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Review
. 2022 Sep 11;11(18):2835.
doi: 10.3390/cells11182835.

Mitochondrial Genome Variants as a Cause of Mitochondrial Cardiomyopathy

Affiliations
Review

Mitochondrial Genome Variants as a Cause of Mitochondrial Cardiomyopathy

Teresa Campbell et al. Cells. .

Abstract

Mitochondria are small double-membraned organelles responsible for the generation of energy used in the body in the form of ATP. Mitochondria are unique in that they contain their own circular mitochondrial genome termed mtDNA. mtDNA codes for 37 genes, and together with the nuclear genome (nDNA), dictate mitochondrial structure and function. Not surprisingly, pathogenic variants in the mtDNA or nDNA can result in mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial disease primarily impacts tissues with high energy demands, including the heart. Mitochondrial cardiomyopathy is characterized by the abnormal structure or function of the myocardium secondary to genetic defects in either the nDNA or mtDNA. Mitochondrial cardiomyopathy can be isolated or part of a syndromic mitochondrial disease. Common manifestations of mitochondrial cardiomyopathy are a phenocopy of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and cardiac conduction defects. The underlying pathophysiology of mitochondrial cardiomyopathy is complex and likely involves multiple abnormal processes in the cell, stemming from deficient oxidative phosphorylation and ATP depletion. Possible pathophysiology includes the activation of alternative metabolic pathways, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics, abnormal calcium homeostasis, and mitochondrial iron overload. Here, we highlight the clinical assessment of mtDNA-related mitochondrial cardiomyopathy and offer a novel hypothesis of a possible integrated, multivariable pathophysiology of disease.

Keywords: calcium; dilated cardiomyopathy; ferroptosis; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; iron overload; mitochondrial cardiomyopathy; mitochondrial genome; mtDNA; reactive oxygen species.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structure of the IMM and OMM in muscle tissue. Blue arrow, OMM; white arrow, IMM; white arrowhead, cristae structure. Image property of the Huang Laboratory.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Location of select common pathogenic mitochondrial genome variants in syndromic and non-syndromic mitochondrial cardiomyopathy. H, heavy strand; L, light strand; dark ovals, tRNA location on heavy strand; orange ovals, tRNA location on light strand; tRNA, transfer RNA; DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; nsHCM, non-sarcomeric-related hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; MELAS, mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes; MERRF, myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers; PEO, progressive external ophthalmoplegia.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic of theoretical random segregation of mitochondria during cell division and possible heteroplasmy outcomes. mtDNA, mitochondrial genome; WT, wildtype; gray oval, nucleus; blue oval, mitochondria with WT mtDNA; red oval, mitochondria with mutant mtDNA.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Research flow chart for novel mtDNA variant discovery. CMA, chromosomal microarray; del/dup, deletion/duplation; dx, diagnosis; DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; HCM, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; iPS cells, induced pluripotent stem cells; WES, whole exome sequencing; WGS, whole genome sequencing; w/u, work-up.

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