Impact of a novel homozygous mutation in nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase on mitochondrial DNA integrity in a case of familial glucocorticoid deficiency

BACKGROUND: Familial glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by isolated glucocorticoid deficiency. Recently, mutations in the gene encoding for the mitochondrial nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) have been identified as a causative gene for FGD; however, no NNT activities have been reported in FGD patients carrying NNT mutations. METHODS: Clinical, biochemical and molecular analyses of lymphocytes from FDG homozygous and heterozygous carriers for the F215S NNT mutation were performed. RESULTS: In this study, we described an FGD-affected Japanese patient carrying a novel NNT homozygous mutation (c.644T>C; F215S) with a significant loss-of-function (NNT activity = 31% of healthy controls) in peripheral blood cells' mitochondria. The NNT activities of the parents, heterozygous for the mutation, were 61% of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that (i) mitochondrial biogenesis (citrate synthase activity) and/or mtDNA replication (mtDNA copy number) were affected at ≤ 60% NNT activity because these parameters were affected in individuals carrying either one or both mutated alleles; and (ii) other outcomes (mtDNA deletions, protein tyrosine nitration, OXPHOS capacity) were affected at ≤ 30% NNT activity as also observed in murine cerebellar mitochondria from C57BL/6J (NNT(−/−)) vs. C57BL/6JN (NNT(+/+)) substrains. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: By studying a family affected with a novel point mutation in the NNT gene, a gene–dose response was found for various mitochondrial outcomes providing for novel insights into the role of NNT in the maintenance of mtDNA integrity beyond that described for preventing oxidative stress.