MitoHOPE: Embryological Aspects

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of rare genetic disorders that affect the function of mitochondria, the energy-producing structures within cells. These disorders result from mutations in either nuclear DNA or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), disrupting normal energy production process, with vital organs such as the brain, heart, muscles, and nervous system suffering from insufficient energy supply. Symptoms of mitochondrial disease are diverse however commonly include muscle weakness, fatigue, neurological issues, developmental delays, and organ dysfunction. Treatment options for mitochondrial disease are limited and primarily focus on managing symptoms and supporting affected organ systems. Currently, no cure exists, making early detection crucial to better manage the condition’s progression.

Research efforts and advances in genetic technology offer hope for improved diagnostic methods and potential therapies in the future and for patients where the disease is caused by mutations in mtDNA, mitochondrial donation technology has also been developed in the hope of providing patients a means of having a family, with a reduced likelihood of passing on mtDNA disease to their offspring.

Mitochondrial donation technology, also known as mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT), is a ground-breaking medical technique designed to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases from mother to child. This cutting-edge procedure involves replacing defective mitochondria in a woman’s egg with healthy mitochondria/cytoplasm from an egg donor using primarily either miotic spindle transfer (MST) or pro-nuclear transfer (PNT).

Recently in Australia a MRFF grant has been awarded to facilitate bringing MRT to patients in Australia who have mtDNA disease and offering it as part of a clinical trial (mitoHOPE). As part of this, considerations must be given to how this technology is applied in a clinical IVF lab setting, specifically the equipment used, the technology that is selected (MST vs PNT) and optomised, the training of the clinical embryologists and the management of the oocyte donor program, all of which are crucial to ensure optimal clinical trial and technology provision.