Popis: |
Monogenic forms of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) can be caused by both variants in nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is known to have a phenotype similar to Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Sub-cortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), and can be caused by variants in the mitochondrial genome and in several nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein (NEMP) genes. The aim of this study was to screen for variants in the mitochondrial genome and NEMP genes in a NOTCH3-negative CADASIL cohort, to identify a potential link between mitochondrial dysfunction and CSVD pathology. Whole exome sequencing was performed for 50 patients with CADASIL-like symptomology on the Ion Torrent system. Mitochondrial sequencing was performed using an in-house designed protocol with sequencing run on the Ion GeneStudio S5 Plus (S5 +). NEMP genes and mitochondrial sequencing data were examined for rare (MAF POLG, MTO1, LONP1, NDUFAF6, NDUFB3, and TCIRG1 were thought to play a potential role in CSVD pathology in this cohort. Overall, the exploration of the mitochondrial genome identified a potential role for mitochondrial related proteins and mtDNA variants contributing to CSVD pathologies. |