title: Polar body genome transfer for preventing the transmission of inherited mitochondrial diseases.
abstract: Inherited mtDNA diseases transmit maternally and cause severe phenotypes. Currently, there is no effective therapy or genetic screens for these diseases; however, nuclear genome transfer between patients' and healthy eggs to replace mutant mtDNAs holds promises. Considering that a polar body contains few mitochondria and shares the same genomic material as an oocyte, we perform polar body transfer to prevent the transmission of mtDNA variants. We compare the effects of different types of germline genome transfer, including spindle-chromosome transfer, pronuclear transfer, and first and second polar body transfer, in mice. Reconstructed embryos support normal fertilization and produce live offspring. Importantly, genetic analysis confirms that the F1 generation from polar body transfer possesses minimal donor mtDNA carryover compared to the F1 generation from other procedures. Moreover, the mtDNA genotype remains stable in F2 progeny after polar body transfer. Our preclinical model demonstrates polar body transfer has great potential to prevent inherited mtDNA diseases.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: shahongying@fudan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Hospital Affiliated for Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Helen L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Hospital Affiliated for Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Hospital Affiliated for Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
authors.forename: Yunxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: jzhu@fudan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jianhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D023421:Models, Animal; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D059705:Polar Bodies / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus