Modulation of mtDNA copy number ameliorates the pathological consequences of a heteroplasmic mtDNA mutation in the mouse

Sci Adv. 2019 Apr 3;5(4):eaav9824. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aav9824. eCollection 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations typically act in a recessive way and cause mitochondrial disease only if present above a certain threshold level. We have experimentally investigated to what extent the absolute levels of wild-type (WT) mtDNA influence disease manifestations by manipulating TFAM levels in mice with a heteroplasmic mtDNA mutation in the tRNAAla gene. Increase of total mtDNA levels ameliorated pathology in multiple tissues, although the levels of heteroplasmy remained the same. A reduction in mtDNA levels worsened the phenotype in postmitotic tissues, such as heart, whereas there was an unexpected beneficial effect in rapidly proliferating tissues, such as colon, because of enhanced clonal expansion and selective elimination of mutated mtDNA. The absolute levels of WT mtDNA are thus an important determinant of the pathological manifestations, suggesting that pharmacological or gene therapy approaches to selectively increase mtDNA copy number provide a potential treatment strategy for human mtDNA mutation disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiomyopathies / genetics
  • Cardiomyopathies / pathology
  • Cardiomyopathies / prevention & control*
  • Cytochrome-c Oxidase Deficiency / genetics
  • Cytochrome-c Oxidase Deficiency / pathology
  • Cytochrome-c Oxidase Deficiency / prevention & control
  • DNA Copy Number Variations*
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / pathology*
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / pathology
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Mutation*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology*
  • Phenotype

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial