title: Differential expression of PGC-1α and metabolic sensors suggest age-dependent induction of mitochondrial biogenesis in Friedreich ataxia fibroblasts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a mitochondrial rare disease, which molecular origin is associated with defect in the expression of frataxin. The pathological consequences are degeneration of nervous system structures and cardiomyopathy with necrosis and fibrosis, among others.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using FRDA fibroblasts we have characterized the oxidative stress status and mitochondrial biogenesis. We observed deficiency of MnSOD, increased ROS levels and low levels of ATP. Expression of PGC-1α and mtTFA was increased and the active form of the upstream signals p38 MAPK and AMPK in fibroblasts from two patients. Interestingly, the expression of energetic factors correlated with the natural history of disease of the patients, the age when skin biopsy was performed and the size of the GAA expanded alleles. Furthermore, idebenone inhibit mitochondriogenic responses in FRDA cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The induction of mitochondrial biogenesis in FRDA may be a consequence of the mitochondrial impairment associated with disease evolution. The increase of ROS and the involvement of the oxidative phosphorylation may be an early event in the cell pathophysiology of frataxin deficiency, whereas increase of mitochondriogenic response might be a later phenomenon associated to the individual age and natural history of the disease, being more evident as the patient age increases and disease evolves. This is a possible explanation of heart disease in FRDA.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: García-Giménez
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gimeno
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Cabo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dasí
authors.forename: Arantxa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolinches-Amorós
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mollá
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palau
authors.forename: Federico V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Pallardó
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000483:Alleles; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D005621:Friedreich Ataxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C486497:PPARGC1A protein, human; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014157:Transcription Factors; C422562:mitochondrial transcription factor A; D014451:Ubiquinone; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; C036619:idebenone