The Mitochondrial Epigenome: a Role in Alzheimer’s Disease?

Abstract

Considerable evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction occurs early in Alzheimer’s disease, both in affected brain regions and in leukocytes, potentially precipitating neurodegeneration through increased oxidative stress. Epigenetic processes are emerging as a dynamic mechanism through which environmental signals may contribute to cellular changes, leading to neuropathology and disease. Until recently, little attention was given to the mitochondrial epigenome itself, as preliminary studies indicated an absence of DNA modifications. However, recent research has demonstrated that epigenetic changes to the mitochondrial genome do occur, potentially playing an important role in several disorders characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction. This review explores the potential role of mitochondrial epigenetic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease etiology and discusses some technical issues pertinent to the study of these processes.

Keywords: :

• 5-methylcytosine:
• 5-hydroxymethylcytosine
• Alzheimer’s disease
• dementia
• DNA methylation
• epigenetics
• heteroplasmy
• mitochondria

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by an Alzheimer’s Research UK pilot grant to KL and a NIH grant AG036039 to JM. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by an Alzheimer’s Research UK pilot grant to KL and a NIH grant AG036039 to JM. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.