. Low cerebrospinal fluid concentration of mitochondrial DNA in preclinical Alzheimer disease. Ann Neurol. 2013 Jun 22; PubMed.

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  1. This study advances the AD biomarker field by identifying a new marker, in this case cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels. The authors present data that suggest CSF mtDNA changes precede CSF Aβ changes. While one must use caution when considering the mechanistic implications of a biomarker change, or of potential mechanistic relationships between different biomarkers based solely on temporal relationships, the phenomenon reported in this paper suggests that mitochondrial changes may precede amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing or Aβ homeostasis changes in AD. In some ways this is not surprising, as APP processing and Aβ homeostasis are exquisitely regulated processes, and bioenergetic function is one factor that is known to influence both.

  2. Small changes in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can lead to severe effects over time. Recently, we have shown that minor base changes in the mtDNA of conplastic mouse strains in the C57Bl/6 genomic background may affect hallmarks of AD (Scheffler et al., 2012). Alterations in ATP-production caused by mtDNA changes resulted in direct suppression of beta-amyloid clearance from the brain by ATP-depending exporters (ABC transporters). Microglial function was also compromised.

    Researchers continue to debate the role maternal inheritance in the pathogenesis of sporadic AD. Consistently, even small mitochondrial genomic abberations may show long-term effects that converge in aging and neurodegeneration.

    References:

    . Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms specifically modify cerebral β-amyloid proteostasis. Acta Neuropathol. 2012 Aug;124(2):199-208. PubMed.

    View all comments by Jens Pahnke
  3. These are exciting findings that make important contributions to an ever growing body of science indicating that perturbation in mitochondrial function is an early and antecedent event in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. These latest findings are consistent with our previous report that mitochondrial/bioenergetic deficits precede appearance of AD pathology in female mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. It was surprising to us that the bioenergetic deficit was evident even in embryonic neurons derived from the same mouse model (Yao et al., 2009). Analyses in humans by Mosconi and Swerdlow are consistent with these preclinical studies where they found reduced mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity in platelets and reduced brain glucose metabolism in adult children with maternal history of Alzheimer’s disease (Mostoni et al., 2010; Mosconi et al., 2011).

    Collectively a growing body of data from preclinical to clinical indicate that deficits in mitochondrial function are likely a risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. These findings also indicate the therapeutic potential of targeting mitochondria for disease prevention.

    References:

    . Mitochondrial bioenergetic deficit precedes Alzheimer's pathology in female mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Aug 25;106(34):14670-5. PubMed.

    . Maternal transmission of Alzheimer's disease: prodromal metabolic phenotype and the search for genes. Hum Genomics. 2010 Feb;4(3):170-93. PubMed.

    . Reduced mitochondria cytochrome oxidase activity in adult children of mothers with Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;27(3):483-90. PubMed.

    View all comments by Roberta Diaz Brinton

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  1. Studies Suggest Mitochondria Changes Precede Aging, Alzheimer’s