致呈正相关;2例MELAS/Leigh叠加综合征先证者为A3243G阴性,复发次数和严重程度重于其他4例先证者,其中1例先证者的血液和肌肉组织中发现ND5基因T13094C突变,该位点已报道与MELAS/Leigh叠加综合征、小脑共济失调相关。另外,线粒体基因全序列测序结果显示：除主要致病突变外,还存在多个与耳聋、癫痫、糖尿病、心肌病、Leigh综合征相关的线粒体基因多态位点,临床症状严重的患者其多态位点也更多。这表明MELAS综合征的复杂表型不仅受致病突变位点的直接影响,也可能受到其他与疾病相关的多态性位点的修饰作用。     

一个2型糖尿病家系中新发现的线粒体DNA G7444A 突变分析

应用PCR-RFLP和测序对一个2型糖尿病家系的线粒体DNA G7444A的突变进行检测, 并分析其临床资料的特点。结果发现, 27例家系成员中, 11例母系亲属均存在线粒体DNA G7444A突变, 而配偶及父系亲属中未发现该突变。11例突变者中确诊为2型糖尿病患者5例, 糖耐量受损1例, 均表现为乳酸和血糖增高。因此, 线粒体DNA G7444A突变是该家系中糖尿病的遗传易感因素, 是导致2型糖尿病的一个新的突变位点。     

湖南地区人群中线粒体12S rRNA基因A1555G突变筛查

为建立快速、简便、准确筛查线粒体DNA 12S rRNA基因A1555G突变的基因检测技术平台,收集1 758例（女性808例,男性950例）正常人群样本,利用Bsm AⅠ酶切法筛查线粒体DNA A1555G突变以及通过实时荧光定量Taqman探针法和直接测序法对筛查结果进行验证,结果检测到2例A1555G阳性突变样本,其中1例为男性,1例为女性。实时荧光定量Taqman探针法与Bsm AⅠ酶切法、直接测序法检测结果完全相符,未发现假阳性和假阴性,该方法具有结果准确直观、简单省时,特异性强,敏感性高的优点,适用于对母系遗传性耳聋线粒体DNA A1555G突变的大规模筛查或氨基糖甙类抗生素应用前的预防性检测。     

线粒体DNA G7444A突变可能影响A1555G突变的表型表达

线粒体12S rRNA和tRNASer(UCN) 基因是导致非综合征型听力损失的两个突变热点区域。作者收集了1个母系遗传感音神经性聋家系, 该家系同时携带线粒体DNA (mtDNA) A1555G和G7444A突变。临床资料分析表明, 该家系包括药物致聋的耳聋外显率(所有耳聋患者/所有母系成员)为58%, 而非药物致聋的耳聋外显率(非药物性聋患者/所有母系成员)为25%, 明显高于其他携带A1555G突变的耳聋家系。先证者的线粒体全序列分析表明, 该线粒体基因组共有28个多态位点, 属于东亚人群B4c1单体型。在这些多态位点中, 除A1555G和G7444A突变外, 未发现其他有功能意义的突变。这表明mtDNA G7444A突变可能加重由A1555G突变造成的线粒体功能缺失, 从而增加耳聋的外显率。     

线粒体基因突变与NIDDM发生的关系

采用PCR-SSCP、PCR-RFLP及PCR产物直接测序等技术对90例NIDDM(即非胰岛素依赖型糖尿病)及80例正常对照个体的血细胞线粒体DNA进行了突变分析。结果在2例患者中发现线粒体DNA(mitochondrial DNA,mtDNA) ND1 (NaDH Dehydrogenase subunitⅠ)基因上3316位点存在G→A的点突变,导致丙氨酸错义突变成苏氨酸,而在80例正常对照个体中均不存在此位点突变。国内外已证实的和1.5%NIDDM发生有关的mtDNA tRNA Leu^(UUR)|基因上3243位点A→G的突变在本实验中并未发现。由此推断,3316位点G→A的突变可能与NIDDM的发生在关,3243位点A→G的突变率确实很低,可见糖尿病的发生在线粒体遗传上具有广泛的异质性。 Abstract:Using PCR-SSCP,PCR-RFLP and PCR product direct sequencing techniques,we analysed the mitochondrial DNAs(mtDNAs)of 90 patients with NIDDM (Non Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus)and those of 80 normal controls.The results showed that a G to A mutation which leads alanine’s missence mutaton to threonine in the mitochondrial ND1(NaDH Dehydrogenase subunit I) gene at nucleotide pair 3316 occurred in the blood cells of 2 patients.We have not however,indentified with the A to G mutation at nucleotide pair 3243 of the mitochondrial tRNA Leu(UUR) gene,which has been reported to associate with NIDDM in about 1.5% of the diabetic population.We infer that the mutation at position 3316 is perhaps associated with the development of NIDDM,the occurance of the mutation at position 3243 is actually rare,and NIDDM has an intensive mitochondrial genetic heterogenous background.     

原发性扩张型心肌病的线粒体tRNA基因突变分析

为寻找原发性扩张型心肌病病例是否存在已知以及未知的线粒体tRNA致病性突变,以探讨扩张型心肌病可能的发病原因。收集2例原发性扩张型心肌病患者和10例正常对照尸检心肌组织石蜡标本,针对22种线粒体tRNA基因分别设计一对引物,PCR扩增后并测序分析线粒体tRNA基因突变情况。结果在对照样本中未检测到线粒体tRNA变异位点,在1例患者中检测到了tRNA~(Val)基因G1664A变异,Mitomap已有报道为多态性位点;于另1例患者中检测到tRNA~(Met)T4454C变异,有文章报道该位点与线粒体功能障碍有关,Mitomap报道为多态性位点。本研究中2例病例中未检测到线粒体tRNA致病性突变位点,可能与病例个体的心衰程度有关,有必要扩大样本量深入研究线粒体tRNA以及mt DNA其他基因突变与原发性扩张型心肌病之间的关系,以寻找可能的致病突变位点、易感的多态性位点或者单倍体群,为认识原发性扩张型心肌病的发病机制进一步提供理论基础和依据。     

检测绵羊BMPR-IB基因多态性寡核苷酸芯片的制备

FecB基因是控制中国美利奴羊排卵率和产羔数的主效基因,由于A746G的点突变而导致绵羊表型的变化。本研究的目的在于根据FecB基因的多态性,制备寡核苷酸芯片检测绵羊FecB基因的单核苷酸多态性（SNP）,设计六条特异性的探针,用基因芯片点样仪将探针点样到醛基修饰的载玻片上,采集绵羊的血液样本,在芯片反应舱中,检测FecB基因A746G点突变,设计对应的软件进行判读,分析检测结果,与PCR-RFLP检测结果完全符合,证明制备的寡核苷酸芯片可以并行、准确而高效地检测FecB基因的多态性,能够作为分子标记辅助选育多胎绵羊的一种合适的检测技术。     

基于锁核酸及等位位点特异性扩增技术的KRAS基因突变检测荧光定量PCR方法研究

基于等位位点特异性扩增的原理,设计锁核酸修饰KRAS基因突变特异性扩增引物,结合封阻探针技术,建立检测KRAS基因突变的荧光定量PCR方法。结果发现,锁核酸修饰的引物及探针可显著提高等位位点特异性扩增技术用于复杂样本中的微量基因突变检测的敏感度,该技术检测KRAS基因突变的敏感性可达0.01%~0.1%。进一步用建立的荧光定量PCR方法检测52例结直肠癌患者血浆标本,并用DNA测序法作为对照,同时用健康人血浆标本建立阴性检测结果判读标准,以初步评价该方法应用于循环DNA中KRAS基因突变检测的可行性。结果发现结直肠癌患者KRAS基因突变主要是G12C、G12A和G12R,而且q PCR法的阳性检出率为46.15%,高于DNA测序法(13.46%),阴性结果与DNA测序法的符合率为100%。此外,结直肠癌患者外周血KRAS基因的突变检出率与文献报道组织标本中的突变检出率及常见突变类型基本相符。上述结果说明该方法检测循环肿瘤DNA(circulating tumor DNA,ct DNA)具有较高的可靠性,可以用于肿瘤患者循环血液中KRAS基因突变的检测。     

