Mitochondrial DNA population variation is not associated with Alzheimer's in the Japanese population: A consistent finding across global populations.

Several mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup association studies have suggested that common mtDNA variants are associated with multifactorial diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, such studies have also produced conflicting results. A new mtDNA association model, the 'vari...

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Main Authors: Johanna Wong, Jannetta S Steyn, Ilse S Pienaar, Joanna L Elson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276169
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author Johanna Wong
Jannetta S Steyn
Ilse S Pienaar
Joanna L Elson
author_facet Johanna Wong
Jannetta S Steyn
Ilse S Pienaar
Joanna L Elson
author_sort Johanna Wong
collection DOAJ
description Several mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup association studies have suggested that common mtDNA variants are associated with multifactorial diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, such studies have also produced conflicting results. A new mtDNA association model, the 'variant load model' (VLM), has been applied to multiple disease phenotypes. Application of the VLM in a 2017 study failed to find different variant loads in AD patients compared to controls, in two cohorts of European origin. The study also suggested a lower variant load in healthy elderly individuals, but could offer no replicate cohort to support this observation. Here, the VLM is applied to Japanese mtDNA sequences; in doing so, we explored the role of mtDNA variation in AD and ageing in a different global population. Consistent with the previous findings using the VLM in two populations of European origin, we found no evidence for an association between rarer, non-haplogroup associated variation and the development of AD. However, the result in the context of ageing that suggested those with fewer mildly deleterious mutations might undergo healthier ageing, was not replicated. In contrast to our previous study, our present results suggest that those living to advanced old age may harbour more mildly deleterious mtDNA variations. Importantly our analysis showed this finding is not primarily being driven by many rare population variants dispersed across the mtDNA, but by a few more frequent variants with high MutPred scores. It is suggested the variants in question do not exert a mildly deleterious effect in their most frequent haplogroup context.
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spelling doaj.art-7feef01ea4024ec6b4e38e669fab96572022-12-22T03:22:18ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-011710e027616910.1371/journal.pone.0276169Mitochondrial DNA population variation is not associated with Alzheimer's in the Japanese population: A consistent finding across global populations.Johanna WongJannetta S SteynIlse S PienaarJoanna L ElsonSeveral mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup association studies have suggested that common mtDNA variants are associated with multifactorial diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, such studies have also produced conflicting results. A new mtDNA association model, the 'variant load model' (VLM), has been applied to multiple disease phenotypes. Application of the VLM in a 2017 study failed to find different variant loads in AD patients compared to controls, in two cohorts of European origin. The study also suggested a lower variant load in healthy elderly individuals, but could offer no replicate cohort to support this observation. Here, the VLM is applied to Japanese mtDNA sequences; in doing so, we explored the role of mtDNA variation in AD and ageing in a different global population. Consistent with the previous findings using the VLM in two populations of European origin, we found no evidence for an association between rarer, non-haplogroup associated variation and the development of AD. However, the result in the context of ageing that suggested those with fewer mildly deleterious mutations might undergo healthier ageing, was not replicated. In contrast to our previous study, our present results suggest that those living to advanced old age may harbour more mildly deleterious mtDNA variations. Importantly our analysis showed this finding is not primarily being driven by many rare population variants dispersed across the mtDNA, but by a few more frequent variants with high MutPred scores. It is suggested the variants in question do not exert a mildly deleterious effect in their most frequent haplogroup context.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276169
spellingShingle Johanna Wong
Jannetta S Steyn
Ilse S Pienaar
Joanna L Elson
Mitochondrial DNA population variation is not associated with Alzheimer's in the Japanese population: A consistent finding across global populations.
PLoS ONE
title Mitochondrial DNA population variation is not associated with Alzheimer's in the Japanese population: A consistent finding across global populations.
title_full Mitochondrial DNA population variation is not associated with Alzheimer's in the Japanese population: A consistent finding across global populations.
title_fullStr Mitochondrial DNA population variation is not associated with Alzheimer's in the Japanese population: A consistent finding across global populations.
title_full_unstemmed Mitochondrial DNA population variation is not associated with Alzheimer's in the Japanese population: A consistent finding across global populations.
title_short Mitochondrial DNA population variation is not associated with Alzheimer's in the Japanese population: A consistent finding across global populations.
title_sort mitochondrial dna population variation is not associated with alzheimer s in the japanese population a consistent finding across global populations
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276169
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