title: Mitochondrial DNA copy number is modulated by genetic variation in the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3).
abstract: The regulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number not only is critical for the maintenance of the normal mitochondrial function but has a strong clinical significance. A recent report revealed that the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is involved in the regulation of the mitochondrial function and is required for the optimal function of the electron transport chain. In this study, we explored whether gene variants in the STAT3 influence the leukocyte mtDNA copy number. Clinical data and blood samples were collected from 179 subjects (aged 52.8 ± 0.9 years). Mitochondrial DNA quantification using nuclear DNA (nDNA) as a reference was carried out by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method; results are presented as the mtDNA/nDNA ratio. We selected 3 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms showing a minor allele frequency greater than 10% (rs2293152 C/G, rs6503695 C/T, and rs9891119 A/C), representing 24 polymorphic sites of the STAT3 (r(2) > 0.8). We observed a significant association between mtDNA/nDNA ratio and both rs6503695 and rs9891119, adjusted by age and homeostasis model assessment index. The proportion of the total variance of the mtDNA/nDNA ratio accounted for by the rs6503695 and rs9891119 genotypes was 4.7% and 6.53%, respectively. Common variation in the STAT3 may influence mtDNA copy number.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Institute of Medical Research A Lanari-IDIM, University of Buenos Aires-CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Tomas Fernández
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Gianotti
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castaño
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gemma
authors.forename: Adriana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Burgueño
authors.forename: Maria Soledad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rosselli
authors.forename: Carlos J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Pirola
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sookoian
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor