MITOCHONDRIAL News
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UNITED MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE FOUNDATION MITOCHONDRIAL NEWS TWO UMDF FUNDED RESEARCH smoking engine), Enns found that patients with a CONTENTS mitochondrial disorder had their natural antioxidant GRANTS RESULT IN NEW defense system overtaxed by the free radicals. INFORMATION “Even when these patients are coming into the Ask The Mito DocSM clinic looking pretty healthy, they have evidence of 3 One of the main mission points for the United extra metabolic stress,” Enns said, noting the findings Mitochondrial Disease Foundation is research. Since were surprising because none of the patients were Chapter Activities 1996, the UMDF has funded more than $6 Million in in the midst of a health crisis, such as organ failure, 4 research projects aimed at finding better treatments, when blood samples were drawn. diagnosis and ultimately a cure for mitochondrial “It is the first time such signs have been Fundraising Highlights disease. That is why we are excited about two recent uniformly shown in the blood of patients across 5-7 research projects that received a wide range of mitochondrial partial funding from the UMDF disorders,” he added. The team Adult Corner Research Grant Program. saw that levels of glutathione, the 9 In 2004, Gregory Enns, MD, body’s primary antioxidant, were ChB, and his team from Stanford significantly reduced in white blood Advocacy University School of Medicine cells from the 20 mitochondrial 10 and Lucile Packard Children’s disease patients in the study. Hospital were the recipients of a A second finding gave the Announcements grant for a project that devised a researchers information on potential 12 much needed way to monitor and treatments. They found that patients find treatments for mitochondrial taking antioxidant supplements did disorders. The team discovered not have depleted glutathione. This a biological marker that can be research may help understand the used to monitor mitochondrial effectiveness of supplements for a mitochondrial disease patient. “As a diseases. Dr. Gregory Enns “When a car engine doesn’t clinician, one of the most frustrating work right, it smokes,” said Dr. Enns, who is a things has been not being sure if supplements are professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School doing any good.” said Enns. “Now we are able to take of Medicine and director of the biochemical genetics a baseline blood reading and see ‘before’ and ‘after’ program at Packard. “What we looked for is, in snapshots,” Enns says glutathione measurements essence, biochemical smoke.” could help with a diagnosis by giving physicians The finding will enable researchers to hunt for a clear indication that something is wrong in the treatments and help patients’ status before health mitochondria. crises erupt. Patients who have a mitochondrial The method that the Enns team used to measure disorder were compared with healthy people in a glutathione, called high-dimensional flow cytometry, control group. Since defective mitochondria produce has limitations: it requires fresh blood samples, uses large quantities of oxygen-free radicals (like a (continued on page 2) The California Chapter held a family meeting prior to the 4th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction on March 7th. Pictured left is Norma Gibson, Brittany Wilkinson and Chuck Mohan. Volume 14 See pages 4-7 for Issue 1 more events and Spring 2009 fundraisers! www.umdf.org | 8085 Saltsburg Road, Suite 201 | Pittsburgh, PA 15239 | P 888•317•UMDF (toll-free) | P 412•793•8077 | F 412•793•6477 | [email protected] From Page one equipment only available in research labs and does by inactivating calcium-independent phospholipase not provide absolute glutathione measurements. A2, which prevents the degradation of cardiolipin,” Now that the team knows what metabolic change Dr. Ren told Mitochondrial News. His team’s method to look for, they’re working to develop a more broad would keep the cardiolipin levels normal. “This based measurement technique. is good news for patients because this enzyme In March 2009, researchers at NYU Langone (tafazzin) is now a potential target for therapeutic Medical Center announced that they may have intervention.” discovered a new targeted The research has not been National Office Staff intervention for Barth Syndrome tested in humans. Dr. Ren (BTHS). BTHS is a mitochondrial cautions that it shows promise Charles A. Mohan Jr., CEO/Executive Director disorder occurring mostly in but is still years away from being [email protected], ext. 111 males. BTHS leads to infection developed into a treatment. At Mark Campbell, Chief Financial Officer or heart failure in children and the present time, there are no [email protected], ext. 110 can be a fatal disease. Research treatments for Barth Syndrome lead by Mindong Ren, PhD, patients. Kara Strittmatter, Director of Member Services shows the benefits of a targeted As mentioned above, both [email protected], ext. 114 intervention with an iPLA2- projects were partially funded VIA inhibitor that prevents a by research grants from the Clifford Gorski, Director of Communications major symptom of the disease United Mitochondrial Disease [email protected], ext. 101 – cardiolipin deficiency. Foundation. “Those who support Carol Rush, PhD, Director of Development People affected with BTHS the UMDF through donations [email protected] have a defect in the cardiolipin Dr. Mindong Ren and fundraisers can now see metabolism which fights first hand how those dollars Scott Precopia, IT Manager infections. Additional symptoms may include a are allocated to the projects and programs that will [email protected], ext. 118 weak heart muscle, a reduction of white blood cells bring the best results for patients who suffer from Barbara Podowski, Administrative Assistant that fight bacterial infections, growth delay, and mitochondrial disorders,” said Charles A. Mohan, Jr., [email protected], ext. 100 an increase in organic acids in urine. In healthy Executive Director and CEO of the UMDF. “We are people, cardiolipin resides in the inner membrane of very excited about both projects as research moves Janet Owens, Executive Administrative Assistant the mitochondria and is responsible for normal cell us forward to a cure,” Mohan added. Findings from [email protected], ext. 107 structure and energy production. both projects demonstrate the urgency for federally BTHS is a debilitating heart and skeletal muscle funded research into mitochondrial dysfunction. Tania Hanscom, Communications Assistant disease that causes muscle weakness and fatigue “Dr. Enns and his research team have clearly shown [email protected], ext. 112 in those affected. Its cause is in a mutation in the that glutathione measurements may help scientists Bethany Neumeyer, Member Services Associate genetic coding of tafazzin. Tafazzin is an enzyme of unravel the causes of many other diseases with [email protected], ext. 104 the cardiolipin pathway. mitochondrial involvement such as poor vision, A previous study at NYU revealed the hearing loss, kidney disease, autism spectrum Melinda O’Toole, Member Services Associate characteristics of a tafazzin deficiency in a disorders, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and [email protected], ext. 103 fruit fly. The deficiency resulted in low and cancers. Our scientific and medical community Donna Nameth, Data Entry Manager abnormal cardiolipin concentration, abnormal has urged the Obama Administration to include [email protected], ext. 109 mitochondria, and poor motor function. In Dr. Ren’s research into mitochondrial medicine among his study, the research showed that the cardiolipin administration’s top medical and research priorities. Jean Bassett, Research Grants Coordinator deficiency disrupted the fruit fly’s final stage of UMDF members, families and friends must urge their [email protected], ext. 105 spermatogenesis causing male sterility. “Using congressional and senatorial representatives to do Ryan Fisher, Development Assistant this fly model, the study showed that this trait of the same.” [email protected], ext. 116 cardiolipin deficiency can be genetically suppressed Don Gielas, Grant Writer Gregory Enns, MB, ChB, was awarded a research grant in 2004 in the amount of [email protected], ext. 113 $34,179. His project was titled “GSH levels, reactive oxygen species production, Kylie Dunmire, Special Events Associate lipid peroxidation, products and mitochondrial membrane potential in patients with [email protected], ext. 108 mitochondrial disease.” Mindong Ren, PhD, was awarded a research grant in 2007 in the amount of UMDF Mission $157,450. His project was titled “Genotype-Phenotype Correlation and Genetic To promote research and education for the Modifiers in Barth Syndrome.” diagnosis, treatment and cure of mitochondrial For more information on the UMDF Research Grant Program, visit www.umdf.org. disorders and to provide support to affected individuals and families. 2 MITOCHONDRIAL NEWS - Vol. 14, Issue 1 ASK THE MITO DOCSM organs or tissues, at least in the majority of cases. often see developmental regression when seizures However, whether the donation is blood, tissue become longer in duration and/or more frequent. or organs, mitochondrial disease will not spread So, this can influence toilet training. Maybe better to non-donated organs/tissues. Mitochondrial seizure control would allow him to learn how to use the toilet. I say this ‘tongue in cheek,’ as I take care ASK THE disease is not “contagious.” In humans, genes do of so many mitochondrial patients with intractable SM not “jump” from one person to another or from one organ/tissue to another. epilepsy. I do hope that you can toilet train your son in the near future. MITO DOC THE QUESTION IS... We have been trying to toilet train our 11 year THE QUESTION IS... old son for many years. He was in underwear I have heard that tests are run on patients in the iving with mitochondrial disease presents during day-time hours for one year and had hospital on the basis of money rather than quality. L many twists and turns and a maze of some success, but his seizures increased How can we be sure we are getting appropriate questions.