Mitochondrial DNA haplogroup background affects LHON, but not suspected LHON, in Chinese patients.

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that mtDNA background could affect the clinical expression of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). We analyzed the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation of 304 Chinese patients with m.11778G>A (sample #1) and of 843 suspected LHON patients who lack the three primary mutations (sample #2) to discern mtDNA haplogroup effect on disease onset. Haplogroup frequencies in the patient group was compared to frequencies in the general Han Chinese population (n = 1,689; sample #3). The overall matrilineal composition of the suspected LHON population resembles that of the general Han Chinese population, suggesting no association with mtDNA haplogroup. In contrast, analysis of these LHON patients confirms mtDNA haplogroup effect on LHON. Specifically, the LHON sample significantly differs from the general Han Chinese and suspected LHON populations by harboring an extremely lower frequency of haplogroup R9, in particular of its main sub-haplogroup F (#1 vs. #3, P-value = 1.46×10(-17), OR = 0.051, 95% CI: 0.016-0.162; #1 vs. #2, P-value = 4.44×10(-17), OR = 0.049, 95% CI: 0.015-0.154; in both cases, adjusted P-value <10(-5)) and higher frequencies of M7b (#1 vs. #3, adjusted P-value = 0.001 and #1 vs. #2, adjusted P-value = 0.004). Our result shows that mtDNA background affects LHON in Chinese patients with m.11778G>A but not suspected LHON. Haplogroup F has a protective effect against LHON, while M7b is a risk factor.

• Authors: A-Mei Zhang, Xiaoyun Jia, Rui Bi, Antonio Salas, Shiqiang Li, Xueshan Xiao, Panfeng Wang, Xiangming Guo, Qing-Peng Kong, Qingjiong Zhang, Yong-Gang Yao
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 6 Issue 11 Pg. e27750 ( 2011) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22110754 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• DNA, Mitochondrial

Topics

• Asian People (genetics)
• DNA, Mitochondrial (genetics)
• Genome, Mitochondrial (genetics)
• Haplotypes (genetics)
• Humans
• Mutation (genetics)
• Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber (diagnosis, genetics)