: Idebenone, the only approved treatment for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), promotes recovery of visual function in up to 50% of patients, but we can neither predict nor understand the non-responders. Idebenone is reduced by the cytosolic NAD(P)H oxidoreductase I (NQO1) and directly shuttles electrons to respiratory complex III, bypassing complex I affected in LHON. We show here that two polymorphic variants drastically reduce NQO1 protein levels when homozygous or compound heterozygous. This hampers idebenone reduction. In its oxidized form, idebenone inhibits complex I, decreasing respiratory function in cells. By retrospectively analyzing a large cohort of idebenone-treated LHON patients, classified by their response to therapy, we show that patients with homozygous or compound heterozygous NQO1 variants have the poorest therapy response, particularly if carrying the m.3460G>A/MT-ND1 LHON mutation. These results suggest consideration of patient NQO1 genotype and mitochondrial DNA mutation in the context of idebenone therapy.

Genetic variants affecting NQO1 protein levels impact the efficacy of idebenone treatment in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy / Aleo, Serena Jasmine; Del Dotto, Valentina; Romagnoli, Martina; Fiorini, Claudio; Capirossi, Giada; Peron, Camille; Maresca, Alessandra; Caporali, Leonardo; Capristo, Mariantonietta; Tropeano, Concetta Valentina; Zanna, Claudia; Ross-Cisneros, Fred N; Sadun, Alfredo A; Pignataro, Maria Gemma; Giordano, Carla; Fasano, Chiara; Cavaliere, Andrea; Porcelli, Anna Maria; Tioli, Gaia; Musiani, Francesco; Catania, Alessia; Lamperti, Costanza; Marzoli, Stefania Bianchi; De Negri, Annamaria; Cascavilla, Maria Lucia; Battista, Marco; Barboni, Piero; Carbonelli, Michele; Amore, Giulia; La Morgia, Chiara; Smirnov, Dmitrii; Vasilescu, Catalina; Farzeen, Aiman; Blickhaeuser, Beryll; Prokisch, Holger; Priglinger, Claudia; Livonius, Bettina; Catarino, Claudia B; Klopstock, Thomas; Tiranti, Valeria; Carelli, Valerio; Ghelli, Anna Maria. - In: CELL REPORTS MEDICINE. - ISSN 2666-3791. - (2024), p. 101383. [10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101383]

Genetic variants affecting NQO1 protein levels impact the efficacy of idebenone treatment in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy

Pignataro, Maria Gemma;Giordano, Carla;
2024

Abstract

: Idebenone, the only approved treatment for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), promotes recovery of visual function in up to 50% of patients, but we can neither predict nor understand the non-responders. Idebenone is reduced by the cytosolic NAD(P)H oxidoreductase I (NQO1) and directly shuttles electrons to respiratory complex III, bypassing complex I affected in LHON. We show here that two polymorphic variants drastically reduce NQO1 protein levels when homozygous or compound heterozygous. This hampers idebenone reduction. In its oxidized form, idebenone inhibits complex I, decreasing respiratory function in cells. By retrospectively analyzing a large cohort of idebenone-treated LHON patients, classified by their response to therapy, we show that patients with homozygous or compound heterozygous NQO1 variants have the poorest therapy response, particularly if carrying the m.3460G>A/MT-ND1 LHON mutation. These results suggest consideration of patient NQO1 genotype and mitochondrial DNA mutation in the context of idebenone therapy.
2024
LHON; Leber hereditary optic neuropathy; NQO1; complex I; cybrids; fibroblasts; idebenone; mtDNA; retinal ganglion cells
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Genetic variants affecting NQO1 protein levels impact the efficacy of idebenone treatment in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy / Aleo, Serena Jasmine; Del Dotto, Valentina; Romagnoli, Martina; Fiorini, Claudio; Capirossi, Giada; Peron, Camille; Maresca, Alessandra; Caporali, Leonardo; Capristo, Mariantonietta; Tropeano, Concetta Valentina; Zanna, Claudia; Ross-Cisneros, Fred N; Sadun, Alfredo A; Pignataro, Maria Gemma; Giordano, Carla; Fasano, Chiara; Cavaliere, Andrea; Porcelli, Anna Maria; Tioli, Gaia; Musiani, Francesco; Catania, Alessia; Lamperti, Costanza; Marzoli, Stefania Bianchi; De Negri, Annamaria; Cascavilla, Maria Lucia; Battista, Marco; Barboni, Piero; Carbonelli, Michele; Amore, Giulia; La Morgia, Chiara; Smirnov, Dmitrii; Vasilescu, Catalina; Farzeen, Aiman; Blickhaeuser, Beryll; Prokisch, Holger; Priglinger, Claudia; Livonius, Bettina; Catarino, Claudia B; Klopstock, Thomas; Tiranti, Valeria; Carelli, Valerio; Ghelli, Anna Maria. - In: CELL REPORTS MEDICINE. - ISSN 2666-3791. - (2024), p. 101383. [10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101383]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
PIIS2666379123006122.pdf

accesso aperto

Note: Aleo_Genetic variants_2024
Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 3.75 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
3.75 MB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1700876
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact