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Experimental Strategies Towards Treating Mitochondrial DNA Disorders

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Bioscience Reports

Abstract

An extensive range of molecular defects have been identified in the human mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), causing a range of clinical phenotypes characterized by mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction. Sadly, given the complexities of mitochondrial genetics, there are no available cures for mtDNA disorders. In this review, we consider experimental, genetic-based strategies that have been or are being explored towards developing treatments, focussing on two specific areas which we are actively pursuing—assessing the benefit of exercise training for patients with mtDNA defects, and the prevention of mtDNA disease transmission.

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Acknowledgements

Work in our laboratory is supported by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, Wellcome Trust, Department of Health and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mitochondrial Research Group, School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK

    Julie L. Gardner, Lyndsey Craven, Douglass M. Turnbull & Robert W. Taylor

  2. Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Douglass M. Turnbull & Robert W. Taylor

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  1. Julie L. Gardner
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  2. Lyndsey Craven
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  3. Douglass M. Turnbull
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  4. Robert W. Taylor
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Correspondence to Robert W. Taylor.

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Gardner, J.L., Craven, L., Turnbull, D.M. et al. Experimental Strategies Towards Treating Mitochondrial DNA Disorders. Biosci Rep 27, 139–150 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10540-007-9042-3

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