Exploring Mito-nuclear Genetic Factors in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Insights from Comprehensive Profiling of Unique Cases

Overview

Journal EXCLI J

Specialty Biology

Date 2023 Dec 6

PMID 38054206

Authors

Prakash Chermakani

Poigaialwar Gowri

Shanmugam Mahesh Kumar

Periasamy Sundaresan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial complex I disorder and causes inexorable painless vision loss. Recent studies from India reported that a significant proportion of LHON patients lack primary mitochondrial DNA mutations, suggesting that alternative genetic factors contribute to disease development. Therefore, this study investigated the genetic profile of LHON-affected individuals in order to understand the role of mito-nuclear genetic factors in LHON. A total of thirty probands displaying symptoms consistent with LHON have undergone whole mitochondrial and whole exome sequencing. Interestingly, whole mtDNA sequencing revealed primary mtDNA mutations in 30 % of the probands (n=9), secondary mtDNA mutations in 40 % of the probands (n=12) and no mitochondrial changes in 30 % of individuals (n=9). Further, WES analysis determined pathogenic mutations in 11 different nuclear genes, especially in cases with secondary mtDNA mutations (n=6) or no mtDNA mutations (n=6). These findings provide valuable insight into LHON genetic predisposition, particularly in cases lacking primary mtDNA mutations. See also Figure 1(Fig. 1).

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