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L Stratilová

Publications and source records attributed to L Stratilová.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

[Prenatal diagnosis in families with cytochrome C oxidase disorder].

OBJECTIVE: Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency presents with severe impairment of brain, muscle or heart. Prenatal diagnosis in affected families is difficult because the disease may be caused by mutations in nuclear or mtDNA. This study shows the results of prenatal diagnosis in two families where the first child died because of a generalised COX defect. In both cases the low activity of COX was accompanied by a low content of the enzyme. SUBJECTS: In the first family the amniocentesis was performed during the second pregnancy and cultured amniocytes showed a marked decrease of COX activity and ATP production. Based on decision of the parents the pregnancy was terminated. Analysis of the foetal tissues confirmed a generalised COX defect. In the second family the nuclear origin of the COX defect was found using transmitochondrial cybrids derived from COX-deficient fibroblasts of the affected child. In the successive pregnancy with dizygotic twins a combined amniocentesis and chorionic villi biopsy has been performed. Prenatal diagnosis was based in both foetuses on three independent approaches. COX activity, the ATP production and protein content of COX complex was measured in cultivated foetal cells. The results of all investigations excluded a putative COX defect and both children are healthy at the age of 2 and half years. CONCLUSION: Prenatal diagnosis of COX disorders is available in families with the generalised form of the disease based on a nuclear origin of COX deficiency. Three independent approaches to characterise COX at a functional, enzymatic and protein level may be used.

Cytochrome-c Oxidase Deficiency↗

[Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy].

BACKGROUND: Leber's hereditary neuropathy of the optic nerve (LHON) is manifested by bilateral affection of the eyes with acute or subacute loss of vision. The disease is caused by point mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and is one of the most frequent mitochondrial diseases in the population. In patients with LHON 18 different point mutations in the mtDNA were described which correlate partly with the rate of progression of the disease and the severity and prognosis of the final affection of vision. METHODS AND RESULTS: The submitted paper deals with the results of molecular genetic examinations in three families with clinical manifestations of LHON. In three patients in the first family a homoplasmic mutation of mtDNA G3460A was found. In the second family in a young man with severely impaired vision a heteroplasmic mutation G3460A was found associated with a higher ratio of mutated mtDNA molecules than in his mother who is clinically healthy. In the third family the presence of homoplasmic mutation of mtDNA in position G11778A was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of LHON and genetic counselling in affected families should be based on close collaboration of ophthalmological and genetic departments with specialized laboratories engaged in molecular biological diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗

Defective kinetics of cytochrome c oxidase and alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential in fibroblasts and cytoplasmic hybrid cells with the mutation for myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibres ('MERRF') at position 8344 nt.

We have investigated pathogenic effects of the tRNA(Lys) A8344G mutation associated with the syndrome myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibres (MERRF) by using fibroblasts and fibroblast-derived cytoplasmic hybrid cells harbouring different percentages of mutated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The activity of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) in patient fibroblasts with 89% mutated mtDNA was decreased to 20% of the control levels. COX exhibited altered kinetics, with a decreased V(max) for both the low-affinity and high-affinity phases; however, the K(m) values were not significantly changed. The substrate-dependent synthesis of ATP was decreased to 50% of the control. Analysis of the mitochondrial membrane potential, DeltaPsi, in digitonin-treated cells with tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) with the use of flow cytometry showed a 80% decrease in DeltaPsi at state 4 and an increased sensitivity of DeltaPsi to an uncoupler in fibroblasts from the patient. The investigation of transmitochondrial cytoplasmic hybrid clones derived from the patient's fibroblasts enabled us to characterize the relationship between heteroplasmy of the MERRF mutation, COX activity and DeltaPsi. Within the range of 87-73% mutated mtDNA, COX activity was decreased to 5-35% and DeltaPsi was decreased to 6-78%. These results demonstrate that the MERRF mutation affects COX activity and DeltaPsi in different proportions with regard to mutation heteroplasmy and indicate that the biochemical manifestation of the MERRF mutation exerts a very steep threshold of DeltaPsi inhibition.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Various manifestations of the A8344G mtDNA heteroplasmic mutation in 4 families with the MERRF syndrome].

BACKGROUND: The most frequent manifestation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation 8344 A-->G is MERRF syndrome (Myoclonic Epilepsy and Myopathy with Ragged Red Fibres). Less frequent symptoms include ataxia, perceptive type of deafness, cardiomyopathy or external ophthalmoplegia and mental and motor retardation in children. We describe heterogeneity of clinical symptoms and results of biochemical and molecular investigations in four families with the heteroplasmic mutation 8344 A-->G in mtDNA. METHODS AND RESULTS: In co-operation with paediatric, neurological and genetic specialists from the Czech and Slovak Republic we found in 1993-1998 at the enzymatic or molecular level more than 90 children and adults with impaired mitochondrial energy metabolism. Heteroplasmic mutation 8344 A-->G in mtDNA was found in four families. Ataxia and progressive muscle weakness appeared in the first proband with 50% of mutated copies of mtDNA in muscle at the age of 30 years. The second proband with 95% of mutated mtDNA had his first clinical symptoms--muscle hypotonia, cardiomyopathy and mental and motor retardation--in infancy while his four relatives with 25-50% mutated mtDNA lack so far clinical symptoms. In a female from the third family with 50% mutated mtDNA in muscle the disease manifested at the age of 42 years with progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO) and muscle weakness. In the fourth proband with 50% of mutated mtDNA in blood the disease started in infancy with spastic quadruparesis and arrested mental and motor development. Enzymatic and histochemical investigation in muscle biopsy in two probands revealed lower cytochrom c oxidase activity. Ragged-red fibres were found only in one adult patient. CONCLUSIONS: MtDNA mutation 8344 A-->G can manifest by heterogeneous symptoms. A higher percentage of mutated mtDNA is usually associated with more serious forms of the disease, but there is not always a correlation between the degree of heteroplasmy and severity of the disease or the age of the first clinical symptoms.

Adult↗

Complex approach to prenatal diagnosis of cytochrome c oxidase deficiencies.

Different severe disorders of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) have been described in children, but only the defects with autosomal inheritance are suitable for prenatal diagnosis. To perform prenatal diagnosis of fatal infantile COX deficiency a complex approach has been used which combined determination of the genetic origin of the defect, and detailed analysis of the function, content and subunit composition of the enzyme in cultured fetal cells. The tissues and cultured fibroblasts of the patient with Leigh's syndrome showed a COX deficiency of systemic character. The decrease of COX activity to 5-11 per cent was accompanied by proportionally decreased content of the assembled COX enzyme. With the help of transmitochondrial cybrids derived from patient fibroblasts it was proven that the COX defect was of nuclear origin. In a successive pregnancy, the function of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) was analysed in cultured amniocytes by substrate-stimulated ATP production and COX activity was compared with the activity of citrate synthase. The amount and composition of OXPHOS complexes was estimated by two-dimensional (Blue Native/SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and was verified immunochemically with specific antibodies. Three independent lines of evidence provided us with reliable data on the function of COX and OXPHOS in fetal cells which were sufficient to rule out the expected enzymatic defect within three weeks after amniocentesis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

A novel deficiency of mitochondrial ATPase of nuclear origin.

We report a new type of fatal mitochondrial disorder caused by selective deficiency of mitochondrial ATP synthase (ATPase). A hypotrophic newborn from a consanguineous marriage presented severe lactic acidosis, cardiomegaly and hepatomegaly and died from heart failure after 2 days. The activity of oligomycin-sensitive ATPase was only 31-34% of the control, both in muscle and heart, but the activities of cytochrome c oxidase, citrate synthase and pyruvate dehydrogenase were normal. Electrophoretic and western blot analysis revealed selective reduction of ATPase complex but normal levels of the respiratory chain complexes I, III and IV. The same selective deficiency of ATPase was found in cultured skin fibroblasts which showed similar decreases in ATPase content, ATPase hydrolytic activity and level of substrate-dependent ATP synthesis (20-25, 18 and 29-33% of the control, respectively). Pulse-chase labelling of patient fibroblasts revealed low incorporation of [(35)S]methionine into assembled ATPase complexes, but increased incorporation into immunoprecipitated ATPase subunit beta, which had a very short half-life. In contrast, no difference was found in the size and subunit composition of the assembled and newly produced ATPase complex. Transmitochondrial cybrids prepared from enucleated fibroblasts of the patient and rho degrees cells derived from 143B. TK(-)human osteosarcoma cells fully restored the ATPase activity, ATP synthesis and ATPase content, when compared with control cybrids. Likewise, the pattern of [(35)S]methionine labelling of ATPase was found to be normal in patient cybrids. We conclude that the generalized deficiency of mitochondrial ATPase described is of nuclear origin and is caused by altered biosynthesis of the enzyme.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

[Lactate acidosis in childhood].

BACKGROUND: Secondary lactate acidosis is found in children with hypoxaemia, with impaired tissue perfusion, in hepatic and renal failure or in intoxications. Primary lactate acidosis is usually caused by hereditary metabolic disorders. The objective of the trial was to analyze the causes which lead in childhood to the development of primary hyperlactacidaemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: The authors examined during 1995-1996 the lactate and pyruvate concentration in 479 children referred by paediatric and neurological departments with a suspect hereditary metabolic disturbances. A raised lactate in blood or cerebrospinal fluid > 2.3 mmol/l was found in 230 children incl. 49 where a metabolic disorder was detected. Ten children had impaired cytochrome c oxidase, two children had a combined deficience of NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase, three children had a deficience of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex, one child had a deficience of ATP synthase and seven children suffered from impaired beta-oxidation. Glycogenosis type I, III or IX was found in 13 children. In three children organic aciduria was found, two children had an impaired urea cycle and three children impaired fructose metabolism. In five children a low level of free and total carnitene was found as a result of valproate treatment. A significant increase of the lactate level by more than 1 mmol/l during an oral glucose load was found in 11 of 16 children with impairment of the respiratory chain or PDH complex. In 58 children concurrently lactate in blood and cerebrospinal fluid assessed but no correlation of lactate levels was found. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with suspect hereditary metabolic disorders examination of lactate, pyruvate and alanine levels can be considered a screening test for detection of mitochondrial disorders. It remains difficult to reveal the cause of hyperlactacidaemia in a sick child even if a wide range of laboratory methods are used which contribute to the diagnosis of hereditary metabolic disorders.

Acidosis, Lactic↗

[Mitochondrial myopathy, deafness and type 2 diabetes mellitus with tRNALeu(UUR) point mutation in mitochondrial DNA].

BACKGROUND: A heteroplasmic A3243G point mutation in tRNALeu(UUR) gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is found in patients with MELAS syndrome (Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episodes), less frequently in patients with other dominating clinical features, such as deafness, diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, renal problems or inborn development defects. Present report describes histochemical, enzymatic and molecular biology studies of the family with clinical variant of meals syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 45-year-old woman with progressive muscle weakness, external ophtalmoplegia, perceptive deafness, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2 and hyperlactacidemia was metabolically investigated because the multiorgan problems indicated mitochondrial origin of the disease. Muscle biopsy revealed pronounced myopathic changes, ragged red fibers and decreased activity of respiratory chain enzymes - succinate cytochrome c reductase (< 5% control) and cytochrome c oxidase (< 10% control). Restriction fragment analysis of mtDNA from muscle, blood and hair follicles detected heteroplasmic A -> G mutation in the position 3243 of the tRNALeu(UUR) gene, which was more pronounced in muscle (28% of total mtDNA) than in blood (12%) or in hair follicles (10%). No mutation was found in blood and hair follicles of patient's mother and daughter. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostics of mitochondrial diseases require close collaboration of clinicians with specialised laboratories. Treatment of mitochondrial disorders is only symptomatic, however, early diagnosis of the molecular defect is important for genetic counselling.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