Mitochondrial complex III deficiency
Last updated 26 Jul 2023
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Mitochondrial complex III deficiency is a genetic condition that can affect several parts of the body, including the brain, kidneys, liver, heart, and the muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles). Signs and symptoms of mitochondrial complex III deficiency usually begin in infancy but can appear later.
Description
Mitochondrial complex III deficiency is a genetic condition that can affect several parts of the body, including the brain, kidneys, liver, heart, and the muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles). Signs and symptoms of mitochondrial complex III deficiency usually begin in infancy but can appear later.
The severity of mitochondrial complex III deficiency varies widely among affected individuals. People who are mildly affected tend to have muscle weakness (myopathy) and extreme tiredness (fatigue), particularly during exercise (exercise intolerance). More severely affected individuals have problems with multiple body systems, such as liver disease that can lead to liver failure, kidney abnormalities (tubulopathy), and brain dysfunction (encephalopathy). Encephalopathy can cause delayed development of mental and motor skills (psychomotor delay), movement problems, weak muscle tone (hypotonia), and difficulty with communication. Some affected individuals have a form of heart disease called cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
Most people with mitochondrial complex III deficiency have a buildup of a chemical called lactic acid in the body (lactic acidosis). Some affected individuals also have buildup of molecules called ketones (ketoacidosis) or high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). Abnormally high levels of these chemicals in the body can be life-threatening.
Mitochondrial complex III deficiency can be fatal in childhood, although individuals with mild signs and symptoms can survive into adolescence or adulthood.
Inheritance patterns
The source lists the following possible inheritance patterns: Autosomal recessive; mitochondrial. More than one pattern can apply in different cases.
Related genes
Other names
Isolated CoQ-cytochrome c reductase deficiency
Ubiquinone-cytochrome c oxidoreductase deficiency
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Further reading and references
- Mitochondrial complex III deficiency; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Andreu AL, Hanna MG, Reichmann H, Bruno C, Penn AS, Tanji K, Pallotti F, Iwata S, Bonilla E, Lach B, Morgan-Hughes J, DiMauro S. Exercise intolerance due to mutations in the cytochrome b gene of mitochondrial DNA. N Engl J Med. 1999 Sep 30;341(14):1037-44. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199909303411404.
- Benit P, Lebon S, Rustin P. Respiratory-chain diseases related to complex III deficiency. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Jan;1793(1):181-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2008.06.004. Epub 2008 Jun 13.
- Blakely EL, Mitchell AL, Fisher N, Meunier B, Nijtmans LG, Schaefer AM, Jackson MJ, Turnbull DM, Taylor RW. A mitochondrial cytochrome b mutation causing severe respiratory chain enzyme deficiency in humans and yeast. FEBS J. 2005 Jul;272(14):3583-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2005.04779.x.
- de Lonlay P, Valnot I, Barrientos A, Gorbatyuk M, Tzagoloff A, Taanman JW, Benayoun E, Chretien D, Kadhom N, Lombes A, de Baulny HO, Niaudet P, Munnich A, Rustin P, Rotig A. A mutant mitochondrial respiratory chain assembly protein causes complex III deficiency in patients with tubulopathy, encephalopathy and liver failure. Nat Genet. 2001 Sep;29(1):57-60. doi: 10.1038/ng706.
- Fernandez-Vizarra E, Bugiani M, Goffrini P, Carrara F, Farina L, Procopio E, Donati A, Uziel G, Ferrero I, Zeviani M. Impaired complex III assembly associated with BCS1L gene mutations in isolated mitochondrial encephalopathy. Hum Mol Genet. 2007 May 15;16(10):1241-52. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddm072. Epub 2007 Apr 2.
- Gil Borlado MC, Moreno Lastres D, Gonzalez Hoyuela M, Moran M, Blazquez A, Pello R, Marin Buera L, Gabaldon T, Garcia Penas JJ, Martin MA, Arenas J, Ugalde C. Impact of the mitochondrial genetic background in complex III deficiency. PLoS One. 2010 Sep 17;5(9):e12801. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012801.
- Gil-Borlado MC, Gonzalez-Hoyuela M, Blazquez A, Garcia-Silva MT, Gabaldon T, Manzanares J, Vara J, Martin MA, Seneca S, Arenas J, Ugalde C. Pathogenic mutations in the 5' untranslated region of BCS1L mRNA in mitochondrial complex III deficiency. Mitochondrion. 2009 Sep;9(5):299-305. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2009.04.001. Epub 2009 Apr 21.
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