25个携带线粒体12S rRNA A1555G 突变的中国汉族非综合征型耳聋家系

线粒体12S rRNA A1555G突变是引起氨基糖甙类药物诱导的非综合征型耳聋的重要原因之一。文章对收集的25个携带A1555G突变的中国汉族非综合征型耳聋家系进行了临床和分子遗传学评估。结果表明,这25个家系的母系成员在耳聋外显率、听力损失严重程度和发病年龄上存在较大差异。当包括和不包括氨基糖甙类药物使用史时,耳聋的平均外显率分别为28.1%和21.5%,排除氨基糖甙类药物时,耳聋的平均发病年龄从1~15岁不等。线粒体全序列分析发现了16个新变异,不同的线粒体DNA多态性位点显示这25个家系分别属于东亚人群A、B、D、F、G、M、N和R单倍型,其中线粒体单倍型B的家系耳聋外显率和表现度较其他单倍型高。此外,7个继发突变位点和21个高保守性位点突变可能增加了这些家系的耳聋外显率。GJB2基因上未检测到与耳聋相关的突变,表明在本研究的耳聋家系中,GJB2基因可能没有参与A1555G突变的表型表达。以上各方面提示,线粒体单倍型和其他因素可能参与了这25个家系耳聋患者的表型修饰。     

一种基于寡核苷酸微阵列芯片的多重可扩增探针杂交技术

多重可扩增探针杂交技术(multiplex amplifiable probe hybridization,MAPH)是近年来发展起来的一种用于基因组中DNA拷贝数检测的新技术。并发展了一种基于寡核苷酸微阵列芯片的MAPH技术。该方法根据所检测的DNA序列,制备若干具有通用引物的FCR产物作为可扩增探针组,与固定在尼龙膜上待测的基因组DNA杂交。用磁珠回收特异性杂交的探针,经生物素标记的通用引物扩增后,与相应的寡核苷酸微阵列芯片杂交。该特异性的寡核苷酸微阵列芯片包括10个抗肌营养不良基因的外显子探针和阴性、阳性探针。杂交清冼后,链霉亲和素-Cy3染色用芯片扫描仪得到杂交的荧光图像。分析荧光信号的强度差异给出特定基因片段拷贝数的变化。该方法用微阵列技术代替MAPH中的电泳检测技术,可大幅度增加检测的通量。选择了一个正常男性、一个正常女性和一个肌营养不良症患者的基因组DNA来进行验证。结果表明,该方法能够同时给出抗肌营养不良基因多个外显子中的基因片段拷贝数差异信息。     

Screening of common mitochondrial mutations in Chinese patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies

To investigate the spectrum of common mitochondrial mutations in Northern China during the years of 2000-2005, 552 patients of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies clinically diagnosed as MELAS, MERRF or Leigh's syndrome, 14 cases of LHON and 46 cases of aminoglycoside induced deafness along with their family members, accepted routine point mutation tests at nucleotide positions 3243, 8344, 8993, 11778 or 1555 in mitochondrial genome. PCR-RFLP analysis, site-specific PCR and PCR-sequencing methods were used to identify the mutations. Fifty-seven cases with A3243G mutation, 4 cases with A8344G, 2 cases with T8993C and 1 case with T8993G were identified from the 552 encephalomyopathy patients. In addition, one case with G11778A was found from the 14 cases of LHON, and 5 cases with A1555G from the 46 cases of aminoglycoside ototoxicity patients. Additional screening for T8356G and T3271C merely had limited significance for the diagnosis of MERRF and MELAS. Differential diagnosis among mitochondrial encephalomyopathies was often complicated due to many similar clinical manifestations. For A3243G mutation, the proportion of mutant mtDNA was not related to severity of the disease but to the age of onset.     

Mutational analysis of the mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) gene in Tunisian patients with mitochondrial diseases

The mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene (MTTL) is a hot spot for pathogenic mutations that are associated with mitochondrial diseases with various clinical features. Among these mutations, the A3243G mutation was associated with various types of mitochondrial multisystem disorders, such as MIDD, MELAS, MERRF, PEO, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and a subtype of Leigh syndrome. We screened 128 Tunisian patients for the A3243G mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene. This screening was carried out using PCR-RFLP with the restriction endonuclease ApaI. None of the 128 patients or the 100 controls tested were found to carry the mitochondrial A3243G mutation in the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene in homoplasmic or heteroplasmic form. After direct sequencing of the entire mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene and a part of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1, we found neither mutations nor polymorphisms in the MTTL1 gene in the tested patients and controls, and we confirmed the absence of the A3243G mutation in this gene. We also found a T3396C transition in the ND1 gene in one family with NSHL which was absent in the other patients and in 100 controls. Neither polymorphisms nor other mutations were found in the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene in the tested patients.     

