Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with lipid metabolism disorder and upregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2

PLoS One. 2022 Jun 29;17(6):e0270418. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270418. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) deficiency in humans leads to a myopathic form of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deficiency. Here we present a skeletal and cardiac muscle specific TK2 knockout mouse (mTk2 KO). The mice showed dilated hearts and markedly reduced adipose tissue during week 12 to 16. A severe decrease of mtDNA was found only in skeletal muscle and heart tissue in mTk2 KO mice. Expression analysis of key metabolic genes of 16 weeks knockout mice showed significant changes of genes involved in lipid metabolism, with different patterns in heart and skeletal muscle. Our study further suggests that lipoprotein lipase (LPL) from liver supports the metabolism when heart and skeletal muscle were impaired due to mitochondrial dysfunction. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is involved in glucose homeostasis, was also affected by mtDNA deficiency in our study. Interestingly, both the gene and protein expression of ACE2 were increased in cardiac tissue of mTk2 KO mice. Since ACE2 is a receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, its regulation in relation to mitochondrial function may have important clinical implications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2* / genetics
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2* / metabolism
  • Animals
  • COVID-19* / genetics
  • COVID-19* / metabolism
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism Disorders* / genetics
  • Lipid Metabolism Disorders* / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism Disorders* / virology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Ace2 protein, mouse
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2

Grants and funding

A.K., one grant on the Karolinska Institute (15–0953), www.ki.se A.K., one grant on the Swedish Cancer Society (grant CAN 2016/1342-1345), https://www.cancerfonden.se/om-oss/about A.K., one grant on the Swedish Research Council (K2014-66X12162-18-3), vr.se/english.html NO - The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.