A Mitochondrial Genotype Associated With the Development of Autoimmune-Related Type 1 Diabetes

Oxidative stress has been demonstrated to play an essential role in the destruction of pancreatic β-cells without infiltrating inflammatory cells in mice with type 1 diabetes (1). Recently, it was reported that a nucleotide substitution in mitochondrial DNA, a C-to-A transversion at nucleotide position 5178 within the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene, resulting in a Leu→Met substitution (Mt5178A), is related to longevity and that individuals with Mt5178C are more susceptible to adult-onset diseases than those with Mt5178A (2). Mt5178C/A genotype may influence oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA. Myers et al. (3) recently reported that the specific inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation induced hyperexpression of GAD in pancreatic β-cells. Inhibitors of NADH-ubiquinone …