Wobble modification deficiency in mutant tRNAs in patients with mitochondrial diseases

Point mutations in mitochondrial (mt) tRNA genes are associated with a variety of human mitochondrial diseases. We have shown previously that mt tRNA(Leu(UUR)) with a MELAS A3243G mutation and mt tRNA(Lys) with a MERRF A8344G mutation derived from HeLa background cybrid cells are deficient in normal taurine-containing modifications [taum(5)(s(2))U; 5-taurinomethyl-(2-thio)uridine] at the anticodon wobble position in both cases. The wobble modification deficiency results in defective translation. We report here wobble modification deficiencies of mutant mt tRNAs from cybrid cells with different nuclear backgrounds, as well as from patient tissues. These findings demonstrate the generality of the wobble modification deficiency in mutant tRNAs in MELAS and MERRF.     

Accurate detection and quantitation of heteroplasmic mitochondrial point mutations by pyrosequencing

Disease-causing mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are typically heteroplasmic and therefore interpretation of genetic tests for mitochondrial disorders can be problematic. Detection of low level heteroplasmy is technically demanding and it is often difficult to discriminate between the absence of a mutation or the failure of a technique to detect the mutation in a particular tissue. The reliable measurement of heteroplasmy in different tissues may help identify individuals who are at risk of developing specific complications and allow improved prognostic advice for patients and family members. We have evaluated Pyrosequencing technology for the detection and estimation of heteroplasmy for six mitochondrial point mutations associated with the following diseases: Leber's hereditary optical neuropathy (LHON), G3460A, G11778A, and T14484C; mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), A3243G; myoclonus epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF), A8344G, and neurogenic muscle weakness, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP)/Leighs: T8993G/C. Results obtained from the Pyrosequencing assays for 50 patients with presumptive mitochondrial disease were compared to those obtained using the commonly used diagnostic technique of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme digestion. The Pyrosequencing assays provided accurate genotyping and quantitative determination of mutational load with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. The MELAS A3243G mutation was detected reliably at a level of 1% heteroplasmy. We conclude that Pyrosequencing is a rapid and robust method for detecting heteroplasmic mitochondrial point mutations.     

Mitochondrial DNA mutations in mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS)

The total sequences of mitochondrial DNA were determined in two patients with juvenile-onset mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) due to Complex I deficiency. Patients 1 and 2 had three and two unique point mutations, respectively, causing replacement of phylogenically conserved amino acids. A transition from G to A was found at nucleotide position 5601 in the alanine tRNA gene of Patient 2, and a transition from A to G was found at 3243 in the leucine (UUR) tRNA gene of both patients. The latter mutation located at the phylogenically conserved 5' end of the dihydrouridine loop of the tRNA molecule, and was present in two patients with adult-onset MELAS and absent in controls. These results indicate that a mass of mtDNA mutations including the A-to-G transition in the tRNA(Leu) gene is a genetic cause of MELAS.     

Hypersensitivity of A8344G MERRF mutated cybrid cells to staurosporine-induced cell death is mediated by calcium-dependent activation of calpains

Mutations in the mitochondrial DNA can lead to the development of mitochondrial diseases such as Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged Red Fibers (MERRF) or Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episodes (MELAS). We first show that human 143B-derived cybrid cells harboring either the A8344G (MERRF) or the A3243G (MELAS) mutation, are more prone to undergo apoptosis then their wild-type counterpart, when challenged with various apoptotic inducers such as staurosporine, etoposide and TRAIL. In addition, investigating the mechanisms underlying A8344G cybrid cells hypersensitivity to staurosporine-induced cell death, we found that staurosporine treatment activates caspases independently of cytochrome c release in both wild-type and mutated cells. Caspases are activated, at least partly, through the activation of calcium-dependent calpain proteases, a pathway that is more strongly activated in mutated cybrid cells than in wild-type cells exposed to staurosporine. These results suggest that calcium homeostasis perturbation induced by mitochondrial dysfunction could predispose cells to apoptosis, a process that could take part into the progressive cell degeneration observed in MERRF syndrome, and more generally in mitochondrial diseases.     

Mitochondrial tRNA gene mutations in patients having mitochondrial disease with lactic acidosis

Lactic acidosis has been associated with a variety of clinical conditions and can be due to mutation in nuclear or mitochondrial genes. We performed mutations screening of all mitochondrial tRNA genes in 44 patients who referred as hyperlactic acidosis. Patients showed heterogeneous phenotypes including Leigh disease in four, MELAS in six, unclassified mitochondrial myopathy in 10, cardiomyopathy in five, MERRF in one, pure lactic acidosis in six, and others in 12 including facio-scaplo-femoral muscular dystrophy (FSFD), familial cerebellar ataxia, recurrent Reye syndrome, cerebral palsy with mental retardation. We measured enzymatic activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, and respiratory chain enzymes. All mitochondrial tRNA genes and known mutation of ATPase 6 were studied by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), automated DNA sequence and PCR-RFLP methods. We have found one patient with PDHC deficiency and six patients with Complex I+IV deficiency, though the most of the patients showed subnormal to deficient state of respiratory chain enzyme activities. We have identified one of the nucleotide changes in 29 patients. Single nucleotide changes in mitochondrial tRNA genes are found in 27 patients and one in ATPase 6 gene in two patients. One of four pathogenic point mutations (A3243G, C3303T, A8348G, and T8993G) was identified in 12 patients who showed the phenotype of Leigh syndrome, MELAS, cardimyopathy and cerebral palsy with epilepsy. Seventeen patients have one of the normal polymorphisms in the mitochondrial tRNA gene reported before. SSCP and PCR-RFLP could detect the heteroplasmic condition when the percentage of mutant up to 5, however, it cannot be observed by direct sequencing method. It is important to screen the mtDNA mutation not only by direct sequence but also by PCR-RFLP and the other sensitive methods to detect the heroplasmy when lactic acidosis has been documented in the patients who are not fulfilled the criteria of mitochondrial disorders.     

Screening of mitochondrial mutations and insertion–deletion polymorphism in gestational diabetes mellitus in the Asian Indian population

In this study we scrutinized the association between the A8344G/A3243G mutations and a 9-bp deletion polymorphism with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in an Asian Indian population. The A3243G mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA^Leu(UUR) causes mitochondrial encephalopathy myopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), while the A8344G mutation in tRNA^Lys causes myoclonus epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF). We screened 140 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM and 140 non-GDM participants for these mutations by PCR-RFLP analysis. Both A3243G and A8344G were associated with GDM (A3243: OR-3.667, 95% CI = 1.001–13.43, p = 0.03; A8344G: OR-11.00, 95% CI = 0.6026–200.8, p = 0.04). Mitochondrial DNA mutations contribute to the development of GDM. Our results conclude that mitochondrial mutations are associated with the GDM women in our population. Thus it is important to screen other mitochondrial mutations in the GDM women.     

Pathophysiological characterization of MERRF patient-specific induced neurons generated by direct reprogramming

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of rare heterogeneous genetic disorders caused by total or partial mitochondrial dysfunction. They can be caused by mutations in nuclear or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). MERRF (Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged-Red Fibers) syndrome is one of the most common mitochondrial disorders caused by point mutations in mtDNA. It is mainly caused by the m.8344A > G mutation in the tRNA^Lys (UUR) gene of mtDNA (MT-TK gene). This mutation affects the translation of mtDNA encoded proteins; therefore, the assembly of the electron transport chain (ETC) complexes is disrupted, leading to a reduced mitochondrial respiratory function.However, the molecular pathogenesis of MERRF syndrome remains poorly understood due to the lack of appropriate cell models, particularly in those cell types most affected in the disease such as neurons. Patient-specific induced neurons (iNs) are originated from dermal fibroblasts derived from different individuals carrying the particular mutation causing the disease. Therefore, patient-specific iNs can be used as an excellent cell model to elucidate the mechanisms underlying MERRF syndrome. Here we present for the first time the generation of iNs from MERRF dermal fibroblasts by direct reprograming, as well as a series of pathophysiological characterizations which can be used for testing the impact of a specific mtDNA mutation on neurons and screening for drugs that can correct the phenotype.     

A whole mitochondrial genome screening in a MELAS patient: a novel mitochondrial tRNA(Val) mutation

Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and strokelike episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a mitochondrial disorder characterized by a wide variety of clinical presentations and a multisystemic organ involvement. In this study, we report a Tunisian girl with clinical features of MELAS syndrome who was negative for the common m.3243A>G mutation, but also for the reported mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and deletions. Screening of the entire mtDNA genome showed several known mitochondrial variants besides to a novel transition m.1640A>G affecting a wobble adenine in the anticodon stem region of the tRNA(Val). This nucleotide was conserved and it was absent in 150 controls suggesting its pathogenicity. In addition, no mutations were found in the nuclear polymerase gamma-1 gene (POLG1). These results suggest further investigation nuclear genes encoding proteins responsible for stability and structural components of the mtDNA or to the oxidative phosphorylation machinery to explain the phenotypic variability in the studied family.